A DNREC Community Water Quality Improvement Grant helped fund construction of Tidewater Park in Laurel /DNREC photo.

Deadline for Submissions for Upcoming Grant Cycle is April 26

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control encourages Delaware non-profit organizations, conservation districts, community organizations and homeowners’ associations to submit project proposals to be considered for matching grant funds from DNREC’s Community Water Quality Improvement Grants program.

Funding for grant award projects in this cycle is expected to range from $25,000 to $75,000. Projects recommended by DNREC staff for funding through a competitive grant process will be presented to the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council. Applicants may submit up to two project proposals per grant cycle. The request for proposals can be found at de.gov/envfinance.

Community Water Quality Improvement Grants assist in implementing projects or programs that improve water quality on developed lands with specific watershed improvement plans and strategies. Programs and projects selected for these grants must demonstrate innovative and sustainable methods, techniques, and/or practices for water quality improvements, with cost effective and measurable results.

Eligible projects may include:

• Enhancement or restoration of water quality within an impaired watershed.
• Community stormwater management improvements in existing developments in partnership with municipalities.
• Non‐regulatory or voluntary plans involving pollution control strategies, watershed-based restoration plans, whole basin management preliminary assessments, or community‐based stormwater permits.

Past projects that received Community Water Quality Improvement Grant funding have included: a green roof installation; living shoreline installation and marsh enhancement to stop erosion; a stormwater retrofit project featuring a wetland and bioswale to manage stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces; stream bank restoration to reduce erosion and sedimentation; and floating wetlands in Inland Bays dead-end canals to improve water quality.

Grant proposals should be submitted by email to NPS.grants@delaware.gov with “Community Water Quality Improvement Grants” in the subject line. Emailed proposals must be less than 10MB. All grant proposals must be received by DNREC close of business (4:30 p.m. EDT) Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Environmental Finance team administers Delaware’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund, making funding available to municipalities, the private sector, nonprofit organizations and individuals. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship is now accepting project proposals for matching grants for community water quality improvement projects. Delaware non-profit organizations, conservation districts, community organizations and homeowner’s associations are eligible to apply. Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. Oct. 24.

Community Water Quality Improvement Grants assist in implementing projects or programs to improve water quality on developed lands consistent with specific plans developed for watershed improvements. Programs and projects selected will demonstrate innovative and sustainable methods, techniques, and/or practices for water quality improvements, with cost effective and measurable results. Projects will be recommended for funding by the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council through a competitive grant process.

Funding for projects receiving a grant award in this cycle is anticipated to range from $25,000 minimum to $75,000 maximum. This grant requires a 25 percent cash match which may be federal, state, or local cash. Applicants may submit up to two project proposals per grant cycle.

Proposals should be submitted by email to Sharon.Webb@delaware.gov (Subject: Community Water Quality Improvement Grant). Proposals submitted by email must be less than 10MB. Project guidelines and the application can be found on DNREC’s website on the Environmental Finance webpage.

For more information, please contact Sharon Webb at 302-739-9922.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 48, No. 256

Dover, DE – For the seventh consecutive year, grant funds for Delaware schools and nonprofits to promote financial literacy across the state are now available through the state’s Financial Literacy Education Fund (FLEF).

“Delaware continues to lead the way in making financial education available to Delawareans from all walks of life,” said Governor John Carney. “Through a variety of programs that teach how to establish and maintain a household budget, educate youth on the importance of having good credit, and help families buy their first homes, Delaware’s schools and non-profit organizations have the tools to promote healthy financial decision making.”

Since the FLEF was established in 2010, approximately $2 million has been awarded to more than two dozen organizations to improve financial literacy for Delawareans of all ages. Students in Delaware schools have learned the importance of saving money, families living in rental housing have been coached along the path to homeownership, and pregnant and parenting young women have learned how to develop financial plans to strengthen their futures.

This year, a total of $270,000 will be made available to support programs that meet criteria established by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner and the Department of Education. Funding for the FLEF is derived from a license fee charged to businesses that make high-cost payday loans and car title loans.

Proposals for competitive grants will be considered on the basis of how they improve the financial literacy of Delawareans, especially programs that are proactive, preventive, and forward-thinking. Applications for programs and services designed to reach populations or geographic regions that have had limited access to financial literacy programs are encouraged, with special emphasis on reaching out to members of the military, seniors and minority communities.

All schools recognized by the Delaware Department of Education and Delaware organizations with 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status are eligible to apply. The FLEF has one competitive grant cycle each year, overseen by an award committee.

Grant applications are due by Friday, September 15, 2017 and must be completed using the form available at banking.delaware.gov. Forms should be emailed to Dawn Hollinger at the Office of the State Bank Commissioner (dawn.hollinger@delaware.gov) along with any attachments. Receipt of grant applications will be confirmed within three business days. If applicants do not receive confirmation, they should contact Dawn Hollinger at 302-739-4235 and resubmit their applications.

