Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. Waters for Georgia Program

The Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. supports a wide range of project types that address the sources or causes of water quality impairments and support multiple benefits for communities and aquatic ecosystems.

All projects must have a clear link to watershed and ecosystem health.

Projects that also include objectives related to improving community well-being, water supply sustainability and/or resiliency for sustainable uses such as agriculture, municipal drinking water, industry, recreation, etc. are strongly encouraged.

Examples of project types include (but are not limited to):

• Implementation of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) linked to improved water quality (e.g., stream fencing, off-channel livestock watering, sediment control, etc.)

• Physical enhancement of aquatic or riparian habitat (e.g., buffer revegetation/restoration, stream channel reconstruction, instream habitat structure, improved stream/aquatic passage, barrier removal etc.)

• Improving or addressing water conservation (e.g., irrigation efficiency, groundwater recharge, reconnecting floodplains, etc.)

• Green infrastructure: stormwater runoff management to the extent that stormwater influences impairment criteria

• Others (e.g., all project types which directly address and enhance water quality and aquatic habitats and meet all other program criteria will be considered for funding)

Proposals meeting the eligibility and content requirements of this RFP will be reviewed by a committee including academic and non-profit stakeholders with knowledge of water quality issues in Georgia. Final project selection will be made based on the recommendation of the review committee.

Priority will be given to projects that have the following attributes: 

• Have the potential to impact the long-term ecological health of the water body and larger watershed;
• Contribute to an existing watershed, water quality improvement, or conservation plan or initiative (including National, regional, State, or local scales); 
• Contribute to species conservation in biologically impaired streams, particularly those involving rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) species; 
• Can be monitoring by an existing or proposed monitoring plan;
• Provide clear social co-benefit(s) - especially in -BIPOC or underserved communities;
• Leverage cost-sharing and/or matching funds through private donors, corporate partners, and/or state 319(h) grants or other government funding to maximize overall project value; 
• Have current unmet funding needs of at least $25,000; or GPF will consider unmet/gap funding proposals of less than $25,000 for projects that promise exceptional water stewardship benefits to the community
• Will be implemented and begin delivering benefits by December 31, 2023

Provide a project title that is descriptive of the location and action being taken.

• Identify the organization that is the official proposal sponsor (name, address, phone, website, and EIN).
• Provide the contact information for the person responsible for all project related correspondence (name, address, phone, email).
• Provide contact information for the person(s) responsible for managing the project (project planning, implementation, and reporting) (name, address, phone, email).
• List all project partner organizations (name, address, phone, and contact person).

Provide a concise narrative of 200 words or less that describes the project context, site conditions, and factors that may influence successful implementation, expected outcomes, and long-term desired impact.

All proposals should include - at minimum - a basic Project Map (e.g. Google Earth): This should include the physical location of the project (Lat/Long coordinates), and the extent or targeted stream-reach expected to benefit. Please include names of streams or watersheds and nearest town and/or county place names.

• Identify any relevant restoration/conservation plans or initiatives to which the project contributes (e.g. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), species conservation plan, Watershed Assessment and Protection Plan, etc.).
• Identify and describe the environmental and/or social issue(s) the project addresses or solves (as defined by existing comprehensive plans identified above).
• List the designated uses the waterbody fails to support (is it listed as impaired under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act?) and the key parameters of concern.

• Describe the project approach or strategy and the specific implementation objectives against which progress or completion can be measured.
• Identify the desired environmental or social outcomes and describe how the work benefits the ecosystem and/or human communities.
• [Upload] Project designs, if available.
• Describe how the project’s implementation objectives and outcomes will be measured and over what timeframe.
• What is the organization’s track record for implementing similar projects?

Define the project implementation timeframe. Include the proposed project start-date, key intermediate milestones, and anticipated date of completion. Include any key permits, landowner permissions and authorizations necessary for project success.

• What is the overall estimated cost of the project? Identify any unmet funding needs?
• If known, what percentage of the total project cost is shared (or anticipated to be shared) by other funding sources (e.g. 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) and the diversity of funder types (public, private, local to demonstrate local commitment, etc.)?
• How much funding is sought from the Waters for Georgia Program?
• Please complete the provided budget template and include the following details:
  • How much funding is sought from the Waters for Georgia Program?
  • Identify any secured funding.
  • What activities or costs would be funded through support from the Waters for Georgia Program?