OERA (Offshore Energy Research Association) is inviting applications from community based or not-for-profit organizations in the Bay of Fundy region to participate in an OERA established Participation Support Fund.
The purpose of the Participation Support Fund is to provide modest one time grants to local organizations or community groups to undertake small research initiatives that will support the Bay of Fundy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Update by adding information, a particular perspective or further value to the SEA. The primary goal of the Bay of Fundy SEA Update process is to scope and understand the potential environmental effects that offshore wind, wave and in particular, in-stream tidal technologies, will have on the offshore and coastal environment for the Bay of Fundy region.
Awards will be made at the discretion of OERA for proposals in the following categories:
– Initiatives that will bring new information to the SEA process through small locally-based research projects (maximum award $3,000); and
– Initiatives that will bring views and ideas to the SEA process from stakeholders who might otherwise not participate (maximum award $500).
“It is very important to get as much community-based involvement in the Strategic Environmental Assessment process as possible,” said Stephen Dempsey, Executive Director of OERA . “This program will provide a channel for not-for-profit organizations and community groups to facilitate the type of research we support but are not typically engaged in such efforts. It allows us and others to build research from the community level up, as well as to unite efforts of communities and strengthen partnerships between these types of groups”.
Submissions for proposals are due on Friday, August 23rd, 2013 by 4:00 pm AST.
[mappress] Press Release, July 17, 2013