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Contact: Doug Denison
Department of State
doug.denison@delaware.gov
302-857-3038

WASHINGTON (June 22, 2017) — Delaware’s arts and culture industry generates $149.9 million in annual economic activity by supporting 4,062 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $10.5 million in local and state government revenues, according to the latest Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 national economic impact study, which was released on June 17 at the Americans for the Arts’ annual conference in San Francisco.

“This report demonstrates that the arts continue to be an important economic driver in Delaware, providing jobs for our citizens, generating business for our restaurants and other small enterprises, and tax revenue for our state and local governments. In addition to the important economic impacts, the arts benefit all Delawareans from children to senior citizens across the socioeconomic spectrum, and from rural communities to the cities,” says J. Mack Wathen, chair of the Delaware State Arts Council.

Results show that nonprofit arts and culture organizations spent $103.6 million during fiscal year 2015. This spending is far-reaching: organizations pay employees, purchase supplies, contract for services and acquire assets within their community. Those dollars, in turn, generated $111.6 million in household income for local residents and a $10.5 million in local and state government revenues, which is approximately a 3:1 return on investment. The Delaware Division of the Arts receives state funding approximately $3 million for grants to support arts and community-based organizations, schools and individual artists.

Arts Industry Boon for Local Businesses

In addition to spending by organizations, the nonprofit arts and culture industry leverages $46.3 million (excluding the cost of admission) in event-related spending by its audiences. As a result of attending a cultural event, attendees often eat dinner in local restaurants, pay for parking, buy gifts and souvenirs, and pay a babysitter. What’s more, attendees from out of town often stay overnight in a local hotel, which helps support local tourism offices.

“The report confirms that the arts mean business for Delaware. Investment in the arts contributes to a stronger economy and improved quality of life which attracts a talented workforce to Delaware. Delaware has countless arts and cultural events at any given time as seen in DelawareScene.com, an online calendar managed by the Delaware Division of the Arts. Corporations, small businesses and individuals looking for a vibrant location to call home should look to Delaware as a place to settle,” says Guillermina Gonzalez, executive director of the Delaware Arts Alliance.

In Delaware, 95 of the 135 eligible nonprofit arts and cultural organizations participated in this study—an overall participation rate of 70.4 percent. A list of the participating organizations can be found in the full report. In addition to organizational data, a total of 1,417 valid audience-intercept surveys were collected from attendees to nonprofit arts and cultural performances, events, and exhibitions during 2016.

The full report and one-page summary can be found at: http://arts.delaware.gov/resources/arts-research/

The Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study was conducted by Americans for the Arts and supported by The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts’ local, regional, and statewide project partners contributed both time and financial support to the study. Financial information from organizations was collected in partnership with DataArts™, using a new online survey interface. For a full list of the communities who participated in the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study, visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org/AEP5Partners.

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

Applications Being Sought From Schools, Community Non-Profit Organizations — Deadline is February 17, 2012

WILMINGTON – Governor Jack Markell continues his longstanding commitment to improving financial education by announcing a second round of grants available through the State’s Financial Literacy Education Fund (FLEF). Non-profit organizations and K-12 schools throughout Delaware are eligible to apply for funding to increase financial and economic literacy among youth and adults.

A total of over $400,000 is available to support programs that meet criteria established by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner and the Department of Education. The funding is derived from a license fee charged to businesses that make high-cost payday loans and car title loans. Grants were awarded to 13 non-profit organizations in fiscal year 2011.

“It’s been part of my mission since first being elected to public office to help Delaware families get the education and tools they need to live within a budget, borrow responsibly and maximize returns on their savings and investments. We want individuals and families to be able to build their own financial security,” Markell said. “The Financial Literacy Education Fund has already helped hundreds of Delawareans gain the skills they need to better manage their finances.”

Proposals for competitive grants will be considered on the basis of how they improve the financial literacy of Delawareans. The State is particularly interested in funding proactive, preventive, and forward-thinking proposals. Applications for programs and services designed to reach populations or geographic regions within the State that have had limited access to financial literacy programs are encouraged.

FLEF grants will be awarded to schools and other organizations for K-12 financial literacy programs, adult financial literacy programs, and targeted campaigns for residents facing decisions on debt, with special emphasis on reaching out to members of the military, seniors and minority communities. A grants committee will oversee all grant-making.

All schools recognized by the Delaware Department of Education and nonprofit organizations within the State of Delaware that have a 501(c)(3) designation by the Internal Revenue Service are eligible to apply. The Fund has one competitive Program Grant cycle each year.

For fiscal year 2012, grant applications are due no later than February 17, 2012.  Grants must be completed using the form available at http://banking.delaware.gov and sent to Dawn Hollinger (dawn.hollinger@delaware.gov) along with any attachments.

Receipt of grant applications will be confirmed within 3 business days. If applicants do not receive confirmation, they should contact Ms. Hollinger at the Office of the State Bank Commissioner at 302-739-4235 and resubmit their applications.