For Immediate Release: Jan 27, 2010
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov

State Coastal Officials Seeking Proposals for Conservation and Restoration Fund Projects

BATON ROUGE -- Louisiana coastal restoration and protection officials are seeking project proposals from landowners, non-governmental organizations and concerned citizens for coastal conservation and restoration projects that would benefit from additional funding from the Conservation and Restoration Partnership Fund.

The fund, made up of $3.39 million from the Fiscal Year 2009 surplus, is dedicated to providing matching funds for projects being designed and constructed by non-profit conservation organizations and private landowners aimed at coastal conservation and restoration.

State restoration and protection officials will use the available money to take advantage of grants, donations, and other private/public partnership opportunities to support the implementation of high priority coastal restoration projects. This will allow the State to further leverage its funds to achieve its coastal restoration goals.

Proposals should include a brief description of the project purpose, features, conceptual design, project area map and description of how it contributes to the criteria listed below. Proposals should be no more than two pages in length (one page description and one page map).

Project Selection Criteria
The following criteria will be used to prioritize applicant projects:
• Consistency with the objectives of the State Master Plan
• Acreage conserved/restored
• Synergism with other conservation/restoration efforts
• Project constructability
• Matching funds

Proposals will be accepted for 30 days, beginning January 27 and ending Thursday, February 26, 2010. A selection committee made up of coastal protection and restoration officials will review each proposed project based on the criteria listed above. Projects selected for funding will be announced at the March meeting of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

Please submit proposals and/or direct questions about the program or project proposals via mail, email, or fax to:

Christopher Allen
Coastal Resources Scientist
Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration
450 Laurel St., 12th Floor
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
phone: (225) 342-4736
fax: (225) 342-9417
chris.allen@la.gov

For additional information, please call Chris Macaluso in the Office of Coastal Activities at (225) 342-3968 or email at chris.macaluso@la.gov.

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The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's mandate is to develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration master plan. For the first time in Louisiana's history, this single state authority will integrate coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshaling the expertise and resources of the Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration and other state agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana's coast. Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, the CPRA will work to establish a safe and sustainable coast that will protect our communities, the nation's critical energy infrastructure, and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come. The CPRA of Louisiana was established by Act 8 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2005.