[Watersheds] Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Funding Opportunity

[Zwarg, Jonathan (DEM)]

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) announce the Agencies are jointly seeking project proposals for the new Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience (OSCAR) Fund.  The OSCAR Fund was established under Rhode Island General Laws § 46-23.3-2 to fund projects that protect or enhance coastal or riverine habitats to address impacts of climate change.  The OSCAR Fund Program is a competitive grant program with approximately $4 million in available funding that is administered in collaboration with the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB).  The deadline for submitting proposals is May 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm.

As detailed in the attached Request for Proposals (RFP), proposals from eligible entities are being sought for projects that protect or enhance coastal or riverine habitats to address climate change impacts. Climate change impacts relevant to this RFP include, but are not limited to, impacts of sea level rise and flooding, and accelerated erosion resulting from changes in the frequency and intensity of precipitation events.  Projects must be located on public lands, which includes lands owned by state and local governmental entities as well as private lands dedicated to public use through easements.
Eligible projects may include but not be limited to projects that:

     *   reduce the vulnerability of low-lying infrastructure on public land through measures that include removal and relocation of infrastructure while providing habitat benefits;
     *   restore river and stream floodplains, including regrading of banks;
     *   provide revegetation;
     *   involve acquisition of that area of land necessary to maintain and preserve public access;
     *   redesign, resize, and replace culverts and bridge spans at existing wetland crossings.


Additionally, projects involving repair of shoreline protection structures in public parks are also eligible.


A joint agency information session on the OSCAR RFP will be hosted via Zoom<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrcOigrDooGdBwTUGnDpjQgdGvgnakkuxj*/registration__;Iw!!KKphUJtCzQ!I7Tl3fzpfhCNMBuhKAsKCUCx58C3rwBAv4fWMWpW-9QTksla__QGEB-6jiOq1ojJIIlu1cwqUjk1MYSMNSHhN9BMX3Rc1y-3_t8e$ [us02web[.]zoom[.]us]> on April 15, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
Additional information is available on DEM's website<https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources/financial-assistance/oscar-fund-grants>, including the  Full RFP<https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2024-03/oscar-rfp.pdf>,  Application Form<https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2024-03/oscar-rfp-app.pdf>, Budget Template<https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2024-03/oscar-rfp-budget-temp.pdf>, and Project Narrative Guidance<https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2024-03/oscar-rfp-guidance.pdf>. In advance of filing a proposal, DEM can also answer questions concerning eligibility of a potential project, a potential applicant, and allowable project costs.

For more information on this grant opportunities, please contact either:
Sue Kiernan, Administrator, Office of Water Resources at Sue.Kiernan at dem.ri.gov<mailto:Sue.Kiernan at dem.ri.gov> or (401) 537-4246
Kimberly Korioth, RI Chief Resiliency Officer at Kimberly.Korioth at dem.ri.gov<mailto:Kimberly.Korioth at dem.ri.gov> or (401) 633-4578



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