HEIFER INTERNATIONAL RECEIVES $8 MILLION FOR EAST AFRICA DAIRY DEVELOPMENT EXTENSION

Heifer International has received an $8.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for project work on the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project.  The grant will support existing projects in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda and explore possibilities for expansion in Ethiopia and Tanzania between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013.

“We are excited for the opportunity to continue serving dairy farming families and grateful to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their support,” said Elizabeth Bintliff, vice president of Heifer International’s Africa area program.

EADD began in 2008 as a four-year, $42.8 million project funded by the Gates Foundation to help about 179,000 smallholder dairy farmer families to double their household income, create, connect and expand dairy market infrastructure, and sustainably increase dairy productivity and efficiency.  Currently in its final year of the pilot phase, EADD has grown to be one of the leading market-oriented agro-livestock development initiatives in East Africa, earning the farming families more than $35 million.

The project, implemented by Heifer International, is in partnership with TechnoServe, The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), World Agroforestry Research Institute and Africa Breeders Services.

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About Heifer International:
Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in 40 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities become more self-reliant. For more information, visit www.heifer.org or call  (800) 696-1918.

For more on grants and grant writing, visit Grant Pros.

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICAN RED CROSS

Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, announced today a two-year commitment to the American Red Cross’ Disaster Responder Program, which funds immediate response and long-term recovery efforts following major disasters. The foundation’s contribution to the fund is $500,000 over the course of two years and can be immediately dispersed during disaster efforts.

In addition, as part of the agreement with the American Red Cross, Northwestern Mutual can activate a microsite to enable its 5,000 employees and 16,000 field force members to pledge personal donations to major disasters. A microsite is being launched to designate support to those affected by the wildfires in Colorado, including some Northwestern Mutual clients and financial representatives living in the Colorado Springs area.

“Northwestern Mutual is honored to partner with the American Red Cross, which has supported people through unexpected life circumstances for more than 100 years,” said John Kordsmeier, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “And, that’s what makes this a great partnership — for more than 155 years Northwestern Mutual has been protecting families from unexpected financial risks and getting them through times of recovery.”

“I am thrilled that Northwestern Mutual is partnering with the American Red Cross as a Disaster Responder member,” said Patty Flowers, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross of Eastern Wisconsin. “Their partnership ensures that we are there immediately following a disaster and using our resources most efficiently to help anyone in need.”

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About the Northwestern Mutual Foundation The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation – the largest corporate foundation in the state of Wisconsin – is to build strong, vibrant communities that serve as a legacy to future generations. The Foundation’s giving is designed to create an impact on the communities where the company’s employees and financial representatives live and work. In fiscal year 2012, the Foundation will contribute $16.7 million to nonprofit organizations across the country.

About Northwestern Mutual The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company – Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual) – among the “World’s Most Admired” life insurance companies in 2012 according to FORTUNE® magazine – has helped clients achieve financial security for more than 155 years. As a mutual company with $1.2 trillion of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual has no shareholders. The company focuses solely and directly on its clients and seeks to deliver consistent and dependable value to them over time.  Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a holistic approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.

About the American Red Cross The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

 For more on grants and grant writing, visit Grant Pros.

NATIONAL FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION AWARDS $1.5 MILLION TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the second round of grant awards from its Fisheries Innovation Fund, a program launched in 2010 to support sustainable fisheries in the U.S. With the goal of sustaining fishermen while rebuilding fish stocks, the new grants will aid the design and implementation of projects that provide technical and practical support for working fishing communities across the country.

“In the first round of the Fisheries Innovation Fund, we invested in innovative ideas that will help communities maximize limited fisheries resources, minimize bycatch and explore new monitoring technologies,” explained Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “With our new grants, we will share approaches that have proven successful with a wider audience, and support local efforts to secure fishing opportunities for the future.”

“The Fisheries Innovation Fund promotes creative ideas and solutions for better fisheries management around the country,” said Sam Rauch, Acting Assistant Administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “Many of the projects originate directly from fishermen and address local challenges and opportunities at the community level. We look forward to working with the individuals and organizations who receive the 2012 grants as they develop and share their projects to support the sustainability of U.S. fisheries.”

The 18 grants for 2012 total $1.55 million, and will be matched by over $1.2 million from the grantees. NFWF’s Fisheries Innovation Fund is supported by NOAA, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

The 2012 Fisheries Innovation Fund grants, listed by region, are:

Northeast:

Designing Fisheries Licensing for Community Resilience (ME)
Grantee: Penobscot East Resource Center, Inc.
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $31,977; Matching Funds: $48,072; Total Project: $80,069

In cooperation with Maine Sea Grant, this project will develop a viable licensing model for inter-generational and entry level access to diversified community fishing, and support sustainable small-scale fisheries.

Realizing Eco-Efficiency in the Seafood Industry (ME, NH, MA)
Grantee: Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $50,000; Matching Funds: $29,732; Total Project: $79,732

In cooperation with New England Trawlers, Inc. and North Atlantic Seafood, Inc., the project will improve the efficiency associated with bringing groundfish to market in the Northeast region through innovation in the seafood supply chain.

MCFA Gulf of Maine Cod Risk Pool (ME)
Grantee: Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $110,000; Matching Funds: $75,000; Total Project: $185,000

Fishermen will face a significant cut to their Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod allocation for 2012. This project will develop a GOM Cod Risk Pool that will help fishermen stay within bycatch limits while accessing healthy stocks.

