Strategy 2

Strategy 2: Encourage Flathead Basin organizations, businesses, and individuals to
participate in, support, and fund this AIS effort.

Although some elements in this implementation plan can be conducted with in‐kind
labor contributed by a Flathead Basin AIS group member or members, other elements
will require financial support. Therefore, potential external and internal funding sources
for AIS management within the Flathead Basin must be identified.

Strategy 2A: Develop list of potential external funding sources
for cooperative proposals.

Tasks

• Identify a funding source to support a “grants specialist” – a paid employee to update
  and maintain funding information; assist in grant applications; facilitate
  communication (i.e. sending out e‐mails regarding critical dates); and post on‐line
  information.
• Develop an excel spreadsheet to list grant and other funding opportunities including
  deadlines, eligibility, amounts and examples of successful proposals. Incorporate
  spreadsheet into relational database.
• Each agency should identify partners able and willing to establish appropriate
  funding mechanisms by which various projects can be properly administered.
• Assess the need for the creation of an over‐arching funding management group
  (i.e. new non‐profit).
• Each agency should develop a procedure for working with selected partners or newly
  created funding management group.
• Establish procedures to properly handle funds.
• Maintain database.
• Complete agency specific Standard Operating Procedures to incorporate into
  implementation plan.
• Implement established procedures if needed.

Strategy 2B: Identify internal funding sources for AIS management
and Flathead Basin AIS Coordinator.

Tasks

• Fund a Flathead Basin AIS Coordinator
• Identify individuals to contact in each agency or other appropriate organizations
  (federal, Tribal, Provincial, regional, and local) to request AIS contributions.
• Request that agency or other appropriate contact person provide a list of internal
  funding that has been used in the past and/or could be tapped in the future.
• Incorporate agency and similar organization information into a funding database.
  Update that database as needed.

Strategy 2C: Facilitate local cooperative partnerships within the Flathead Basin.

Tasks

• Prepare an excel spreadsheet as a foundation for a partners/contact database.
• Propose participation levels defined below to Flathead Basin AIS partners.
• Distribute spreadsheet (above) to partners to supply known contact information.
• Assign responsibility to maintain/update contact/partner lists.
• Identify potential (future) partners and add to spreadsheet.
• Develop a formal ‘recognition’ process for donors and volunteers (e.g., annual thankyou
  letter and/or window sticker for participants/sponsors). Consider formal
  sponsorship program (i.e., corporations or governments may wish to sponsor a wash
  station) and/or good stewardship award(s).
• Incorporate spreadsheet into on‐line database forum.
• Maintain/update the partners and potential partners database, including contact
  information, documentation of when contacted, by whom, and results of contact.
• Create/update/maintain links to partner URL.
• Develop a narrated “community outreach” program which any partner can present to
  peers or other audiences. The program should include a check‐list of Best
  Management Practices.

*Proposed definitions:
Partner – actively involved in Flathead Basin AIS prevention, control and/or eradication efforts;
would include all agencies, governments and NGOs working on AIS in our area.
Sponsor – group or individual that contributes actual dollars to the effort.
Participant – groups, businesses or individuals that assist in selected AIS efforts (i.e. a business
that posts/distributes AIS information or an AIS monitoring volunteer.
Other – groups or individuals that want only to be included on our mailing lists.