In This Issue

• Network Updates
• Incase You Missed It
• Upcoming Meetings
• Trainings, Workshops, & Conferences
• Recommended Reads
• Funding Opportunities
• Jobs & Internships
• About the DRCN

The City of Crisfield is excited to announce that it has received four Department of Housing and Community Development Community Legacy grants to fund the Low Income Housing Initiative, Armory rehabilitation, an interpretive historical sign, and the Business Façade Program. The City is also pleased to have completed the submission of an application for the Southern Crisfield Flood Mitigation Project through the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant.

Read Full Press Release

Visit Crisfield's New Flooding Mitigation Website

With any questions, contact:

Jennifer Merritt, City of Crisfield Grant Administrator

jmerritt@crisfieldcityhall.com



Earlier this month, DRCN joined the Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative in hosting a the Delmarva Collaborative Funding Forum. The event took place January 5 at Chesapeake Community College. The event included a slate of presentations from funders, aimed at providing applicants an inside look into the grant funding process. The event also featured a variety of opportunities for applicants to learn from eachothers' sucesses and challenges pursuing collaborative grant proposals in the past. Breakout groups provided space to work through challenges specific to wetland and habitat restoration, versus technical/financial assistance delivery to farms.

With nearly 70 in attendence, partcipants came from a wide range of organizations. Funding presenters included USDA, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (INSR, SWG, Chesapeake WILD programs), and Chesapeake Bay Trust.

View Agenda

ESLC Finalizes 325th Conservation Easement

ESLC and Green Point Farms, LLC finalized a conservation easement at Windy Ridge Farm in northwest Kent County, protecting more than 75 acres of agricultural and wooded land along Mill Creek. Approximately 46 acres are devoted to traditional grain agriculture and 26 acres are held in woodlands. Mill Creek runs through the wooded portions of the property, with its water quality protected through permanent buffers along 700 feet of its length. The protection of Windy Ridge Farm shows Green Point Farms’ strong dedication to the conservation of their lands throughout the region. Completion of this project marks the fourth conservation easement completed with Green Point Farms over the past three years. Together with Bradford Farm, Niedermayer Farm and Joiner Farm, more than 530 acres are now protected along Flatland, Hanesville, and Lambs Meadow Road. The Windy Ridge Farm conservation easement was protected in partnership with the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) and the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army’s Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program funded the acquisition of the easement.

DNR Asks Residents to Share Flood Photos on "MyCoast Maryland"

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently launched the new MyCoast Maryland app that enables people to easily upload photos of flood conditions in their neighborhood during or after major rain and flood events.

Read here

DLLC Webinar on Rapid Stream Delisting

On December 8, 2023, DLLC hosted a webinar on how high-resolution data and outreach efforts are being used to target and restore agriculturally-impacted streams in Pennsylvania, and how the process could be replicated in other areas.

Watch Here

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Forests and Forestry Workshop

Logging and forestry are commonly misconstrued as being more harmful than helpful to the environment. But this isn’t always the case. Last week’s forestry workshop, hosted by the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), highlighted...

Read on Maryland Planning Blog

The U.S Fish & Wildlife Service, in partnership with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), will be soliciting grant proposals early 2024 through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF) and the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) Grant Program. Through these grant programs, USFWS strives to conserve and restore habitats for fish and wildlife and connect people to our natural resources across the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds.

Quick Facts:

• Funding Amounts: Approximately $14 million will be awarded through the DWCF and $8 million through Chesapeake WILD.
• Timeline: The Request for Proposals (RFP) for both programs will be released mid-January with proposals due mid-March. Grant award announcements will be made late summer/early fall 2024.

Resources:

• NFWF Field Liasons: NFWF Field Liaisons are contractors who are experienced at answering questions about the application process and working one-on-one with grant applicants to develop grant proposal content.
• Webinars: Multiple information webinars will be hosted in advance of the submission deadline, with posted recordings (Jan dates TBD, refer to above grant program links for updates) (illustration by: Sophia Blanco Seufert, USFWS)
• Proposal Labs: Both programs will host virtual proposal labs throughout the open RFP period. These coaching sessions are intended to provide a space and time for prospective applicants to share new proposal ideas and receive feedback. Proposal lab signups will go live early 2024, visit the websites above for updates!