Presented by: Jill Spisiak Jedlicka, Director of Ecological Programs & Buffalo River

RAP Coordinator

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Tips from the TrenchesAdministering Federal Grants

HOW Conference

September 24-25, 2010

Buffalo, New York

Presentation OverviewBuffalo Niagara Riverkeeper ContextBuilding CapacityThings your mother never told you about

grant management…Top 10 Tips & Lessons Learned

The Buffalo River Watershed

How do you make this…….turn into this?

Photo courtesy of:Photo courtesy of: Lower Lakes Marine Historical Society

Photo courtesy of:

1924 2004

Photo courtesy of:

Photo courtesy of:Photo courtesy of: National

Aniline and Chemical COmpany

Photo courtesy of:

1951

And this………………………..to this?

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the

only thing that ever has.”

-Margaret Mead

Buffalo River AOC- Riverkeeper Context

TIMELINE

• 1987-1989 RAP Stage 1/Stage 2 Completed

• 1987-1989 “Friends of the Buffalo River” (predecessor to Riverkeeper) is incorporated

• 1989-2003 – Buffalo River RAP Coordinated by NYSDEC

• 2001 – First major NYS grant to “Friends” for aquatic habitat assessment

• 2003- “Friends” granted Buffalo River RAP Management authority from USEPA

• 2005 – Riverkeeper-Army Corps 312 Agreement, RAP Coordination extended 5 yr

• 2007- Riverkeeper-GLNPO Legacy Act Agreement

• 2010- Commence Buffalo River sediment removal with Army Corps

• 2010- Finalist for 5 GLRI awards = $1.9 million

Building Capacity

USEPA-GLNPO R/V Mudpuppy

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

There’s cleaning-up…………………...then, there’s clean-up..……..

• Pre and Post Capacity- Build a Portfolio.

• Staffing, volunteers, and Board members

• Organizational standards and requirements

Things you never knew…Timeframes are never as you expect or hope for-

EVER.You need unrestricted funds or overhead to get

started.What’s a QAPP, a DUNS #, an SFR, an RFQ, an RFP,

an MOA, an MOU, an Article 404…? Ask someone.Master the art of information management- track in

kind match, deliverables, and build and maintain institutional knowledge.

Boilerplates for everything, then adapt.Embrace your mistakes and learn from them.

Step 1 – Organize Or Re-Organize

• Identify local group, individual, or agency that is unequivocally committed to the restoration of your river.

• Have the courage to lead and take risk, others will follow.

Photo credit: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Photo credit: Erie County Historical Society

Tips & Lessons Learned

Step 2 – Inform, Educate and Engage• Reach out to and educate local elected officials and agency representatives.

• Know your audience.

• Be prepared to follow up your words with actions.

• Never complain about an issue without offering a solution or next step.

• Take responsibility and build credibility through small scale pilot or demonstration projects .

Photo credits: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Tips & Lessons Learned

Step 3 – Partnerships, collaborations and the art of compromise.

• Partnerships are only as strong as its weakest link. Try not to be the weakest link.

• Invite everyone to the table, but don’t compromise on what really matters.

• Identify the strength and value of every stakeholder or partner and leverage it to the fullest capacity.

• Challenge, inspire, mobilize, and collaborate with others who can support or derail the efforts – the “Team of Rivals” model.

• Keep the perspective- the big picture and grand vision balanced with a dose of reality.

Photo credits: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Tips & Lessons Learned

Step 4 – Celebrate & Communicate• Don’t be afraid to contact or utilize the local press.

• Public meetings, tours, presentations and invite feedback.

• Self promotion is never a bad thing (i.e.: completion of major grant project, signing of Legacy agreement, award of new funding).

• Be creative- guerilla tactics, social media, in-your face or subtle.

Tips & Lessons Learned

Photo credits: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Questions?

Contact:

Jill Spisiak JedlickaDirector of Ecological Programs &Buffalo River Remedial Action Plan

CoordinatorBuffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

(716)852-7483jedlicka@bnriverkeeper.org