To Use this Site

• You will need to login to the site to submit your application
• Your web browser will need JavaScript enabled to use this site
• Your web browser needs to be configured to accept cookies
• A contemporary web browser is recommended: Internet Explorer 7 or 8, Firefox 2 or 3, or Safari 3 or 4
• A broadband (cable, DSL, T1) connection isn't required, but be aware that uploading files will take more time over a dial-up Internet connection
• If you have trouble, email for assistance

Preparation

Application materials are submitted to the GOMC-NOAA online application system. The period during which online applications will be accepted starts on 1 March 2010 and ends on 2 April 2010 at 5 PM EST. Register with the grant program (see "Getting Started" below) during this period to start the application process and be sure to save your login information, as you will need it more than once. Applicants should thoroughly review the Request for Proposals prior to submitting applications. The combined length of Parts 2 and 3 of the application should not exceed five pages. A completed application must include the information and materials listed below.

Part I. Project Overview:

• applicant contact information
• project location
• pre-degradation conditions and current conditions in the project area
• ownership of the project area
• project objectives
• required permits
• prior restoration experience of the applicant and partners

Part II. Project Description:

1. Potential for the project to restore degraded habitat to a self-sustaining, pre-degraded condition:

• the degree of restoration anticipated
• size of the overall system and the projected amounts of restored habitat
• species or natural community types likely to benefit
• to what extent the restoration will be self-sustaining and protected
• likelihood of the project to facilitate future restoration actions
• integration with local, state and/or regional restoration plans
• parties responsible for maintenance/management costs at the project site

2. Technical merit and project feasibility

• specific restoration techniques and methods to be used, including those that specifically address climate change
• the monitoring plan, including monitoring parameters and success benchmarks
• suitability of monitoring parameters for long-term analyses
• organizational and financial capacity to successfully complete the restorative and administrative project requirements
• potentially adverse impacts of the project

3. Partnerships with community groups and other organizations

• landowner support (documented by support letters)
• partnering non-governmental organizations and local groups (documented by support letters)
• support from municipalities and state and/or federal agencies (documented by support letters)

Part III. Tasks and Products

Part IV. Budget

1. Budget Table (template provided)
2. Budget Narrative (format provided)

Part V. Maps and Photos (uploaded)

Note: Other than design drawings meant to be printed at a page size far greater than 11 x 8.5 inches, uploaded files should not exceed, and often should be far less than, 1 MB each. To reduce inappropriately large files, several options are available.

For PC users used to Windows software, IrfanView is an easily found and downloadable freeware that allows rapid reduction of file sizes in just several steps. To do so, open your image file in IrfanView, select "Image" from the toolbar and then select "Resize/Resample" from the drop down menu. You may then reset the file size by reducing the dimensions of the image or the number of pixels contained within it. Click here to download IrfanView.

For Mac users open your documents in Preview (standard in the Applications folder on Mac OS X). Select the "Tools" menu and select "Adjust Size" under it. This will give you tools to scale down the size of your imagery without losing definition or quality.

Part VI. Applicants Cover Letter (uploaded)

Part VII. Support Letters (uploaded)

Part VIII. Other Files of Interest (uploaded)

Contacts

If you have general questions about the grant program, contact the Habitat Restoration Coordinator (Slade Moore). If you have trouble with the online application process, email for assistance. If you have questions about specific technical aspects of your proposed project, contact the appropriate state/provincial representative listed below.