Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead spring 2024 RFP office hours

The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead is hosting online office hours for two open funding opportunities to accelerate Puget Sound recovery by improving the health of the rivers, forests, shorelines, estuaries, and marine vegetation: 

1. Increase capacity and workforce development to meet Puget Sound habitat recovery goals. 
   • The HSIL will invest up to $5 million in proposals to support short-term capacity, training, and workforce development for protection and restoration projects in Puget Sound.
   • This includes proposals to fund new and existing staff positions, consultant support, and training that will address urgent gaps in an organization’s ability to achieve restoration or protection goals. The HSIL will also invest in proposals that support collaborative capacity and projects that explore solutions to address workforce development and long-term capacity gaps in the Puget Sound recovery system. 
2. New science, synthesis, and analysis for improved protection and restoration of kelp and eelgrass in Puget Sound.
   • The HSIL will invest up to $2 million to address Puget Sound kelp or eelgrass knowledge gaps by funding research, synthesis, and analysis to support future evaluation and development of management tools, policy, and guidance.
   • To meaningfully address the challenges facing kelp and eelgrass, a holistic and inclusive approach to research is needed. Proposals are encouraged from diverse fields of study to include (but not limited to) biophysical science, social science, and Indigenous science.