Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Building Partnerships for a Healthier Gulf
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021
Water Resources Team is expanding the understanding of harmful algal bloom economic impacts on water quality
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Water Resources Team is expanding the understanding of the economic impacts on water quality. The Gulf Star project supported by FMI will address harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Mississippi Sound.

In 2018, the Water Resources Team initiated a project to understand the financial impacts of HABs in Florida. They worked with economists at the Balmoral Group who quantified the linkages between economic outcomes and the Gulf coast health in six metro areas.
Fully Serving the Underserved workshop set for January 2021
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Education and Engagement Team is kicking off 2021 with the "Fully Serving the Underserved" workshop January 12-13. The professional development will explore ways to identify, engage, and support underrepresented and underserved populations.

Workshop registration is full. To get on a waiting list, contact Christina Mohrman. If you are unable to participate, let Christina know so that someone else may have your reservation. This Gulf Star program is sponsored by Equinor.

Esri's Clinton Johnson will kick off the two-day program. To see a complete list of session panelists and get more information, visit the Team's page.
Thank you Clean Gulf Associates for Embracing the Gulf in 2020
Thanks to Clean Gulf Associates who sponsored our message-a-day campaign. We learned so much this year about the value, sustainability, and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico!

We garnered over 24,000 friends, fans, and followers across our social media channels. GOMA received over 50 proclamations, including one from each of the five U.S. Gulf states. Everyone involved helped bring positive awareness to the Gulf in this campaign.

But don't leave just yet. GOMA is continuing the Embrace the Gulf campaign with ways you can "take action" in 2021. #EmbraceTheGulf
Resources
State of the Bay Report, 4th Edition
The Galveston Bay Estuary Program launched their 4th state of the bay report as a website. Find it here.

Water is Life Zoom Talk Series
The Alabama Rivers Alliance highlights the role water plays in the state. Join their virtual sessions or watch them later.
2021 Virtual Events
Selected virtual events include:

Disaster Primr 2021
January 31 - February 4, 2021

Coastal GeoTools 2021
February 8 - 11, 2021

Gulf of Mexico Conference Virtual Preview
April 14, 2021
Restoration
To support our varied partner network, we are sharing Deepwater Horizon-related restoration updates on the restoration page of our website. 

Program updates for December include:

  • NAS Gulf Research Program
  • RESTORE Act Center of Excellence Louisiana
  • NRDA Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group
  • NRDA Alabama Trustee Implementation Group
  • RESTORE Florida
  • RESTORE Louisiana
Funding Opportunities
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance maintains a funding opportunities web page of programs. Below are our selected opportunities this month.

EPA Office of Water Fiscal Year 2020 and Fiscal Year 2021 National Wetland Program Development Grants Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications from eligible applicants for projects that develop or refine state, tribal, or local government wetland programs as a whole, or individual components of those programs. The deadline is January 12, 2021.

EPA Office of Water Fiscal Year 2020 – Fiscal Year 2021 Tribal Wetland Program Development Grants
The primary focus of these grants is to develop/refine tribal wetland programs. The deadline is January 15, 2021.

NFWF Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program
The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support. The deadline is January 28, 2021.

FEMA Fiscal Year 2020 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants
This notice covers FEMA’s application period for the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program and the new Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) pre-disaster mitigation grant programs. FEMA’s two competitive mitigation grant programs provide states, local communities, tribes and territories (SLTTs) funding for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future disaster damages. The deadline is January 29, 2021.


1151 Robinson Street, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
For newsletter submissions contact Lee.Yokel@gomxa.org
December 2020