News Releases from Region 05

Up To $13.9 Million Available From EPA for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Projects

CHICAGO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued a Request for Applications soliciting proposals for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants to fund new projects to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Up to $13.9 million will be available during the 2015 funding cycle for grants to state, tribal, interstate and local governmental agencies, institutions of higher learning and other nonprofit organizations. Applications are due September 28, 2015.

"This round of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding will be used to target invasive species and to reduce runoff in urban and agricultural watersheds," said EPA Region 5 Administrator/Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman. "The work funded by these grants will help to restore and protect waters that are essential to the health and jobs of millions of Americans."

A webinar explaining the grant application process will be held at 10:00 a.m. Central time on Thursday, Aug. 13. The Request for Applications and information about applying for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants is available at http://www2.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great-lakes-restoration-initiative-2015-request-applications.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative resources have so far funded over 2,500 projects to improve water quality, to protect and restore native habitat and species, to prevent and control invasive species and to address other environmental problems in the Great Lakes basin.

For more information about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative visit www.glri.us.

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