Clean Vessel Assistance Program Information and Education Grant

The Clean Vessel Assistance Program Information and Education Grant provides funding to municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for projects that promote the use, benefits, and availability of pumpouts within a localized area. Examples of localized areas identified by the program include a town, embayment, or county. The program is administered through EFC, and applicants are instructed to submit an Information and Education grant application to EFC. The stated purpose is specifically to advance awareness and use of pumpouts under the Clean Vessel Act rather than to promote the applicant organization itself. Eligible projects must pertain to some aspect of the Clean Vessel Act as it applies to pumpouts. The program allows flexibility in project design and states that creative projects will be considered when they continue to encompass the intent of the grant. Examples of potentially eligible activities include signs, workshops, written publications and brochures, written advertisements, websites, DVDs, promotional incentives, and radio announcements. Eligible costs generally include costs associated with producing and delivering the project. Examples include content development, printing, production labor, advertising space, workshop space and materials, DVD production, distribution of materials, website posting costs, and talent used in producing materials. Grants provide funding for up to 75 percent of eligible project costs, with a maximum award of $5,000 per project. Because grant funding is limited to 75 percent of eligible costs, the remaining portion of eligible project costs must be supported from sources other than the grant. No minimum grant amount, total program funding amount, or anticipated number of awards is stated in the provided information. All funded projects must credit the Clean Vessel Program/Sport Fish Restoration as the source of project funding. Eligibility is limited to municipalities and not-for-profit organizations. Every project must focus on the benefits, use, and/or availability of pumpouts, and materials produced through the project must primarily address pumpouts. Applicants may use their organization's symbols, name, and personnel in project materials, but these elements cannot become the primary focus because the program is intended to promote pumpout use rather than the organization producing the materials. No additional organizational eligibility requirements are specified in the provided information. Applicants should review the program eligibility and requirements and complete the Information and Education grant application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The application requests basic project information, a description of the proposed project, identification of the area or areas the project will serve, and the amount of funding requested. The provided information does not identify a letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, fixed application opening date, fixed closing date, or separate pre-application deadline. It also does not state formal evaluation criteria or an award notification schedule. Proof of project completion depends on the type of funded activity and must be provided together with reimbursement documentation. Audio or DVD projects require a CD or DVD containing the final product and accompanying text. Classes and workshops require a copy of the final printed agenda and copies of all printed materials distributed during the workshop, regardless of whether those materials are included in reimbursement. Printed-material projects generally require three copies of the final product, while website projects require printed copies of the actual pages and the site's web address. Applicants whose projects do not fit the listed categories, or who need guidance when the normal printed-material requirement cannot be met, are directed to contact the program. The provided materials identify cvap@efc.ny.gov as the Clean Vessel Assistance Program contact email. Applicants are also directed to consult the applicable project Guidance for additional information. The source references an Application for the Information and Education Grant PDF and Application Guidance for the Information and Education Grant PDF, but it does not provide an explicit absolute URL for either document. Since applications are accepted on a rolling basis, there is no stated final deadline or recurring annual application cycle in the supplied information.

Keep the project and produced materials primarily focused on the benefits, use and/or availability of pumpouts rather than organizational promotion; ensure the project pertains to the Clean Vessel Act as it applies to pumpouts; include only eligible production and delivery costs; credit the Clean Vessel Program/Sport Fish Restoration; retain the required project-specific proof of completion and reimbursement documentation.