NFWF awards $280M+ to Gulf states

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced Nov. 19 to award more than $280M from its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) to 21 new projects in the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Developed in consultation with state and federal resource agencies, the projects are designed to remedy harm and reduce the risk of future harm to natural resources affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This was the sixth round of awards from the GEBF. To date, NFWF has awarded nearly $1.3B or more than half of available funds. The GEBF projects complement previously announced or currently under consideration by the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and RESTORE Act programs. NFWF approved the award of more than $48.7M for eight new projects in Alabama; more than $53M for seven new projects in Florida; $161.4M to support restoration of the Terrebonne Basin barrier island system in Louisiana; nearly $140M for 18 projects in Mississippi; and more than $19.1M for five projects in Texas. (Source: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 11/19/18)