Brief Summary

APA is currently seeking project inquiries through an initial short-form application from communities interested in exploring nature-based and green infrastructure solutions through pre- and post-disaster recovery planning. APA will follow up with select applicants for additional information before making final determinations on awards. Three grantees will be selected to receive specialized technical assistance from a Recovery Planning Assistance Team (RPAT), a subsect of APA's Community Planning Assistance Teams (CPAT) program, that brings experienced volunteer planners to disaster-affected communities. All logistical expenses are funded.

Project Purpose

APA recognizes the growing need for communities to plan for increased resilience and strives to find ways that meet that demand. APA also recognizes the importance of shifting thinking away from expensive gray infrastructure solutions. This APA grant opportunity, offered thanks to a partnership with the APA foundation and the Pisces Foundation, will help increase community resilience through pre- and post-disaster recovery planning with a focus on incorporating nature-based solutions and green infrastructure. The grant awards will support the efforts of communities in high-risk hazard areas in the planning for and implementation of nature-based and green infrastructure solutions that help them better live with and manage water and increase hazard resilience.

Grant Award Information

APA will award three communities. Each award includes the time and multidisciplinary expertise of four to five volunteers selected for the specific needs of the awardees' projects. All logistical (travel and other project-related) expenses will be funded by the award. An APA project manager will coordinate efforts with the primary point of contact. The primary point of contact will be required to coordinate local stakeholders and other aspects of the project as needed. The project includes two site visits. The volunteer team leader and APA project manager will conduct a preliminary visit (one to two days). The second and final visit will include the full team of volunteers and APA project manager (four to five days). Following the full team visit, the project team will prepare a final report with all analyses, recommendations, designs, and implementation strategies, completed as a a final deliverable through the professional publication services of APA.

Who Can Apply?

• Local government (city or county)
• Local nonprofit organization

The applicant must designate and commit the time of the primary point of contact for the project.

If you are unsure whether your entity or organization is eligible to apply, please email CPAT@planning.org

Criteria for Proposed RPAT Projects

• Recovery. Addressing an element(s) in a community's pre- or post-disaster recovery must play a role in the project.
• Nature-based Solutions. There must be an interest in the potential of green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to address flodding and other water management issues.
• Scope of Work. The scope of work must be manageable for a team within the timeframe allowed. Please see past CPAT projects for examples.
• Point of Contact. The primary contact must have the time and resources to coordinate local stakeholders and other project-related tasks.

How to Apply

Project ideas can be submitted using the online short-form application, which is an initial short-form application that asks applicants to summarize their project in 500 words or less. However, applicants may also send additional information (documents, maps, etc.) to provide more context. If selected during the first round, APA will follow up with the applicant for additional information and questions regarding the project.

Deadline

The RFP is open until the three projects are selected. All projects must occur in 2020 and the CPAT process generally takes 9 months to a year to complete. APA will review applications as they are received and select three quality projects from the pool of proposals within the first two months of 2020.

Questions

More information on the CPAT program is available on the APA website: planning.org/CPAT

Please email CPAT@planning.org for any inquiries regarding this grant opportunity.