2024 OISC Education & Outreach Grant Announcement

 OPEN NOW: Grant for Invasive Species Education & Outreach

The Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) is excited to announce that $150,000 in 2024-2025 biennium funds will be available to the OISC to fund education outreach project grants. The OISC will determine priorities and awards, while the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) oversees the fiscal administration of the OISC Education Outreach Grant Program.

●      Project budgets must be at least $5,000. Projects over $20,000 must show a collaborative, larger-scale watershed, community, or statewide education or outreach impact. Project scalability is desirable. Funding requests must align with the scale and reach of the projects.

●      Grants will be awarded based on the availability of funds.

Who is eligible to apply? A grant applicant must be an eligible legal entity—a local or tribal government, non-profit organization, educational institution, or individual (an individual is not eligible for indirect or administrative costs). Eligible Legal Entities must have a FEIN number. A state or federal agency may apply for funding only as a co-applicant with an eligible entity.

The goal of the OISC is to fund as many high-priority projects as possible with the available funding and to make the process of developing a successful grant application as straightforward as possible.

Invasive species threaten Oregon’s economy, ecosystems, working landscapes, infrastructure, and natural heritage. Unchecked, invasive species can imperil public health, fish and game populations, and outdoor recreation and transform ecosystems, resulting in widespread and long-lasting economic and environmental damage. Meaningful outreach and education are crucial to engaging and activating a wide network of people to protect Oregon from invasive species.

The OISC encourages a broad array of applications that serve to inform and engage the public and/or specific audiences on invasive species, their impacts, pathways of introduction, prevention, and management relevant to protecting our clean water, working landscapes, food, wildlife, and the unique beauty of our state for future generations.

Project goals should relate to understanding the impacts, spread, prevention, detection, or management of invasive species issues in Oregon and be relevant to protecting our clean water, working landscapes, wildlife, and the unique beauty of our state for future generations.

En el bienio 2024-2025 hay fondos disponibles para que el Consejo de Especies Invasoras de Oregón (OISC) financie proyectos de divulgación educativa. El Consejo de Especies Invasoras de Oregón determinará las prioridades y las adjudicaciones, mientras que el Departamento de Agricultura de Oregón (ODA) supervisa la administración fiscal del Programa de Subvenciones de Divulgación Educativa del OISC. El objetivo del OISC es financiar el mayor número posible de proyectos prioritarios con los fondos disponibles y hacer que el proceso de elaboración de una solicitud de subvención sea lo más sencillo posible.

El OISC desea promover una amplia gama de solicitudes que sirvan para informar y comprometer al público y/o audiencias específicas sobre las especies invasoras, sus impactos, vías de introducción, prevención y control relevantes para proteger nuestra agua limpia, paisajes funcionales, alimentos, vida silvestre y la belleza única de nuestro estado para las generaciones futuras.

Los objetivos del proyecto deben estar relacionados con la comprensión de los impactos, la propagación, la prevención, la detección o el control de los problemas de las especies invasoras en Oregón, y ser relevantes para la protección de nuestras aguas limpias, paisajes funcionales, vida silvestre y la belleza única de nuestro estado para las generaciones futuras.

 

Important Dates

Application window: August 1, 2024 - October 15, 2024   

OISC Grant  Overview and Training on August 12 at 9:00 am
Microsoft Teams Join the meeting Meeting ID: 299 608 093 002 Passcode: sNUezt
Dial in by phone +1 503-446-4951 Phone conference ID: 985 391 942#

Grant Awards announced: January 2025

Grant Cycle Dates: January 2025 - June 30, 2026

 

Sign up for grant notifications and other invasive species alerts:

Oregon Invasive Species Network: Sign up here (google group)

Oregon Noxious Weed list serve: Oregon noxious weed updates, meetings, and grant information

ODA Gov Delivery https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORODA/subscriber/new

Or email Tristen Berg at Tristen.BERG@oda.oregon.gov request to be added to the Oregon Noxious Weed list serve.

Education & Outreach Projects

Projects can be implemented in a variety of ways. Successful applicants will have goals tied to:

  1. The Education & Outreach Strategies outlined in Oregon’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species 

    • Expand awareness of invasive species through improved communication tools that effectively reach the Oregon public and messaging that resonates with Oregonians.

    • Collaboratively develop educational materials with network partners to pool expertise and resources.

    • Promote focused, inclusive outreach and engagement to build public support and involvement among historically under-represented audiences.

  2. Understanding the prevention, detection, spread, impacts, or management of invasive species in Oregon, and

  3. Protecting our aquatic resources, working landscapes, wildlife, and the unique beauty of our state for future generations.

Example projects may include, but will not be limited to:

Early Detection

  • Conduct workshops or trainings for natural resource or industry professionals on detecting priority species

  • Install signage about early detection and reporting of priority species

Best Practices

  • Conduct workshops or trainings for land managers on prevention, rapid response, and/or control practices

  • Sponsor and host public invasive species outreach that includes invasive species control, detection, and restoration activities

K-12 Education, Colleges, Youth Programs, Job Training, Alternative Education Programs, etc.

  • Develop and implement curriculum 

  • Develop and implement outdoor education, restoration, or field trip opportunities

  • Sponsor a student art, written word, or spoken word contest/showcase in your district, school or other type of education or outreach center

Prevention

  • Develop and launch an education and outreach campaign

  • Distribute new communications materials or those already available through a variety of media to reach audiences who are at the highest risk of moving invasive species (see examples in the reference section)

  • Install boot brushes or wash stations and signage in high-traffic recreation areas to prevent and reduce the spread of invasive weeds 

  • Spread information through travel and tourism offices about the impacts of invasive species and responsibilities of travelers

Building Awareness & Coordination

  • Coordinate a field day event with local elected officials and decision-makers showcasing priority issues such as invasive species issues of concern, successes, and challenges 

  • Deliver a presentation(s) about invasive species issues to new audience groups (such as agriculture, irrigation, forestry, outdoor recreation hobbyists, real estate brokers, moving companies, human resources and recruitment firms, etc)

  • Collaborate with partners to develop interactive outreach kits

 
 

Grant Timeline:

Grant Cycle Dates: January 2025 - June 30, 2026

 
 
 
 
 
 

Invasive Species Education & Outreach Grant Contact:

Tristen Berg at Tristen.BERG@oda.oregon.gov

 
 

About the Oregon Invasive Species Council

The Oregon Invasive Species Council's mission is to protect Oregon's natural resources and economy by planning and leading a coordinated and comprehensive effort among state and public agencies, tribes, scientists, land managers, industry leaders, educators, and members of the public. The Oregon’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species was adopted in 2017 and outlines strategies to achieve the following objectives: 1) Prevention; 2) Early Detection & Rapid Response; 3) Control & Management; 4) Education & Outreach; and 5) Coordination & Leadership.