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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:22.0pt;color:windowtext">DEM extending the deadline for submission of the Resilience Fund grant proposals.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:20.0pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;color:red">The new deadline for submission is now
<u>MONDAY, APRIL 20<sup>th</sup> at 4:00PM. <o:p></o:p></u></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:red"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:windowtext">In addition, <u>we will not be requiring the submission of hard copies</u> (we want to minimize the number of people coming into public spaces, which includes our lobby area).
<u>Please submit only an electronic copy</u> <u>to</u> <a href="mailto:elizabeth.stone@dem.ri.gov">
elizabeth.stone@dem.ri.gov</a>. If attachments are big and you must submit multiple emails, that is fine. I believe our firewall won’t allow emails through with attachments larger than 20MB, so please watch your files sizes. If I do need a hard copy of any
proposal (or portion thereof), I’ll be in touch directly to make that request. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:windowtext">Thank you. If you have any questions, please submit them via email!
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:windowtext">Liz Stone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:windowtext">RIDEM – Office of the Director <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:windowtext">235 Promenade Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:windowtext">Providence, RI 02908<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:windowtext"><a href="mailto:elizabeth.stone@dem.ri.gov">elizabeth.stone@dem.ri.gov</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext">___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:22.0pt;line-height:101%;color:windowtext">Original RFP Announcement:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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Island Department of Environmental Management </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#00457A"> 235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:blue">| <u><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov">www.dem.ri.gov</a></u>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497C">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497C">
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<span style="color:#0070C0"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Gail Mastrati, DEM: 401-222-4700, X2402
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 <a href="mailto:gail.mastrati@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:blue">Gail.mastrati@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="color:blue"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO HELP RI COMMUNITIES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">CONFRONT THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE</span></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">$3 million in new funding is available
<a name="_Hlk31283372">to improve municipal resilience<o:p></o:p></a></span></i></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk31283372"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today that around $3 million in matching grants is available for climate resilience projects throughout Rhode Island. A
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/environmentalprotection/documents/climate-resilience-fund-rfp.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:blue">Request for Proposals</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
(RFP) is now open, with a deadline of April 6, 2020, for projects by government and nonprofit groups that restore and improve the climate resilience of vulnerable coastal habitats, as well as river and stream floodplains and related habitats.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Funding will be provided through the 2018 Green Economy and Clean Water Bond, which Rhode Island voters approved by a margin of almost 80 percent. Having pledged in her State of the State speech to continue
to “address climate change with urgency,” Governor Gina M. Raimondo proposed a $64 million Beach, Clean Water, and Green Bond initiative in the fiscal year 2021 budget. Raimondo’s measure proposes funding a modernization of state parks and beaches, conservation
of forests and farmland, and continued investments in clean water, drinking water, and the Municipal Resilience Program, which would further capitalize climate resilience projects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">“These grants will support the work of our
</span><a href="http://climatechange.ri.gov/documents/resilientrhody18.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:blue">Resilient Rhody</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:blue">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">strategy to protect the health, safety, and livelihoods of our people, communities, and workplaces,” Governor Raimondo said. “We will continue to combat climate change by advancing our clean energy
and heating sectors, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing transportation pollution.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">“In the past decade, Rhode Islanders have seen places we love eroded, flooded, degraded, and lost due to impacts of climate change,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “We are excited that these grants will enable
us to work with governmental and nonprofit entities to protect our treasured habitats and advance a healthier, more resilient Rhode Island. With critical funding that Rhode Islanders approved by supporting the 2018 Green Economy and Clean Water Bond, we are
investing in our state to help ensure our communities are prepared for climate impacts now and in the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">“The Ocean State, through the leadership of Governor Raimondo, is accelerating action and providing resources to strengthen our communities and natural areas to the impacts of climate change,” said Shaun
O’Rourke, Rhode Island’s Chief Resilience Officer. “Together, with our partners like DEM, we look forward to working with stakeholders from across the state to evaluate each of their unique vulnerabilities and support them with critical funds to make their
priority projects a reality.”</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:0in;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Climate change is causing extreme weather, inland and coastal flooding, and sea level rise – resulting in environmental and economic challenges for Rhode Islanders and around the world. Scientific modeling
predicts that these impacts are expected to accelerate. Each of Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns is vulnerable to climate change impacts, with infrastructure and natural systems at risk due to their location in riverine or coastal floodplains. Already:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:"Courier New""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">The sea level has risen over 10 inches at the Newport tide station since 1930.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:"Courier New""><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Annual precipitation rates are climbing an inch almost every 10 years. In 2018, RI experienced a record number of days with over 1 inch of rain.
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<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
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</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">RI is the first state in the lower 48 where average annual temps have risen by over 2 degrees Celsius.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM is seeking grant proposals that will allow municipalities, other governmental entities, and nonprofits to implement climate resilience projects for many kinds of climate-driven challenges facing Rhode
Island communities, inland and coastal. Additional information about eligible projects and the required match is available in the
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/environmentalprotection/documents/climate-resilience-fund-rfp.pdf"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:blue">RFP</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. A public workshop
has been scheduled to discuss the RFP: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Date: Monday, March 2
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Time: 2 PM <o:p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Where: DEM Headquarters, Room 300<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information or to apply contact Elizabeth Stone (</span><a href="mailto:elizabeth.stone@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:blue">elizabeth.stone@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">).
Proposals should be mailed to the DEM Permit Application Center, 235 Promenade Street, Second Floor, Providence, RI 02908 and emailed to
</span><a href="mailto:elizabeth.stone@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:blue">elizabeth.stone@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497C">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Final proposals and supporting materials are due by 4 PM on Monday, April 6, 2020. Governmental entities and non-profits are eligible to apply.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. Follow us on Facebook at
</span><u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:blue"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.facebook.com_RhodeIslandDEM&d=DwMFAg&c=tSLbvWYfvulPN3G_n48TUw&r=PNPCCLvWGdSuU1Tdn5Dnfma8bA9iLrs91avOnZ4uMV0&m=x_4-P7Vz_ZnLDRqWDq050vUywhXtcSTyKoNoNLXNnic&s=MzaDgHLSW8Qx4SNHaAtIJ-Ld3Puu6LF9P1juRRCrybQ&e=">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM [facebook.com]</a></span></u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0065FF">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Sapowet Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Tiverton: DEM uses a mini-excavator to create small, narrow ditches in the saltmarsh to improve tidal circulation, and ultimately,
bring dead spots back to life. Marsh grasses are very tolerant of daily tidal flooding but cannot survive being submerged all the time, which is a harm caused by sea level rise. Along with providing essential food, refuge, and nursery habitat for more than
75 percent of fisheries species, salt marshes act as buffer zones, stabilizing shorelines and protecting coastal areas, inland habitats, and human communities from floods and storm surges. When flooding does occur, the salt marsh acts like a huge sponge, soaking
up the excess water.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
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