The North Coast Resource Partnership develops data, assessments, and plans with the intention of implementing projects and actions on the ground and in communities. Since 2005, NCRP has managed funding investments from a diversity of agency and philanthropic partners totaling over $95 million. During that time, the NCRP ratio of planning-to-implementation investment is approximately 1:20. 

Implementation of this Plan will begin immediately upon approval in December 2022. The Plan is adaptive in nature, and updates will be undertaken at least once per year, and more frequently as new information becomes available. A detailed implementation work plan (including funding targets, capacity and workforce needs, scopes of work with schedules and budgets) will be developed by NCRP upon Plan approval. The Plan will be implemented by an array of partners in the region: NCRP will take the lead on some initiatives and actions, whereas other partners will lead in other areas. NCRP will track progress and report on performance metrics for all Plan projects and actions via the NCRP Project Tracker and other tools.

Workshops will be held in NCRP sub-regions to gather local expert input on Plan implementation. Focused workshops on specific topics (i.e., workforce development, forest biomass residuals, etc.) will be held to bring together regional partners and subject area experts to prioritize immediate and long-term actions and develop detailed scopes of work. Other mechanisms for developing detailed scopes of work for implementation include assessments, interviews, polls, meetings, and targeted initiatives focused on a particular thematic or geographic area. 

NCRP typically coordinates large block grants from funding partners, providing the regional collaborative infrastructure and administrative functions to synchronize the priorities of North Coast region Tribes, agencies, businesses, and other organizations with the priorities and objectives of federal, state, and philanthropic funding partners. NCRP will continue to develop sub-regional portfolios of projects and activities intended to achieve the goals shared by Tribal, federal, state, regional, and local partners.

Projects and actions in the North Coast region are identified by a variety of Tribes, counties, NGOs, RCDs, cities, local agencies, private companies, private landowners, and landowner groups. In collaboration with these groups, NCRP’s role is to:

• Compile and document projects in the region, maintaining a project pipeline of implementation-ready projects.
• Support project sponsors with technical assistance and capacity investments to enhance project readiness and funding.
• Prioritize and evaluate projects using the best available science and data in a transparent, equitable selection process.
• Test new and innovative approaches by funding demonstration projects.
• Seek and provide funding for projects via grants awarded by state, federal, and philanthropic partners.
• Track performance for individual projects as well as the portfolio of projects for the North Coast region.

NCRP has developed a Project Tracker tool that documents North Coast region activities and projects. The Project Tracker platform includes information on project status, location, size, goals and objectives, impact, and performance metrics. This tool represents and facilitates the NCRP “project pipeline” and is augmented in partnership with the region’s Tribes, RCDs, counties, NGOs, and others who design and implement projects in the region. The NCRP Project Tracker includes NCRP funded projects, regional priority projects in various stages of development, partner projects, and technical assistance projects. Having a comprehensive portfolio of projects for the region allows NCRP and its partners to assess project development gaps in the region while also reporting on the collective project benefits and return on investment.

Since its inception in 2005, the NCRP has used a formal, publicly accessible evaluation process to review, rank, prioritize, and fund projects and actions. This process includes the following steps:

• • NCRP Leadership Council approves the NCRP project solicitation, evaluation, and prioritization protocol – a protocol that emphasizes equity, transparency, and project effectiveness. This protocol is reviewed during public meetings and regularly updated based on input from the NCRP Leadership Council, Technical Peer Review Committee, staff team, agency partners, and project sponsors. 
  • NCRP issues RFPs that are aligned with the project solicitation, evaluation, and prioritization protocol.
  • NCRP staff provide screening for eligibility per the protocol – including alignment with NCRP and funder goals, objectives, principles, and specific program requirements.
  • For implementation projects the NCRP Technical Peer Review Committee (TPRC) – comprised of appointees from North Coast Tribes and counties – ranks and scores submitted projects based on criteria approved by the NCRP Leadership Council. This process includes three steps, typically during a two day meeting: 1) individual scoring by each TPRC member using a consistent scoring sheet; 2) TPRC discussion of each individual member’s scoring; 3) TPRC recommendation of a slate of projects for Leadership Council consideration and approval. The Leadership Council may approve the slate or make modifications, then direct staff to fund the projects or actions. 
  • After every round of RFPs and project selection, NCRP staff and TPRC debrief the process and propose improvements to the protocol, and the updated protocol is then provided to the Leadership Council for consideration.

A key element in increasing the pace, scope, and scale of activities that enhance resilience is the expansion of capacity in North Coast communities. Since its inception, NCRP has placed a strong emphasis on building capacity in the North Coast region by assessing capacity gaps, providing technical assistance to partners, attracting and disseminating funding, and amplifying the need for investment. Through a variety of mechanisms – including regional assessments, meetings, workshops, research, RFPs, and the work of local Project Developers working throughout the region – NCRP identifies technical assistance needs and develops targeted strategies for addressing them. Through NCRP’s Technical Assistance program, project sponsors with capacity gaps are paired with local experts who provide peer-to-peer technical assistance, with the goal of enabling project sponsors to apply for and receive grant funding for implementation projects or other forms of capacity enhancements. NCRP also partners with other agencies and organizations to coordinate the provision of regional technical assistance. Project sponsors can request technical assistance via the NCRP Project Tracker. Applications for technical assistance are accepted on a rolling basis, with proposals reviewed and awards considered quarterly.

This Plan articulates the needs and opportunities for enhancing capacity investments in the region based on objective regional assessments integrated with local knowledge and local expertise, as described in the Adaptive Planning & Prioritization Framework. In addition to the need to increase capacity investments in local communities, a key recommendation in the plan is for continued investment in and expansion of the regional collaborative infrastructure of the NCRP as a foundation from which to support regional partners in implementing projects and strategies (See Capacity – NCRP Regional Role Solution). NCRP will continue to expand its focus on capacity – as needs are identified in high-risk or vulnerable communities, funding support will be provided to invest in local capacity to implement projects and actions.

The North Coast Resource Partnership welcomes your perspective and engagement to enhance the quality of life in North Coast communities and watersheds! Following are a few ways to get involved: 

• Sign up on the NCRP website to stay current on information and opportunities within and beyond the North Coast Region.
• Attend meetings of the Leadership Council and Technical Peer Review Committee, all of which welcome community engagement and input.
• Request Technical Assistance by submitting a proposal via the NCRP Project Tracker.
• Explore resources and download important spatial data about the North Coast region.
• Participate in NCRP planning processes via workshops, plan review, interviews, or meetings with the NCRP staff team. Please contact the NCRP staff team for more information on how to get involved.
•