Hudson River Improvement Fund
In 1985, the Hudson River Foundation received $1.5 million from the State of New York to establish the Hudson River Improvement Fund from monies originally paid to New York to settle litigation concerning the out-of-state export of Hudson River water by oil tankers. Through the combined efforts of Hudson River environmental organizations, including Scenic Hudson, the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association (now Riverkeeper) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Improvement Fund was created to support projects that promote the enhancement of public use and enjoyment of the natural, scenic and cultural resources of the Hudson River and its shores - with an emphasis on physical projects that require capital construction, development or improvement.
Examples of projects that may be considered for funding include:
- PUBLIC ACCESS-- Development or improvement of facilities that increase public physical or visual access to the Hudson River, including but not limited to docks, boats, piers and shorefront access points.
- HABITAT -- Repair, restoration or creation of habitat.
- EDUCATION FACILITIES -- Development or improvement (and equipping) of facilities suitable for Hudson River education programs -- such as interpretive centers, marsh boardwalks or waterfront classrooms.
HRIF has a special interest in projects that promote accessibility.
2011 CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Application Deadline: Monday, November 14, 2011
In the 2011 funding cycle, the Improvement Fund encourages proposals that focus on environmentally beneficial shoreline enhancement and education projects.
Shoreline Enhancement
The Fund requests proposals for shoreline enhancement projects that will provide ecological benefits while providing the public more opportunity to experience and learn about the river. Shorelines and their adjacent habitats are the transition zones between aquatic and terrestrial systems and provide important ecosystem functions when associated with shallow waters with cover and refuge, are well vegetated, and resistant to erosion. Potential projects might be components of larger restoration efforts or enhancements to existing areas or structures to add environmental benefits. Examples include wetland restoration, restoration of soft shorelines, addition of or construction with materials that encourage growth of beneficial organisms, or shoreline stabilization projects designed to improve habitat while providing enhanced visual or physical access to the public.
Applicants for shoreline enhancement projects are encouraged to view the documents listed below and to contact Helena Andreyko, 212-483-7667, with questions regarding potential projects:
Ecology and Management of Shore Zones in the Upper Hudson River Estuary (video)
David Strayer, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Target Ecosystem Characteristics
for the Hudson Raritan Estuary: Technical Guidance for Developing a Comprehensive Ecosystem Restoration Plan (pdf; sections III & IV)
Mark Bain, Cornell University, et al.
Designing the Edge:
Creating a Living Urban Shore at Harlem River Park (pdf)
Marcha Johnson, NYC Parks and Recreation
Education
Education is a key component of building current and future stewardship of the Hudson River and of ensuring a healthy future for the entire Hudson Valley. The Fund requests proposals for education projects that focus on the ecology, environmental history, or stewardship of the Hudson River. Applicants may be museums, nature centers, community groups, environmental organizations or school districts. Partnerships in the development of curricula or presentation of courses which can be replicatedd or shared among organizations or schools are encouraged. Projects can take the form of short courses, exhibits, lectures, curriculum development, online courses or exhibits, or printed materials.
Application Instructions
HRIF requests that proposals be assembled and sent electronically to info@hudsonriver.org. To the extent possible, individual files should be combined before submission. The file names should include the applicant organization's name (example: orgname_photos; orgname_application). The complete electronic file must be received by the Foundation by Monday, November 14, 2011.
Additionally, six complete hard copies (one signed original and five copies) should be mailed and postmarked no later than Monday, November 14, 2011 to:
Hudson River Foundation
Hudson River Improvement Fund
17 Battery Place, Suite 915
New York, NY 10004
Applicants having difficulty putting all or part of their proposals into electronic format should contact the Foundation at 212-483-7667.
The proposal submission should contain:
- HRIF Proposal Form.
- A copy of the organization's tax exemption certificate under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code or an indication that the applicant is a subdivision of a government unit.
- Where appropriate: graphic representations of the project, such as maps, photos, plans, drawings, etc.; studies which support the need for the project, such as engineering or architectural studies; letters of support.
If you have any questions regarding the application procedure, please contact us at 212-483-7667 or info@hudsonriver.org.
Requests for funding in the 2011 grant cycle will undoubtedly be far greater than the funds available. Applicants are therefore encouraged to seek matching funds and provide in-kind services whenever possible. The typical grant awarded by the Hudson River Improvement Fund will be under $10,000. Requests for larger grants will be considered for projects that provide a significant benefit to a very large number of people.
The Fund is particularly interested in projects that will have a lasting impact on waterfront access, education, and habitat restoration. The Fund discourages applications for festivals or other one-time events unless such events are demonstrably related to the accomplishment of projects enhancing public access or achieving another HRIF purpose.
