Community Action Grants

Sign up to receive e-mail updates for this page

Community Action Grants Now Available!

SMCWPPP offers $15,000 in Community Action Grants for volunteer groups, teachers, environmental organizations and other local, not-for-profit associations interested in developing and/or implementing projects that improve the quality of local creeks, the Bay or the Pacific Ocean within San Mateo County. Up to $3,000 is awarded to groups proposing projects to restore, protect, enhance, or prevent pollution of local waterways or which benefit the ecology of the San Mateo County watershed.

The application for the 2012 grant is now available and due November 18th! Follow the steps below to apply.

Step 1: Download the information packet: Community Action Grant Application Summary This packet contains all the information you will need to know about the requirements of the grant, due dates, and contact information for where and how to apply.

Step 2: Fill out the application. Only typewritten applications will be accepted. Download the following two files, and enter your information. The Grant Application and Checklist is in Microsoft Word and the Budget and Milestones form is in Microsoft Excel. Save them as new documents with your organization's name in the file name:

Examples: main street school grant application.doc for the application and main street proposed budget.xls for the proposed budget and milestone sheet, to be attached to the application as Exhibit A.

Don't forget to fill out the budget milestone spreadsheet and attach it to your application! This entire application (both documents) is due November 18th, 2011.

Important Note: Any changes that are made to the applications / Grant Program Materials content may result in disqualification from the grant application process; this includes deleting questions, rewriting questions, and rearranging the order of the application and other forms.

2011 COMMUNITY ACTION GRANTS - SUMMARY OF GRANT AWARDS

1. Watershed Discovery Foundation: “Storm Drains to the Ocean” [Year 1] $1,761

Prepares students / community members for actively working to protect water quality and the health of local watersheds. Through hands on education, participants learn about pollution prevention and stewardship of the bay ocean and marine sanctuary environments. Target Audience: 5th grade students at Hatch Elementary, Farallone View Elementary & East Palo Alto Charter School. Participants: 140- 210 students, 550-750 community members

2. Clifford Elementary School: “Clifford School ~ Watershed Sanctuary” [Year 1} $2,975

To provide a clear delineation of the watershed sanctuary area within school boundaries, restoration of the pond/ wetland, and integration of hands on education in class curriculum; teaching children to be stewards of the natural gifts we have, and responsibilities of caring for the watershed, and the broader issue of ocean pollution, and the backyard remedy; keeping trash out of the stormdrains. Target Audience: Students between ages of 5 and 14 and community members who recreate in the area. Participants: Clifford School Student Body: 900 students annually- this will be a recurring program.

3.Pacifica Beach Coalition:“Earth Day Pacifica 2011 ~ A Day of Action”[Year 3] $2,566

Promote and coordinate day of action on Earth Day 2011.  Enlist community to pick up litter and help restore habitat at more than 100 locations throughout city including beaches, bluffs, and San Pedro Creek.  To continue education and outreach on water quality protection, pollution prevention and behavior modification that results in lessening pollution. Target Audience: Pacifica residents, students at all schools, residents of all coastal communities and businesses in Pacifica, along the coast. Visitors to Pacifica, and residents in communities north and east of Pacifica. Participants: Estimated 5,000-7,500 volunteers including 100+ Businesses and 10 Schools.

4.Ocean Shore School Parent Teacher Assoc.: “Oceans Week ~ Wetlands”[Year 2] $2,566.50

To teach students to appreciate, understand and protect our wetland and ocean resources. The study of wetlands with a focus on two emerging challenges: 1) Impacts of spilled oil on the gulf of Mexico wetlands, and; 2) The impacts of plastic trash on wetlands. Target Audience: Ocean Shore School Student Body; 399 students, and community, coast-siders and beach goers in Pacifica. Through signage created as part of this project that will be mounted at the wetlands at Pacifica State Beach, thousands of people will be reached. Participants: 399 students and their families.

5. San Mateo County Coast Natural History Association: “Half Moon Bay State Beach~ Habitat Restoration Program” [Year 7] $2,565

Invasive plant removal and native planting at Pilarcitos Creek, Frenchman’s Creek and wetlands at Venice Beach and trash removal along these areas and within California State Parks Managed beaches located in Half Moon Bay. Water quality enhancement, pollution prevention and an increased awareness of stormwater pollution are project goals.  Target Audience: People of all ages and from all over the bay area. School groups, corporate groups, small businesses, youth groups, religious groups and volunteer groups. Participants:  Estimated based on 2010 program results: 2500 short term volunteers and 11 long term volunteers.

6. Marine Science Institute: "Plastics to Possibilities at Earth Day on the Bay" [Year 4] $2,566.50

To increase awareness of the threat that litter and excess trash, specifically plastics pose to the environment and wildlife. The program will build upon previously received Flowstobay grants, previously erected pollution prevention signage at MSI site, and litter removal (ongoing), on Earth Day at the celebration, educational discussions and lectures on subjects such as the Pacific Gyre, and interactive walks / lessons / fair booth exhibits on habitat protection and preservation will increase awareness and promote behavior modification that can result in broader pollution prevention successes. Target Audience: San Mateo County residents, family groups, those who attend 2011 Earth Day Festival Participants: Based on 2010 festival attendance; an estimated 2,500 people will be participating.

Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Community Action Grant Documents

Final Report

Final Report Checklist

Final Report Reimbursement Request

Application and Budget Milestones

Application for 2010-2011

For more information email pollutionprevention@co.sanmateo.ca.us

Other Grants Available:

Targeted Watershed Grants Program Through the Targeted Watershed Grants Program, EPA plans to award up to $600,000 to an eligible entity to manage an Urban Watershed Capability Building Grant. A key component of the Urban Watershed Capacity Building Grant is to engage communities in capacity building activities to foster an increased connection, understanding, and ownership of their waters. EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants that address the following two project components: (1) establish and manage a competitive urban watershed subaward program; and (2) provide urban watershed technical services to subawardees. Applications due in May.

EPA Pollution Prevention Grants and Funding

$500 Do Something Grants (formerly Plum grants)

If you are interested specifically in school gardens you might want to check out grants available through Kids Gardening.org and Sloat’s Adopt a Garden Grant.

The California Coastal Comission accepts applications for Whale Tail Grants to protect marine and coastal resources. Application due in November.

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) is a competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for a community to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in its local environment.