DPR Announces Availability of $400,000 in Pest Management Alliance Grants

Media Contact: Lea Brooks
916-445-3974 | Lea.Brooks@cdpr.ca.gov

January 13, 2011 (11-1)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is accepting proposals for projects that use integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to reduce pesticide use, Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam announced today. A total of $400,000 in Pest Management Alliance funding is available.

A key component of these projects is the formation of an alliance - a team of individuals representing state, local, public, private, educational and other stakeholders in the adoption and implementation of urban and agricultural IPM practices. Projects should focus on adoption and implementation of agricultural or urban IPM practices that reduce volatile organic compound emissions, improve ground and surface water quality or ensure worker health and safety. Other priority areas are projects that focus on IPM in structural or home-and-garden pest management.

Since the grant program began in 1996, DPR has awarded approximately $10 million to more than 200 projects. The grants are subsidized with special funds generated by fees on pesticide sales.

The grant application is a two-stage process. Brief conceptual descriptions of projects are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 7. Only groups submitting the highest-ranked concepts will be invited to develop a full proposal.

A conference call will be held at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 18 to answer questions about the program, including project concept development. Participation in the conference call is voluntary. The conference call-in number is 888/982-4610 and the participant passcode is 23073.

The 2011-2012 grant solicitation is posted on DPR’s Web site at www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pestmgt/grants/solicitation.htm. Additional information about the program, including descriptions of previously funded projects, is posted www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprgrants.htm.

For more information, contact Ann Schaffner at DPR at 916/324-4156 or aschaffner@cdpr.ca.gov.

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One of five departments and boards within the California Environmental Protection Agency, DPR regulates the registration, sale and use of pesticides to protect people and the environment. For more information about DPR, see www.cdpr.ca.gov.