The Grant-in-Aid Program provides financial assistance to municipalities and agencies of the state for aquatic nuisance species management programs. The Grant-in-Aid Program, established under 10 V.S.A. § 922, is administered by the Vermont Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Program within the Department of Environmental Conservation's Watershed Management Division. Funding for Grant-in-Aid grants comes from a portion of annual revenues from motorboat registration fees; federal funds may also be available. In addition, proceeds from the voluntary Aquatic Invasive Species Sticker Program directly support the Grant-in-Aid Program.

Municipalities are eligible to receive Grant-in-Aid Grants for work controlling or preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species. Local interest groups such as lake associations must apply through the municipality in which the waterbody is located. If the waterbody is located in more than one municipality, affected municipalities may apply jointly.

All types of aquatic nuisance control projects, for both native and non-native species management, are eligible for funds under this Program. Projects supported to date by Grant-in-Aid grants include the control of Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife and nuisance native aquatic plants, and aquatic nuisance species spread prevention programs. Supported Eurasian watermilfoil management methods have included the use of mechanical harvesters, hydrorakes, diver-operated suction harvesters, benthic barriers, and chemicals (herbicides); physical removal by hand; surveys; and education and outreach initiatives. Mechanical harvesting of native aquatic plants has been supported by the Program as has aquatic nuisance species spread prevention programs that have included public access area "greeter" programs, boat wash stations, searches for non-native aquatic nuisance species in a waterbody, and education and outreach initiatives.

Municipalities may be awarded a grant for 75 percent or less of the total estimated project cost. Recipients must contribute at least 25 percent of the final eligible project cost through in-kind labor (unpaid personnel), in-kind services and/or actual cash expenditures (all from non-state sources).

Grant awards are made on an annual cycle; typically, applications are available in early March and funding decisions are made in the spring.

• Aquatic Nuisance Species Grant-In-Aid Program for 2012 (pdf, 170KB)
• Aquatic Nuisance Species Grant-in-Aid Guide, project year 2012 (pdf, 323KB)
• Aquatic Nuisance Species Grant-in-Aid Application Package (pdf, 232KB) Proposal submittal deadline: Monday, March 12, 2012

Grant awards are provided to recipients in two installments. An advance payment for up to half of the total grant award can be issued but only after July 1 of the year. Final payments are authorized after a final report package has been submitted by the municipality and approved, and a project's costs audited. The audit will determine the final eligible project cost. The amount of the final grant award will not exceed 75 percent of the final eligible project cost, or 100 percent of the final eligible project costs excluding in-kind costs, whichever is less.

Grant award recipients are required to prepare and submit a project completion report.   Report requirements are outlined in the grant legal document under “deliverables” for each funded project.

Contact Ann Bove.

Updated: December, 2010