Grants place premium on protecting estuary

The Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program (BBNEP) is offering public participation and education minigrants for 2006. The BBNEP minigrant program supports community-based public outreach and education projects focusing on the Barnegat Bay estuary.

According to a press release, empowering citizens through programs such as this helps foster an environmental ethic and promote community stewardship of the bay. Projects should seek to increase public awareness and education; emphasize that the ecosystem is a living environmental and social resource; demonstrate that the public can help to protect the estuary; motivate people to actively participate in its restoration; and use innovative activities which involve people and lead to local action in the Barnegat Bay watershed.

Requests for a $500 (minimum) to a $7,500 (maximum) minigrant will be considered by the reviewing committee. All who apply are required to provide matching funds or in-kind services. The minigrant application is now available and is open to nonprofit organizations, local governments or commissions, private businesses, professional organizations, and teachers. A guiding objective of minigrants is to mobilize as many segments of the public as possible.

The BBNEP therefore encourages applicants to develop proposals in conjunction with clubs and neighborhood associations, business and trade organizations, community and environmental groups, and school districts. The application deadline is Jan. 13 and award decisions will be made by Feb. 28.

The BBNEP is a federal program that, together with state and local governments and Ocean County communities, works toward protecting Barnegat Bay and its contributing watershed. Applicants are invited to submit proposals in the following subject areas: Non-point source pollution prevention, water quality control, estuarine education, Phase II municipal storm water management, citizen monitoring and public participation.

For information and an application on how to apply for a Barnegat Bay minigrant, visit www.bbep.org.

The Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program is a federally funded program through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and sponsored locally by Ocean County College, Toms River.