1. Are educational public meetings required as part of the application process for a funded project?
No, but they are encouraged. Educational public meetings are not required as part of the application process for GIGP 3, or the project itself. However, grant recipients may choose to hold educational public meetings as a portion of the outreach component for their project or to generate interest in the project prior to application. Please note, depending on how the action is classified under SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act), public hearings may be required as part of your compliance with local and state laws.
2. Can the local match be accomplished using in-kind services or come from a private company?
Yes, both of these options are acceptable. Appropriate contractual commitments would need to be demonstrated by successful grant applicants.
3. What is SERP?
SERP is the State Environmental Review Process. This is a NEPA-like review that is conducted for environmental impacts here in the State of New York, and is facilitated through NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). A guidance document on the SERP and SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) requirements in NYS can be found here.
4. Does the applicant need to complete the SERP/ SEQR process to apply?
No, however, if your project is selected for funding, you must complete the SERP. One required component of the SERP is to complete New York's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) review of a project. The SHPO review is required before EFC can enter into a grant agreement with you for your project. A lead agency, a governmental entity with discretionary review or approval authority, for the project needs to be part of the SERP/SEQR process. To view the guidance, click here.
5. Do we have to comply with Minority & Women’s Business Enterprise (MWBE) requirements?
All GIGP 3 funding must comply with Article 15A of NYS law. MWBE program guidance can be found here. Each recipient is required to complete and submit a MWBE work plan to EFC with their contract. The work plan can be found here.
6. Can you further explain "transfer of technologies?”
"Transfer of technologies" is the sharing of technologies, knowledge, techniques, and methods with other communities and stakeholders who can then further develop and deploy these ideas, methods, or technologies and help deliver them to a wider audience or potential implementers.
The degree to which a project, component, or concept is replicable at other sites, projects, and communities across the State is an important consideration. However, even if a project is being considered for a unique site situation, EFC will still consider whether the project brings forward innovative green concepts or components that are transferrable or can be built upon.
7. Can you better define what would be an innovative project?
An innovative project would be one that is new and different and that provides for better water quality more efficiently. You may want to articulate how many projects similar to yours are in your county, in the State, and in the country. What’s innovative in one community may not be innovative in another. For example, in one community green streets may be commonplace, but in another community it would be completely new and innovative. Innovative projects deploy new technologies or concepts within a local, regional or State context.
8. Does the applicant need to provide resolutions along with the application?
No, however, if the project is selected for funding, EFC will then require copies of these resolutions.
9. Are these reimbursable grants? Does the grant awardee need to front the money?
No, the grant is a cost-incurred grant, meaning that as costs are incurred throughout the duration of the project, disbursements against the grant award can be made to the applicant to pay for these costs. Proof of payment would be required within 45 days of disbursement to verify an invoice has been paid. To reduce the administrative burden, some applicants may choose to cover all costs out of their own funds until the project is complete and then request the grant award.
10. Can the local IDA (Industrial Development Agency) be the applicant?
Yes, but whoever will own, operate and maintain the project should be the applicant or at least a joint applicant, if different than the IDA.
11. What is the difference between a §212, §319, and §320 project?
Point source or §212 refers to any project that is required to obtain a SPDES (State Pollution Discharge Elimination) permit to discharge. Green Infrastructure projects, although non-point source in nature, are considered point source projects when the project is specifically required and regulated by a draft or final SPDES permit for an MS4 or Combined Sewer System, Long Term Control Plan, Administrative / Judicial Order. If the green infrastructure project is not specifically required, it is reviewed as a nonpoint source (NPS) or §319 project. NPS refers to water pollution from diffuse sources that are not directly related to a piped discharge. §320 refers to projects which protect, maintain and improve water quality and implement the activities outlined in a nationally approved Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) or Estuary Plan.
12. If a not-for-profit organization is working with a for-profit company and they have an innovative 319 project, can the for-profit company be the one to own, operate and maintain the project?
Yes, the for-profit company can be the entity that owns, operates and maintains the project. Eligible applicants may include: any county, city, town, village, district corporation, county or town improvement district, Indian reservation wholly within NYS, any public benefit corporation or public authority established pursuant to the laws of NYS or any agency of NYS which is empowered to construct and operate an eligible GIGP 3 project, or any two of the foregoing which are acting jointly in connection with an eligible GIGP 3 project. Eligible applicants may also include: any partnership, association, school district, not-for-profit corporation or any other corporation organized and existing under the laws of NYS or any other state which is empowered to develop a project or any two or more of the foregoing which are acting jointly in connection with a project.
13. If my municipality is currently listed on the Intended Use Plan (IUP) and we are selected for a GIGP 3 grant, does our listing on the IUP become invalid?
No. EFC will work with you to ensure that you do not have funding conflicts.
14. If I have a non-point source project (CWA Section 319), and I am applying for a construction grant, if I have a full engineering report (rather than a conceptual site plan AND feasibility study), would this fulfill the requirement?
Yes. An engineering report is not required for CWA Section 319 projects but if you have one specifically for your project, this can be used in lieu of a conceptual site plan AND a feasibility study.
15. Are pilot / demonstration projects eligible?
Yes, if the project and applicant are eligible under the CWSRF and GPR. However, the project must be a real, feasible project that provides water quality benefits at its location and the project sponsor must commit to continued operation of the project for its useful life or incorporation into a larger future project.
16. When does construction have to be complete?
There is no programmatic deadline for construction completion, however project grant agreements will establish agreed upon final completion dates to ensure timely completion.
17. If there are several entities (planning board, municipality, for-profit) involved in one project, who should the applicant be?
The Applicant should be the party legally responsible for owning, operating and maintaining the project. Another option is a joint application, whereby the party responsible for owning, operating and maintaining the project is one of the applicants who will be subsequently willing to commit to these responsibilities under the EFC grant agreement.
18. Can we use GIGP funds to run a rebate program for our community / municipality?
No, a GIGP 3 grant award must be used for a pre-defined specific project. Intermediate arrangements to distribute GIGP funds are not allowed under this program.
19. Is the installation of water meters eligible and / or competitive? What about installing solar panels and / or energy efficient pumps at a treatment facility?
Both of these projects are great for water conservation and energy efficiency, but these are NOT eligible for GIGP 3. GIGP 3 will only provide funding for green stormwater infrastructure projects. Eligible activities for GIGP 3.can be found on our Application Process page by clicking here.
20. How can I calculate the water quality benefits of my project?
There are several useful tools for estimating pollutant load reduction that you can use for calculating water quality metrics for non-point source practices. Three of these tools are available through the following links:
Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Load
Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation
Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2
21. How do I stay informed of the latest news and updates regarding the Green Innovation Grant Program?
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