The purpose of this notice is to solicit grant proposals from eligible Great Lakes States for coastal and estuarine land conservation (land acquisition) projects under the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP).

Applications selected for funding through this solicitation will

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be implemented through a grant, with awards dependent upon the amount of funds made available to NOAA for this purpose.

Proposals submitted in response to this announcement shall protect important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from their natural, undeveloped, or recreational state to other uses.

Proposals must also advance the goal of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to protect and restore Great Lakes aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

The designated lead agency for implementing CELCP (lead agency) in each participating State is eligible to submit up to two proposed projects for funding under this competition.

The State’s lead agency may solicit, and include in their application, project proposals from additional eligible State or local agencies, as described in this notice.

Projects must be located in one of the following Great Lakes States that have submitted a CELCP plan to NOAA and are currently participating in the program:
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania (Lake Erie coast); New York (Lake Erie and Lake Ontario coasts); and Wisconsin.

Projects in Illinois and Minnesota will only be eligible if the State’s CELCP lead agency submits a CELCP plan to NOAA by February 12, 201 5.