Great Lakes Restoration Initative

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) represents an incredible chance to see real restoration in one of our nation's most beloved watersheds -- the Great Lakes. A total of $475 million will be invested in on-the-ground restoration within the basin over the next year.

Currently, a request for proposals (RFP) is in circulation which allows watershed groups and others to apply for approximately $120 million dollars of the GLRI through many different grant pools. The deadline for proposals under this RFP is January 29, 2010!

Below you'll find a collection of tools and links designed to help our Partners and other watershed groups wade through the long RFP and design good, strong proposals. Stay tuned for webinars and other opportunities to learn more...but start your proposal today!

River Network and Allies' Tools

• GLRI proposal cheat sheet: We've summarized much of the basic information you'll need in this short document. Use it to cut to the chase...but you'll still want to review the RFP!

• Federal grant writing tips: For many of us, grant writing is a mysterious process -- and federal grant process are downright scary -- but it doesn’t have to be that way. Use this short primer to ease your fear and get writing!

• GLRI proposal checklist: Use this simple spreadsheet to make sure you've meet all the basic proposal requirements.

• Fact sheet: GLRI priority projects : This fact sheet summarizes selections from the 79 page Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Request for Proposals that River Network, National Wildlife Federation, and Freshwater Future believe to be good opportunities for community or state based environmental and conservation organizations. To see the entire summary, refer to the RFP.

• Fact sheet: GLRI secondary priority projects: In this fact sheet you will find additional proposals options from the GLRI RFP that, while not as good of a fit as those listed in the GLRI priority projects fact sheet above, may still be worth consideration by groups.

Useful Links and References

• GLRI Home: This site is EPA's hub for GLRI information, including the Request For Proposals, a link for online submissions, and much, MUCH more. Below are just a few particularly useful resources from the EPA's GLRI hub:

  • Sign up for the GLRI listserve to stay in the loop!
  • U.S. EPA's GLRI Q & A is particularly useful, and constantly evolving. This link also includes access to EPA's webinars on the RFP.

• Healing Our Waters -- Great Lake Coalition: Closely tracking the GLRI funds and related activities.

• Freshwater Future: Works with watershed groups in the Great Lakes basin.