Best practices in Fisheries Trust Management (MA)
Grantee: Community Development Partnership
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $124,978.14; Matching Funds: $200,000; Total Project: $324,978.14

The project will develop a scalable model to transfer best practices and lessons learned in fishery trust management to national audiences, and to communities seeking to sustain local fishing businesses and economic growth.

New England Fishing Quota Investment Fund(s) (ME, RI, MA)
Grantee: CLF Ventures, Inc.
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $80,000; Matching Funds: $77,500; Total Project: $157,500

This project will investigate innovative financing approaches focused on a Triple-Bottom-Line (economic, ecological, and social) performance standard for fisheries. It will address the needs of investors and facilitate accelerated acquisition of permits by community fishermen across the New England region.

Electronic Logbooks in a New England Groundfish Sector (ME)
Grantee: Sustainable Harvest Sector
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $20,000; Matching Funds: $5,000; Total Project: $25,000

The project will design and install software on vessels to report catch information electronically to the National Marine Fisheries Service and sector managers. Data will be integrated with shoreside catch monitoring systems and transferrable to other fisheries.

Simplifying New England Groundfish Sector reporting (MA)
Grantee: Northeast Sector Service Network Inc.
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $110,000; Matching Funds: $20,000; Total Project: $130,000

This project will test and refine the Fishtrax Onboard module, a multifaceted reporting tool designed to simplify and satisfy the data requirements of New England Groundfish Sectors.

Mid-Atlantic:

Bycatch Avoidance Network for River Herring/Butterfish (NY)
Grantee: Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Suffolk County
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $100,000; Matching Funds: $50,000; Total Project: $150,000

The project will initiate a fleet communication system to report and share real-time observations of river herring/shad and butterfish bycatch hotspots to reduce fleet-wide bycatch.

Gulf of Mexico:

Fishery Science & Management Education for Gulf Fishermen
Grantee: Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $125,000; Matching Funds: $50,000; Total Project: $175,000

The project will develop and implement a Fishery Science & Management Education Program for commercial and recreational fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico. Modeled after the highly successful New England Marine Resource Education Program, it will involve the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, Gulf Fishermen’s Association, and individual Gulf of Mexico fishermen who graduated from the New England MREP to improve the capacity of Gulf fishermen to engage in sustainable management.

Creating a Bycatch/Species Sharing Model for Louisiana Fishers (LA)
Grantee: Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc.
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $75,000; Matching Funds: $30,000; Total Project: $105,000

The project will conduct research, create peer-learning and technical assistance opportunities, and design model bycatch and species-sharing policy and processes among Louisiana’s traditional family fishers.

Pacific:

Develop Video Monitoring for Full Retention Fisheries (WA, OR)
Grantee: Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $100,000; Matching Funds: $30,000; Total Project: $130,000

This project will develop a video-based catch monitoring system and computer-aided video review software. By reducing the number of human observers and reviewers involved in the monitoring of full-retention fisheries, it will lower the cost of observer programs.

Development and Evaluation of Image Recognition Software (CA)
Grantee: Fishermen’s Marketing Association, Inc.
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $96,178; Matching Funds: $50,000; Total Project: $146,178

This project will develop and evaluate image recognition software that can be used to screen video images collected onboard commercial fishing boats. It will track discard activities and identify the species of fish being discarded.

Shorebased Whiting Overfished Species Risk Pool Cooperative (WA, OR, CA)
Grantee: Shorebased Whiting Cooperative
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $75,000; Matching Funds: $105,000; Total Project: $180,000

The project will provide a Pacific whiting cooperative with the technical support infrastructure to manage rockfish bycatch, using real time, historic observer and electronic data to assist with hotspot avoidance.

Fishing Community Sustainability Planning and Development (CA)
Grantee: City of Morro Bay
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $135,000; Matching Funds: $125,000; Total Project: $260,000

This project will develop a strategic plan for Morro Bay and Monterey fisheries aimed at building economic, social and environmental sustainability, and community fishing association capacity.

Alaska:

Securing Community Opportunity in Kodiak’s Jig Fishery (AK)
Grantee: Alaska Marine Conservation Council
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $90,000; Matching Funds: $126,460; Total Project: $216,460

Through governance support, quality enhancement and market innovations, this project will assist the fishing community of Kodiak in securing entry-level opportunity in the jig fishery.

Electronic Monitoring for Small Boats in Alaska—Next Steps
Grantee: North Pacific Fisheries Association Inc.
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $65,568; Matching Funds: $50,000; Total Project: $115,568

This project will field-test new electronic monitoring hardware and software in the small boat halibut fishery in Alaska. Software will include event-flagging and species identification to facilitate data review.

Great Lakes:

Stakeholder-centered Management of Lake Erie Yellow Perch (MI)
Grantee: Michigan State University
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $73,432; Matching Funds: $24,584; Total Project: $98,016

A stakeholder-centered working group will use Management Strategy Evaluation techniques to develop harvest policies for Lake Erie yellow perch fisheries. Stakeholders will work with managers and scientists in using models to determine the policies that work best for both the fishing community and the resource.

Nationwide:

Community Fisheries Network Capacity Building and Expansion
Grantee: Island Institute
Fisheries Innovation Fund Award: $84,000; Matching Funds: $110,000; Total Project: $194,000

This project will expand the Community Fisheries Network by building organizational and business capacity in additional ports and regions, disseminating innovations that will improve the long-term sustainability of fishing communities and fisheries businesses.

To learn more about the Fisheries Innovation Fund, visit www.nfwf.org/fisheriesfund and www.nmfs.noaa.gov.

For more on grants and grant writing, visit Grant Pros.