SACRAMENTO – The California Resources Agency and Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on Friday announced the 2008-09 grant cycle of the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) Program.

Grant applications must be received by Monday, Dec. 22.

The program offers grants to local, state, and federal governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations for projects to mitigate environmental impacts caused by new or modified state transportation facilities.

Grants generally will be limited to $350,000 per project and are given in three categories:

• Highway Landscape and Urban Forestry: Projects designed to improve air quality through the planting of trees and other suitable plants.

• Resource Lands: Projects for the acquisition, restoration, or enhancement of watersheds, wildlife habitat, wetlands, forests or other significant natural areas.

• Roadside Recreation: Projects for the acquisition and/or development of roadside recreational opportunities.

The Resources Agency will evaluate proposals and in early Spring 2009 provide a list of recommended projects to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for funding consideration. It is anticipated that the CTC will give preliminary approval to projects to be funded in late Spring 2009. The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) administers approved grant agreements.

To access the EEM Program Guidelines and Application or learn more about project evaluation criteria, visit www.resources.ca.gov/eem/.

For more information about the EEM Program, visit www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/EEM/homepage.htm.

Hardcopies of the application are also available from the Resources Agency, 1416 Ninth St., Suite 1311, Sacramento, CA 95814 or by contacting EEM Program Coordinator Laurie Heller at 916-651-7593 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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