Announcing Board approval of New Focused Investment Partnerships program and solicitation of Priorities

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board sent this bulletin at 08/01/2014 01:33 PM PDT

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Announcing Board approval of New Focused Investment Partnerships program and solicitation of Priorities

  On July 29, the OWEB Board approved a process to implement a new Focused Investment Partnership program as a part of the agency's grant offerings.

Definition

  A Focused Investment Partnership is an OWEB investment that:
  • Addresses a Board-identified Focused Investment Priority of significance to the state;
  • Achieves clear and measurable ecological outcomes;
  • Uses integrated, results-oriented approaches as identified through a strategic action plan;
  • Is implemented by a high-performing partnership.

Priorities

  Between August 2014 and April 2015, the OWEB Board will receive input as it develops a set of priorities of ecological significance to the state for Focused Investment Partnership funding. The first phase of this input process runs August 1, 2014 through October 15, 2014 (see instructions for submitting input outlined below). The Board will solicit additional public input for priorities at the January and April 2015 Board Meetings.  These Priorities will apply only to the Focused Investment Partnership funding within OWEB’s spending plan (currently between 10-12% of OWEB’s funds).

Proposing Priorities

  In April 2015, the Board will decide on its Focused Investment Partnership program Priorities for the 2015-2017 biennium. In an effort to secure early advice and input from a broad cross-section of stakeholders, the Board has developed a timeline and a set of questions for stakeholder response. 

  If you are interested in providing input to the Board during this first phase of priority-setting, please review the timeline and respond to the questions in a letter that is submitted to the OWEB Board.  The Board has identified these questions as a part of their decision-making process.   The Board recommends submissions not exceed ten pages. Address responses to the OWEB Board, c/o Linda Burnett, with subject line “Proposed Focused Investment Partnership Priority Response.” You may submit it by mail (775 Summer St NE, Salem, OR 97301), by email (linda.burnett@state.or.us), or by fax (503-986-0199). You may also call with questions at 503-986-0178.

Focused Investment Partnership Funding

  In May 2015, staff will open solicitation for Focused Investment Partnership funding within the Board’s identified Priorities. Funding will be provided in two categories. Under Focused Investment Partnership Capacity-Building funding, partnerships may apply for technical assistance to develop a strategic action plan for their partnership and program. If the partnership is already established and has an existing strategic action plan, the partnership may apply for Focused Investment Partnership Implementation funding. More details will be available regarding the application process in the coming months.

  More information about the application process will be available in November 2014. For questions about Focused Investment Partnership funding, contact Meta Loftsgaarden at meta.loftsgaarden@state.or.us.