CONTACT:
Kevin Peterson, NHCF, (603) 653-0387
John Magee, NHFG, (603) 271-2744
August 22, 2005

Grants Available for River Restoration, Wetland and Shoreland Protection

The Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund Announces 2005 Grant Application Deadlines

CONCORD, N.H. -- Grants for projects involving river restoration; wetland protection, restoration and enhancement; and shoreland protection are available from the Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund.

Application deadlines are September 30, 2005, for concept papers and November 30, 2005, for full applications. A complete copy of the application packet, as well as a list of previous grant awards from the Fund, can be found at www.nhcf.org/uppervalley.

The Fund is administered by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Vermont Community Foundation, with grant recommendations provided by a 12-person advisory committee. Over a 15-year period, the Fund is expected to provide approximately $12 million in grants.

More than $2 million in grants have been awarded in the Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund's first three years. The Fund was created as part of a settlement agreement between the parties involved in the federal process of awarding a new operating license for three hydroelectric dams on the Connecticut River at Fifteen Mile Falls near Littleton, N.H., and Ryegate, Vt.

For more information on the Fund or the grantmaking program, contact Kevin Peterson at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Upper Valley Region, at (603) 653-0387 or kp@nhcf.org. Visit the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation at www.nhcf.org. Visit the Vermont Community Foundation at www.vermontcf.org or call (802) 388-3355.

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