APPLY FOR FUNDING

The Lake Huron Forever Partners Program is accepting applications from interested municipalities, schools, tribal governments, First Nations, conservation organizations and watershed groups to receive support for their efforts.

Currently the Lake Huron Forever Partners Program, through generous support from Bruce Power and a Consumers Energy Foundation Planet Award, has funding available to support Ontario and Michigan-based projects in the Lake Huron watershed. 

Grants from $5,000 to $10,000 are available for organizations that meet the following program objectives and eligibility criteria.

WHAT WE SUPPORT

Protecting water quality, ensuring the diversity of plant and animal life and supporting communities across the region means committing to the long-term protection of Lake Huron. In the coming years, we strive to engage communities and activate collaboration and partnerships to sustain a healthy Lake Huron through the Lake Huron Forever initiative. The following identifies specific focus areas of the partnership and suggests examples of projects and programs that advance each important program area. The examples are only some of the potential project ideas that a community or partner may be thinking about to protect Lake Huron forever. 

The Lake Huron Forever Program can support;

• Programs/projects to understand the impacts of stormwater in your community (i.e. stormwater assessments and/or mapping)

• Development of educational programs

• Development and delivery of training opportunities/workshops

• Connection to regional marketing and outreach efforts on stormwater and nature-based solutions

• Access to regional gatherings and peer-to-peer learning opportunities 

• Design and implementation of direct on-the-ground nature-based solutions projects 

WATER QUALITY - Protecting water quality for people and wildlife ensures that it’s safe for drinking and recreation. 

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS/GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE - Natural landscapes and alternatives to gray infrastructure can reduce flooding and pollution in lakes and streams that drain into Lake Huron.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES - Focusing on the intersection between communities and the environment, or people and place so that projects that protect Lake Huron also focus on improving and protecting human and public health. 

EDUCATION - Peer-to-peer learning can be used to raise awareness for the challenges and values Lake Huron communities face. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Eligible organizations and partners are; civic organizations, business and economic development entities, faith-based organizations (not eligible for direct support of religious activities/programming), local and tribal government, First Nations, registered charities, incorporated not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions. For those organizations that do not have a valid Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Canada Revenue Agency number (CRA) these applications must have an eligible “Sponsor Organization” who is recognized by the IRS or CRA.  Review the Cover Sheet for full eligibility requirements.

MICHIGAN - This funding opportunity is open to projects and partners based in the Saginaw Bay Watershed and in coastal communities of the Lake Huron Watershed. For those organizations that do not have a valid Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) these applications must have an eligible “Sponsor Organization” who is recognized by the IRS.

ONTARIO - The applicant must have a CRA number and show, at minimum, board-approved financial statements from the most recent fiscal year.

HOW TO APPLY

Grants from $5,000 to $10,000 are available for organizations that meet the following program objectives and eligibility criteria.

MICHIGAN - Interested organizations may apply for a grant up to $10,000 USD by completing the application form and submitting by email to Samantha Nellis at samantha@huronpines.org. The deadline to apply is Friday, December 2nd at 5:00pm. Applicants will be notified of decisions early in the new year.

ONTARIO - Interested organizations may apply for a grant up to $10,000 CAD by completing the application form and submitting by email to Erinn Lawrie at erinn.lawrie@lakehuron.ca. The deadline to apply is Friday, December 2nd at 5:00pm. Applicants will be notified of decisions early in the new year.

WHY BECOME A LAKE HURON FOREVER PARTNER

Using nature-based design, peer-to-peer learning and expanding connections to the Lake Huron network provides communities and technical partners access to more resources, support, communications tools and learning opportunities. The combination of these tools can lead to more green and recreational space, while reducing the burden of excess water flowing into aging sewer systems, improving water quality and increasing resilience for communities struggling with high water levels and flooding.

The projects supported by the Lake Huron Forever program can kickstart community conversations and actions to design and complete on-the-ground work to strengthen the health and well-being of residents, as well as our natural resources. Green infrastructure planning is an accessible platform for incorporating broad community perspective, experience and abilities. By focusing on the residents and the resources, Lake Huron Forever aims to integrate Great Lakes stewardship into all aspects of coastal community life.

BACKGROUND

The Lake Huron Forever initiative was developed in 2019, by a group of partners from around the Lake Huron basin. The goal of this program is to advance water quality protection in communities around Lake Huron. 

The Lake Huron Forever Program is made possible in part through the contributions by Great Lakes environmental and community funders; Bay Area Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, Consumers Energy Foundation, Bruce Power, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network.