[BCNnet] Grant funds available for Illinois projects

[Joel Brammeier]

Funding available for environmental groups in Illinois

****After reading, please forward this notice to relevant email lists and
other organizations that need funding for habitat protection work in the
northeastern Illinois Lake Michigan basin.****

To:		Illinois Environmental Leaders
From:		Joel Brammeier, Habitat Coordinator
Date:		February 25, 2003
Re:		Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund


GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE March 31, 2003!

The Lake Michigan Federation is pleased to announce the availability of
funding for aquatic habitat protection in the Lake Michigan basin.  The
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund (GLAHNF) offers grants of up to
$3,500 twice per year for community-based habitat protection efforts.
Illinois groups including the Bull Creek Stakeholders Association, Southeast
Environmental Task Force, and the Waukegan Harbor Citizens' Advisory Group
have used GLAHNF grants to perform streambank restoration, conduct species
surveys, and develop community advocacy campaigns.  As Illinois coordinator
for the Fund, the Lake Michigan Federation is happy to assist your
organization with the grant application process.

Types of projects that would be considered for funding include, but are not
limited to:

*	Land use and watershed advocacy and planning;
*	Watchdogging of regulation implementation;
*	Reducing polluted runoff;
*	Rehabilitation of ponds, lagoons, shorelines, and other wetland
areas for fish and migratory bird habitat;
*	Non-partisan voter education and citizen involvement initiatives.

Some key project criteria for all GLAHNF funding: grants are for smaller
organizations, with budgets of about $250,000 or less; projects should be
action and advocacy based (education alone will not likely be eligible);
funds cannot be used for construction and/or planting costs, but can be used
for other aspects of restoration efforts; projects should be in the Lake
Michigan drainage basin, or a case must be made that the project will
provide benefits to habitats/species inside the basin.

A grant application is available online at www.glhabitat.org/grants.html or
by contacting Joel at the Lake Michigan Federation
(jbrammeier@lakemichigan.org or 312-939-0838x4). Proposals must be
postmarked by March 31, 2003.

The GLAHNF Special Opportunity Grants Program also provides grants of up to
$500 throughout the year for short-term needs.

The Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network & Fund is a program of the Tip of
the Mitt Watershed Council and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Joel Brammeier
Habitat Coordinator / Science Manager
Lake Michigan Federation
220 S. State Street
Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60604
P: 312-939-0838x4
F: 312-939-2708