Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund
Register here for the 2024 LISCIF Annual Learning Exchange on June 27 hosted by CUNY Graduate Center’s Earth and Environmental Sciences Department.
About LISCIF
The Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) is a partnership between Restore America’s Estuaries, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS). Funding for LISCIF is provided by EPA through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will help meet the goals of the Justice40 initiative which calls for 40% of certain Federal investments to flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. The purpose of LISCIF is to build capacity for organizations located in communities affected by disproportionate environmental and human health risks. Additionally, the Fund seeks to provide technical assistance for organizations in historically underserved areas and support proposals which ultimately improve access to the Long Island Sound, while reducing overall environmental health risks.
The first round of LISCIF will award competitive funding to projects in the Long Island Sound watershed. The outcomes of project proposals must meet Implementation Actions of the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP).
The LISS geographic region refers to the watershed area within New York and Connecticut for the purpose of this project. The four main areas established by the Long Island Sound Study and highlighted in the CCMP are: the Narrows, the Western Basin, Central Basin, and the Eastern Basin.
Funding Priorities
LISCIF’s funding priorities are aligned with the CCMP themes and Implementation Actions. For 2024, LISCIF’s main funding themes are:
- Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds
- Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife
- Sustainable and Resilient Communities
- Sound Science and Inclusive Management
Eligible projects and activities will be community driven and address challenges/risks faced by communities experiencing environmental justice issues.
Funding is available for:
- Projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention or reduction.
- Restoring habitat within the Important Coastal Habitat Types targeted by LISS.
- Projects that foster a diverse balance and abundant populations of fish, birds, and wildlife.
- Public engagement, knowledge and stewardship.
- Projects that enhance community resilience and sustainability.
- Planning and design that sets–the-stage for implementation of water quality projects, eligible habitat restoration projects and resilience projects.
- Community-based science projects.
- Data management and integration projects.
- Other similar activities that the applicant proposes, and EPA approves consistent with section 119 of the Clean Water Act.
Long Island Sound Study Boundary Map
Long Island Sound
The Long Island Sound is one of the most densely populated estuaries in the United States, with 9 million people residing on the watershed. According to research conducted by the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), the Sound serves as an integral part of the regional economy, generating an estimated $5 billion annually via boating, commercial and sport fishing, swimming, and beachgoing. The main areas of concern are: improving water quality and reducing contaminant and nutrient loads, restoring and protecting the Sound’s abundant wildlife, supporting sustainable and resilient communities, and incorporating sound science and inclusive management. It is a critical priority to restore and protect the Sound, so it can continue to provide a diverse ecosystem, commercial opportunities, climate resiliency and recreational access to all people.
Stay up to date on LISCIF announcements – click the button below to join our email list. If you have specific questions about the Fund, please contact the Program Director, Shahela Begum.
