DNREC announces availability of 2020 Community Environmental Project Fund grants; public workshops set for Sept. 10-11

DOVER – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin has announced the availability of Community Environmental Project Fund (CEPF) grants for the 2020 grant cycle – with DNREC scheduling two upcoming public workshops about the CEPF program and applying for the grants. Workshops will be held in New Castle County Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 from 6-7:30 p.m. at DNREC offices at 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, with a Wednesday, Sept. 11 workshop for Kent and Sussex Counties taking place from 6-7:30 p.m. in the DNREC Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

House Bill 192 created the Community Environmental Project Fund, in February 2004. HB 192 requires that CEPF funds benefit the communities where the civil or administrative violations occurred. It provides for the restoration of affected communities by funding environmental projects that result in:
• The reduction of pollution
• The enhancement of natural resources
• The enhancement of natural resources for the purposes of creating recreational opportunities for the citizens of Delaware

IRS tax-exempt organizations are eligible for CEPF grants up to $20,000. These include: civic and community organizations, educational institutions, counties, municipal governments, state agencies and quasi-state agencies. The application deadline is Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. The projects funded in this grant cycle will commence on July 1, 2020, and should be completed by June 30, 2021.

Pre-registration is requested for the public workshops, but is not required. Please contact James Brunswick, DNREC Community Ombudsman within the Division of Community Affairs at 302-739-9040 and James.Brunswick@delaware.gov to pre-register or for more information about the workshops.

For an application form and more information on the CEPF program, please visit:
https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/community-services/environmental-project-fund/

Vol. 49, No. 220

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DNREC announces availability of Community Environmental Project Fund grant applications

Public workshops set for Nov. 14 and 15 on CEPF grant process and environmental project funding program

DOVER – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin today announced the availability of Community Environmental Project Fund (CEPF) applications administered by the Department. The CEPF grant program was created in 2004 by House Bill 192, as legislation that enables DNREC to withhold 25 percent of all civil or administrative penalties collected by the Department as CEPF funds.

HB 192 requires that CEPF funds benefit communities where civil or administrative violations occurred, and provides for the restoration of these affected communities by funding environmental projects that:

  • Reduce pollution.
  • Enhance natural resources.
  • Enhance natural resources for the purposes of creating recreational opportunities for the citizens of Delaware.

IRS tax-exempt organizations are eligible for CEPF grants of up to $20,000. Applications for the CEPF grants can be found on the DNREC website, or can be obtained by calling James Brunswick, DNREC community ombudsman, at 302-739-9040. The CEPF grant application deadline is Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 by DNREC’s close of business (4:30 p.m.)

DNREC will hold two public workshops Nov. 14 and 15 on the CEPF grant-funding program, scheduled as follows:

  • New Castle County: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 7-7:30 p.m., at DNREC’s Lukens Drive offices (Conference Room A, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720)
  • Kent and Sussex Counties: Thursday, Nov. 15, 7-7:30 p.m. DNREC Auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover DE 19901

Pre-registration is requested, but not required. Please email Lisa Myura or call 302-855-1915 to pre-register.

For an application form, and more information on the CEPF grant program, please visit the Community Environmental Project Fund web page.