Grantees are expected to follow a tight timeline, with assessments to be completed shortly after the award announcement.  Funding preference will be given to local governments, public institutions, community facilities, and/or private businesses within the Southeast Michigan RC&D Council area (Lenawee, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties).  Qualified proposals may be awarded funding on a rolling basis as they are received, with preference given to projects with assessments scheduled to occur before the end of 2008.  Therefore, prompt applications are strongly encouraged.  Proposals should be submitted by December 1, 2008 for primary consideration.  The Council anticipates making three grant awards of $3,000 each, but funding amounts may vary due to the number and quality of applications received.

Funding for this program comes from the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry.

For more information, please see the complete Request for Proposals at: http://semircd.org/ash/news/BiomassRFP1108.pdf

The Michigan Wood Energy website  http://michiganwoodenergy.org/ may also be helpful for those considering submitting an application.  The site features the Wood Energy Calculator, which allows users to generate cost savings estimates for switching to wood as a boiler fuel, and a copy of "Exploring Woody Biomass Retrofit Opportunities in Michigan Boiler Operations," the new report from CTA Architects and Engineers that looks at statewide potential for wood systems.  This report lists over 2,000 public and private facilities in Michigan that would be likely to see significant cost savings by switching to wood fuel.

More information can also be obtained by contacting:

Jessica Simons

Natural Resources Specialist

Southeast Michigan

Resource Conservation & Development Council

7203 Jackson Road

Ann Arbor, MI 48103-9506

P: 517.851.2372

E-mail: jessica.simons@semircd.org