Frequently Asked Questions
We will periodically update this section
to respond to new questions about the project.
Last update: September 13, 2007.
- Who should submit an Expression of Interest form?
- What if multiple groups or programs within a state submit separate Expressions of Interest?
- What is the process for selection?
- What criteria will be used to select states?
- How would a state demonstrate willingness to work across programs?
- How many states will be selected?
- If my state is selected, what assistance and products can we expect?
- Who are the project partners and what kinds of expertise do they bring to this work?
- If my state is selected, will the state be required to change programs or local land use as a result?
- What will not be funded?
- Is a match required?
- If our state is not selected this year, will we have to apply again to be considered for the next year?
- Aside from administrative support, what duties/responsibilities would you expect from cooperating staff members of participating states?
- Will you require extensive/frequent travel for this program?
- We're a public utility, can we submit an Expression of Interest?
- You say, “Each state will receive a modest amount of financial support to initiate implementation activities.” What is a modest amount?
- Who do I contact with other questions/for more information?
Who should submit an Expression of Interest form?
The Trust for Public Land and the Smart Growth Leadership Institute are seeking interested parties within states to submit a two-page Expression of Interest form for the project. Any state agency may submit the form. For example, the Governors office and/or state level departments related to environmental protection, public health, natural resources, or planning and growth management may be interested. State agencies may also want to coordinate their submission with watershed groups, state smart growth or growth management organizations, extension agencies, and other non-profit organizations working on source water. Organizations outside state government should coordinate with state officials to apply.
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What if multiple groups or programs within a state submit separate Expressions of Interest?
The Trust for Public Land/Smart Growth Leadership Institute team will notify the applicants within the state and provide contact information for all those who have applied. We will ask the separate applicants to coordinate and submit one Expression of Interest within a week of notification. If you think other programs or groups within your state would be interested, early coordination is advised.
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What is the process for selection?
The process for selecting demonstration states involves two steps. First, interested parties within a state should fill out the Expression of Interest form. These forms are due at 6:00 pm of September 21, 2007. Applications that best meet the critical criteria (see below) will be asked to submit a full application. Those applications will be due November 16, 2007. We plan to select states by November 30, 2007.
See a longer explanation of the application process.
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What criteria will be used to select states?
A detailed list of the selection criteria is available here. The threshold, or critical criteria are (1) demonstration of willingness to work across programs to align and integrate program requirements and (2) high-level commitment for participation, ideally from the Governors office.
Supporting criteria include:
- Evidence of past cross-program collaboration among state agencies.
- Potential for implementation, such as past success in cross-program coordination.
- Use of public/private partnerships and locally based stakeholder groups for natural resource and watershed protection.
- Evidence of intergovernmental partnerships.
- State laws supporting or requiring comprehensive planning, or state financial or technical assistance programs to promote land use and land protection planning.
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How would a state demonstrate willingness to work across programs?
For this project, a willingness to align and integrate programs might be shown through current or future coordination or written agreements among state programs. States might also point to current or planned efforts to:
- Provide eligibility or give preferences for funding from a variety of state programs to water protection efforts.
- Share personnel with expertise in land use and water protection and natural resources planning.
- Align budgets across programs to achieve joint water, land and natural resource protection priorities.
- Implement the results of program audits related to regional planning or watershed protection.
- Work across programs to deliver technical and financial assistance to localities.
- Meet regularly to discuss or plan for relevant programmatic policies, activities and opportunities.
- Involve local stakeholders in joint planning and decision making on source water protection, watershed protection and growth management.
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How many states will be selected?
The project managers will select three (3) partner states in the first year of this project. We anticipate selecting two more partner states each year for the next two years of this project.
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If my state is selected, what assistance and products can we expect?
Each state selected will receive tangible benefits, such as expert consultation on best practices for aligning water and land programs from around the country, exposure to other state examples and strategies, recommendations for program and policy alignment based on state-specific reviews, a support networkboth within and outside governmentfor implementation within the state, and strategies for improving funding for source water protection.
State program review teams will be comprised of experts in land conservation, land use, drinking water and clean water management programs from the four national partners (see below). The reviews will focus on identifying the specific opportunities in each state for policy integration and program management changes to support local and watershed-based source water protection. Existing funding mechanisms will be examined to identify opportunities related to priorities, criteria, eligibilities and analyses will be undertaken to determine the need for and capacity to create new financing tools. The reviewers will identify mechanisms that other states have successfully used and provide customized recommendations based on each states particular constraints and capabilities. During a state-specific workshop, participants will review these recommendations and craft a written action plan with clear identification of short- and long-term implementation steps and responsibilities. Finally, each state will receive a modest amount of financial support to initiate implementation activities.
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Who are the project partners and what kinds of expertise do they bring to this work?
Read about the project partners.
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If my state is selected, will the state be required to change programs or local land use as a result?
This project focuses on making recommendations for program alignment and integration at the state level. Participating states are not required to act on the recommendations. Neither will the project direct or require local land use or ordinance changes, which come under the purview of local governments.
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What will not be funded?
This grant will not offer money for capital projects or equipment. This project will also not involve water quality monitoring or assessment.
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Is a match required?
A financial match is not required, however, a commitment of staff time is required as part of the critical criteria. We ask for a commitment of staff time as follows:
- Senior managers for short kick-off meeting or interview plus 1.5-day workshop.
- Logistical support of 40 to 60 hours from at least one staff person.
- Up to 20-30 hours from senior programmatic staff from each program involved to assist in the program review.
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If our state is not selected this year, will we have to apply again to be considered for the next year?
Yes. We will run separate solicitations for years two and three of the program.
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Aside from administrative support, what duties/responsibilities would you expect from cooperating staff members of participating states?
Senior managers from each participating department or agency would be expected to participate in teleconferences, short meetings or interviews.
We may ask key state officers or agency managers to participate in a whole day or two-day workshop.
We expect select staff members from concerned programs to help gather and review relevant policy documents and information on program requirements and implementation. (We expect this to take up to 20-30 hours of their time.)
We may also need logistical support (about 40 to 60 hours) from key staff members of the lead agencies, particularly to help us arrange for workshops or other meetings.
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Will you require extensive/frequent travel for this program?
We do not expect that state personnel will incur any travel expenses as part of this project.
Our team will travel to your state for any meetings.
In certain cases, we may support travel for select stakeholders to allow them to participate in key meetings or workshops.
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We're a public utility, can we submit an Expression of Interest?
It will be to your state's benefit if you can partner with a state agency and work with them on the submission.
The state agency should be the primary applicant and should indicate your full support for the application.
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You say, “Each state will receive a modest amount of financial support to initiate implementation activities.” What is a modest amount?
We will provide small grants in each state (a maximum of $ 2,500 per project) that can go to initiating or monitoring the implementation of action plans to improve and better align the state's source water protection and land use programs.
Of course, the primary benefit for selected partner states will be the free consultation from a brain trust of national and regional experts (in water and land use) selected and invited by the project partners. With input from these experts, we will help each state to identify opportunities and draw up an implementation action plan. (That's where the "modest amount" in small grants comes in.)
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Who do I contact with other questions/for more information?
For more information, email Janet Pawlukiewicz with The Trust for Public Land (phone: (202) 543-7552); or. Benjamin de la Peña with the Smart Growth Leadership Institute (phone: (202) 207 3355 ext. 26).
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