OPC Prop 68 Grant Guidelines Workshop

Event: OPC Prop 68 Grant Guidelines Workshop

Host: California Ocean Protection Council (OPC)

Times: Two sessions, 3-4pm and 6-7pm

Open “office hours” with OPC staff available for questions from 4-6pm

Contact: Holly.Wyer@resources.ca.gov or Michael.Esgro@resources.ca.gov

The Ocean Protection Council (OPC) recently released Proposition 68 (Prop 68) Draft Grant Guidelines for public review and comment. Funds from Prop 68 will be used to support the priorities of all OPC’s program areas – including sustainable fisheries, climate change, marine protected areas, habitat restoration, marine pollution and the sustainable ocean economy (such as offshore renewable energy), for the next several years. In February, OPC will host five public workshops across the state to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the Draft Grant Guidelines, ask questions, and provide feedback that will inform development of the Final Grant Guidelines. Final Guidelines will be presented for consideration and adoption by the Ocean Protection Council at its May 15, 2019 meeting.

Comments on all aspects of the Draft Grant Guidelines may be submitted through February 28, 2019 to Prop68@resources.ca.gov.

The entirety of the Prop 68 Draft Grant Guidelines, and a list of our other public workshops on this topic, can be found on our Prop 68 Funding page: http://www.opc.ca.gov/prop-68-funding/.

OPC was created by law in 2004 via the California Ocean Protection Act. Along the entire California coast, OPC works with state, federal, tribal, and local entities to further the Council’s goal of protecting, conserving, and maintaining California’s healthy coastal and ocean ecosystems and the economies they support. The role of OPC is to recommend policy, lead and promote coordination, seek and leverage funding, inform government decision-making with the best available science, and to operate with transparency and accountability. OPC will use Prop 68 funds to address ocean issues of relevance to coastal communities throughout the State and providing comments on the draft grant guidelines is an opportunity to weigh in on how OPC will distribute grant funds over the next several years.