presented by: jill spisiak jedlicka, director of ecological programs & buffalo river rap...
TRANSCRIPT
Presented by: Jill Spisiak Jedlicka, Director of Ecological Programs & Buffalo River
RAP Coordinator
Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
Tips from the TrenchesAdministering Federal Grants
HOW Conference
September 24-25, 2010
Buffalo, New York
Presentation OverviewBuffalo Niagara Riverkeeper ContextBuilding CapacityThings your mother never told you about
grant management…Top 10 Tips & Lessons Learned
The Buffalo River Watershed
How do you make this…….turn into this?
Photo courtesy of:Photo courtesy of: Lower Lakes Marine Historical Society
Photo courtesy of:
1924 2004
Photo courtesy of:
Photo courtesy of:Photo courtesy of: National
Aniline and Chemical COmpany
Photo courtesy of:
1951
And this………………………..to this?
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the
only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead
Buffalo River AOC- Riverkeeper Context
TIMELINE
• 1987-1989 RAP Stage 1/Stage 2 Completed
• 1987-1989 “Friends of the Buffalo River” (predecessor to Riverkeeper) is incorporated
• 1989-2003 – Buffalo River RAP Coordinated by NYSDEC
• 2001 – First major NYS grant to “Friends” for aquatic habitat assessment
• 2003- “Friends” granted Buffalo River RAP Management authority from USEPA
• 2005 – Riverkeeper-Army Corps 312 Agreement, RAP Coordination extended 5 yr
• 2007- Riverkeeper-GLNPO Legacy Act Agreement
• 2010- Commence Buffalo River sediment removal with Army Corps
• 2010- Finalist for 5 GLRI awards = $1.9 million
Building Capacity
USEPA-GLNPO R/V Mudpuppy
Photo courtesy of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
There’s cleaning-up…………………...then, there’s clean-up..……..
• Pre and Post Capacity- Build a Portfolio.
• Staffing, volunteers, and Board members
• Organizational standards and requirements
Things you never knew…Timeframes are never as you expect or hope for-
EVER.You need unrestricted funds or overhead to get
started.What’s a QAPP, a DUNS #, an SFR, an RFQ, an RFP,
an MOA, an MOU, an Article 404…? Ask someone.Master the art of information management- track in
kind match, deliverables, and build and maintain institutional knowledge.
Boilerplates for everything, then adapt.Embrace your mistakes and learn from them.
Step 1 – Organize Or Re-Organize
• Identify local group, individual, or agency that is unequivocally committed to the restoration of your river.
• Have the courage to lead and take risk, others will follow.
Photo credit: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Photo credit: Erie County Historical Society
Tips & Lessons Learned
Step 2 – Inform, Educate and Engage• Reach out to and educate local elected officials and agency representatives.
• Know your audience.
• Be prepared to follow up your words with actions.
• Never complain about an issue without offering a solution or next step.
• Take responsibility and build credibility through small scale pilot or demonstration projects .
Photo credits: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
Tips & Lessons Learned
Step 3 – Partnerships, collaborations and the art of compromise.
• Partnerships are only as strong as its weakest link. Try not to be the weakest link.
• Invite everyone to the table, but don’t compromise on what really matters.
• Identify the strength and value of every stakeholder or partner and leverage it to the fullest capacity.
• Challenge, inspire, mobilize, and collaborate with others who can support or derail the efforts – the “Team of Rivals” model.
• Keep the perspective- the big picture and grand vision balanced with a dose of reality.
Photo credits: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
Tips & Lessons Learned
Step 4 – Celebrate & Communicate• Don’t be afraid to contact or utilize the local press.
• Public meetings, tours, presentations and invite feedback.
• Self promotion is never a bad thing (i.e.: completion of major grant project, signing of Legacy agreement, award of new funding).
• Be creative- guerilla tactics, social media, in-your face or subtle.
Tips & Lessons Learned
Photo credits: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
Questions?
Contact:
Jill Spisiak JedlickaDirector of Ecological Programs &Buffalo River Remedial Action Plan
CoordinatorBuffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
(716)[email protected]