As the state’s lead agency for implementing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division is soliciting proposals for land acquisition projects in the coastal region that are consistent with the state’s coastal and estuarine land conservation plan.

NOAA established the CELCP “for the purpose of protecting important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from their natural or recreational state to other uses.” The program provides funding to coastal and Great Lakes states and territories for the acquisition and permanent preservation of such areas.

 Proposals may request up to $1 million for the purchase and permanent protection of important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant ecological, conservation, recreation, historical or aesthetic values.

Eligible applicants include qualified local governments from Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Glynn, Effingham, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne counties and Georgia state agencies.

Applicants must be able to acquire and manage land for the purposes of permanent conservation and public access.

Completed applications must be received by CRD by no later than 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 1. Complete and eligible applications will be reviewed and up to two proposals will be entered into a national funding competition under the NOAA Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. Funding for nationally-ranked projects will be available in October 2014.

Funding has not yet been appropriated.

For more information about this opportunity and to request an application package, contact Jill Andrews or Susan Reeves at (912) 264-7218.