Cape Cod Commission partner on $1.75 million Federal grant

Experts Collaborate to Establish Southeast New England Technical Assistance Network

A collaboration of thirteen organizations, including the Cape Cod Commission, have received a $1.75 million grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Southeast New England Program for Coastal Watershed Restoration (SNEP). This network brings together regional experts in stormwater management, financing, water quality and habitat restoration, green infrastructure, low impact development, and environmental restoration to offer a full complement of technical and financial services to municipalities, tribes, and organizations in Southeastern New England. 

Underlying this collaborative effort is the understanding that no one organization or entity can solve the region’s complex stormwater, water quality, and habitat programs, and that collective success is achieved from integrated efforts informed by a diverse set of stakeholders and end users united by common goals.

“We are pleased to partner with experts from across New England to expand the technical assistance we can provide to Cape communities,” said Cape Cod Commission Executive Director Kristy Senatori. “Working collaboratively is critical to solving our region’s complex water quality issues.”

SNEP goals include improving water quality and aquatic life, restoring physical processes that support critical habitat and ecosystem function, and aligning restoration and management efforts on a regional scale achieved by employing innovative financing strategies for greater effectiveness and efficiency. The network will provide technical assistance and a wide range of tools and training to advance these goals. 

"This is an important milestone for EPA's Southeast New England Program," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Dennis Deziel. "Establishing this technical network will fill a significant need, helping communities, tribes, and local organizations build and enhance their abilities to manage their programs in ways that produce multiple environmental and fiscal benefits."

The grant award was announced Friday, Oct. 25, during SNEP's Coastal Watershed Restoration forum entitled “Tomorrow Starts Today: Acting Now for a Resilient Southeast Coastal New England,” held at Brown University in Providence, RI.  

The Stormwater Technical Assistance Network includes: New England Environmental Finance Center at University of Southern Maine, Audubon Society in Rhode Island, Mass Audubon’s Shaping the Future of Your Community Program, Brown University, Cape Cod Commission, Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University, Environmental Finance Center at University of North Carolina, Elizabeth Scott Consulting, Kimberly Groff Consulting, The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, Rhode Island School of Design, Save the Bay, Throwe Environmental, University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center, and University of Rhode Island.