County governments in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas are currently able to eligible to apply for “Direct Component” funding under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund.
Established under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Direct Component funding is for eligible construction and real property acquisition activities, including projects with or without a non-federal share for another federally funded project.
Eligible activities described in the RESTORE Act are:
1. Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region.
2. Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources.
3. Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring.
4. Workforce development and job creation.
5. Improvements to or on state parks located in coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
6. Infrastructure projects benefiting the economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure.
7. Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure.
8. Planning assistance.
9. Administrative costs.
10. Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast region, including recreational fishing.
11. Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast region.
The deadline to apply is August 30, 2019.