2010 Grants
| Organization | Project | Location | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Rowing Center | To continue upgrading floating docks at the City of Albany Corning Preserve public boat launch | Albany, NY | $7,182 |
| Beacon Sloop Club | To replace the cockpit benches on the Woody Guthrie | Beacon, NY | $10,000 |
| Beczak Environmental Education Center | For equipment and furnishings for Scenic Hudson's new environmental center in Kingsland Point Park in the Village of Sleepy Hollow | Sleepy Hollow, NY | $5,000 |
| Building Bridges, Building Boats | To purchase floating docks, moorings and storage to operate BBBB's rowing programs from the Dockside property in Cold Spring | Cold Spring, NY | $4,555 |
| Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies | To create an LED display on the Walkway Over the Hudson of real-time water conditions collected from the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System, Poughkeepsie | Poughkeepsie, NY | $8,017 |
| Children's Museum of Science & Technology | For design and installation of the exhibit Invasive Species: Our River - Our Responsibility | Troy, NY | $5,000 |
| Hudson River Sloop Clearwater | For continued restoration and repair of the Clearwater | Beacon, NY | $10,000 |
| Village of Cold Spring | To purchase two bollards to be installed at the newly reopened dock in Cold Spring | Cold Spring, NY | $1,500 |
| Columbia Land Conservancy | To install bridges over wetland areas along the Yellow Trail and for general trail maintenance at the Greenport Conservation Area | Hudson, NY | $6,000 |
| Earth Celebrations | To conduct 30 environmental art workshops culminating in a pageant celebrating the Hudson River in Manhattan | New York, NY | $3,000 |
| Going Coastal, Inc. | To increase dissemination of Hudson River activities information at Going Coastal's information booths along Hudson River Park and on the web | New York, NY | $2,000 |
| Governors Island Alliance/RPA | To paint a giant interpretive map of NY Harbor in the parking lot on Governors Island which highlights key elements of the estuary | New York, NY | $6,000 |
| Harlem Cultural Archives | To preserve taped interviews of Henry Gourdine into a more stable electronic format | New York, NY | $5,000 |
| Village of Hastings-on-Hudson | To stabilize the shoreline along Kinnally Cove in Hastings-on-Hudson to create better fishing areas and general public access to the River | Hastings on Hudson, NY | $5,000 |
| Hudson Highlands Nature Museum | To purchase an aquarium chiller and backup generator for the Museum's living exhibits, and equipment for outdoor education programs | Cornwall on Hudson, NY | $6,000 |
| Hudson River Environmental Society | For costs associated with publication of the proceedings of the HRES Environmental History conference held November 2009 | Altamont, NY | $6,000 |
| Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance | For the design, engineering, outreach and project management of a Community Eco Dock for the 69th St Pier in Bay Ridge | Brooklyn, NY | $35000 |
| Mt Beacon Fire Tower Restoration Commission | For restoration of the Mt. Beacon Fire Tower | Beacon, NY | $3,000 |
| Newburgh Rowing Club | To purchase floating docks for the Newburgh Rowing Club's programs | Newburgh, NY | $10,000 |
| New York Harbor School | For a planning mtg for Pier 101 Cove; dock enhancement at the Cove; and on-water safety training for Harbor School students on Governors Island | New York, NY | $6,250 |
| Randall's Island Sports Foundation | For educational signage at the entry of the wetlands area on Randall's Island | New York, NY | $5,000 |
| Riverkeeper, Inc. | To replace navigation and communications equipment on Riverkeeper's vessel | Tarrytown, NY | $5,000 |
| River Pool at Beacon | To replace the entry platform to the River Pool at Beacon | Beacon, NY | $4,400 |
| Rocking the Boat | To purchase a tent for use in Rocking the Boat's outdoor on-land programs | Bronx, NY | $5,000 |
| Rondout Rowing Club | To construct two docks to allow access for non-motorized craft to Rondout Creek | Kingston, NY | $5,000 |
| Saugerties Lighthouse Conservancy | To repair the marsh boardwalk along the Saugerties Lighthouse Trail | Mt. Marion, NY | $2,720 |
| Scenic Hudson, Inc. | For education supplies to equip Scenic Hudson's River Center in Beacon | Beacon, NY | $10,000 |
| South Street Seaport Museum | To conduct a three day education program, Harlem on Hudson: On Water with the Schooner Pioneer, from the Harlem Piers in Manhattan | New York, NY | $8,000 |
| Tug Pegasus Preservation Project | To complete the upper deckhouse restoration and replace the blowers on the engine of the Tug Pegasus | New York, NY | $5,000 |
| Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy | For new equipment for the Live Beneath the Estuary program; and transportation costs to present programs | Brooklyn, NY and Bronx, NY | $8,500 |
| Waterfront Museum | For capital costs to complete the deckhouse preservation of the Waterfront Museum barge | Brooklyn, NY | $10,000 |
