695-047-0010
Purpose

The Board shall provide grants, as funds are available, for Focused Investment Partnership initiatives that address Board-identified priorities of significance to the State. This Division supplements the OWEB Grant Program rules under OAR 695-005 and provides specific requirements for the Focused Investment Partnership Grants Program. In the event of any conflict between these requirements, and the requirements identified in OAR 695-005, the Focused Investment Partnership Grant Program requirements in this Division take precedence.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0020
Definitions

(1) "Conservation Actions" are specific ecological conservation or restoration interventions, treatments, projects, or other activities that will contribute to specific Conservation Output objectives.

(2) "Conservation Outputs” are specific products or yields resulting from Conservation Actions that can be quantified and measured over time.

(3) “Core Partners” are identified in the Initiative grant application as signatories to the Focused Investment Partnership Agreement and are eligible to apply for project-level grants to provide capacity for partnership coordination and Work Plan implementation.

(4) “Ecological Outcomes” are near-and-long-term results that are expected to emerge from Conservation Actions and resulting Conservation Outputs.

(5) “Expert Review Team” means a team of designated personnel with statewide knowledge and interdisciplinary expertise as appropriate to evaluate Focused Investment Partnership Initiative applications based on evaluation criteria in OAR 695-047-0060.

(6) “Focused Investment Partnership” means an OWEB investment that addresses a Board-identified priority of significance to the state, achieves Ecological Outcomes as identified through a Strategic Action Plan, and is implemented by a High-Performing Partnership.

(7) “High-Performing Partnership” means a collaborating group of organizations with an existing Strategic Action Plan and a governance structure that includes a decision-making process resulting in an effective performance history.

(8) “Initiative” means the program that the partnership will pursue with Focused Investment Partnership funding.

(9) “Strategic Action Plan” is a document that describes the long-term, science-based conservation strategy of a partnership, providing context for the Conservation Actions. A Strategic Action Plan is required at time of application and may cover a timeframe longer than the proposed FIP Initiative.

(10) “Theory of Change” is a way of explaining the hypothesized relationships between Conservation Actions and the Ecological Outcomes they are expected to produce.

(11) “Work Plan” means the proposed actions of the partnership in each biennium of the Initiative. Partnerships will submit an updated Work Plan to OWEB in advance of each new biennium.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0030
Board-identified Priorities

At least every five years, the Board shall approve ecological priorities of significance to the State to be addressed by Focused Investment Partnerships Initiatives. Ecological priorities shall be determined with public input and scientific rigor and shall include maps, a Theory of Change, and narrative describing the desired ecological outcomes for eligible Focused Investment Partnership Initiative activities.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0040
Eligibility

The Board shall only consider a Focused Investment Partnership Initiative application that:

(1) Addresses a Board-identified priority of significance to the state; and

(2) Is to be implemented by a High-Performing Partnership.

(3) Demonstrates that match is sought and shall be expended within the scope and geography of the Initiative application.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0060
Evaluation Criteria

Focused Investment Partnership Initiative applications shall be evaluated on:

(1) The extent to which the partnership has the capacity to partner and engage the community within the Initiative geography;

(2) The extent to which the partnership demonstrates an established governance structure and a shared history of collaboratively implementing Conservation Actions and adaptively managing to achieve Conservation Outputs;

(3) The composition of the partnership is appropriate to achieve Ecological Outcomes within the Initiative;

(4) The extent to which the partnership's Theory of Change supports the proposed Initiative and aligns with a Board identified ecological priority;

(5) The extent to which the Conservation Actions and Conservation Outputs described in the proposed Work Plan will make progress toward Ecological Outcomes;

(6) The extent to which the partnership demonstrates a process to track Conservation Outputs that are aligned with Ecological Outcomes; and

(7) The extent to which the allocation of funds across proposed grant types will support the achievement of the proposed Ecological Outcomes and catalyze additional investments.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0070
Focused Investment Partnership Initiative Expert Review Process

For Focused Investment Partnership Initiatives, OWEB shall convene an Expert Review Team. The Expert Review Team shall evaluate, rank, and provide a funding recommendation for Focused Investment Partnership Initiative applications based on the information provided and according to criteria described in OAR 695-047-0060 and OAR 695-005-0045.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0080
Focused Investment Partnership Initiative Funding Recommendation Process

For Focused Investment Partnership Initiative applications:

(1) OWEB staff shall review the results from the Expert Review Team and make a funding recommendation, based on the current Board-adopted spending plan line item for Focused Investment Partnership Initiatives, to a Board committee. The results from the Expert Review Team and OWEB staff funding recommendations shall be provided to applicants and the Board.

(2) The Board committee shall interview Core Partners proposing an Initiative.

(3) The Board committee shall make a funding recommendation to the Board based on the results of the Expert Review Team, the OWEB staff funding recommendations, the interview of the core partners, and the evaluation criteria described in OAR 695-047-0060.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0090
Board Funding Decision

For Focused Investment Partnership Initiatives, the Board shall award funds on a biennial basis. Subject to Board evaluation and future appropriations, the Board seeks investment for up to six years for each Initiative. Prior to soliciting for Initiatives, the Board shall determine the maximum amount for biennial awards.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0100
Focused Investment Partnership Implementation Initiative Partnership Agreement

(1) For Focused Investment Partnership Initiatives, a partnership agreement shall be executed between OWEB and Core Partners that shall stipulate the terms of the Initiative.

(2) The agreement shall include at a minimum: points of contact, purpose of initiative, scope of initiative, process for submitting project-level grant applications, review process, funding conditions, roles and responsibilities of signatories, and methodology to address any potential changes in composition of the core partnership.

(3) Only organizations that are signatory to the partnership agreement are eligible to apply for project level grants.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0110
Focused Investment Partnership Implementation Initiative Project-level Grant Process

(1) The core partners of a Focused Investment Initiative shall select projects to implement the Initiative.

(2) Project applications shall be submitted on the most current format prescribed by OWEB, on a schedule determined by the partnership and OWEB staff.

(3) Consistent with OAR 695-005-0030(2), project applications shall include a matching contribution from other non-Board program funds or in-kind services. The matching contribution may include sources of funding from other projects in the Initiative that are consistent with the activities described in the partnership's Initiative application and expended within the geography of the Initiative.

(4) Following consultation with the partnership about expertise that is relevant to the Initiative’s focus, a Technical Review Team shall be convened by OWEB.

(5) The Technical Review Team shall meet to evaluate project-level applications according to the project’s compatibility with the Initiative’s proposal and relevant evaluation criteria established in OAR Chapter 695. Representatives of the partnership shall be provided an opportunity to meet with the Technical Review Team during the project evaluation to provide context for proposed projects.

(6) OWEB staff shall provide the Technical Review Team evaluations to the applicant. Applicants and staff shall address any revisions to the project recommended by the Technical Review Team comments through edits to the project-level grant application or other agreed upon process.

(7) Grant types for Focused Investment Initiatives are Restoration (OAR 695-010), Engagement (OAR 695-015), Monitoring (OAR 695-025), Technical Assistance (OAR 695-030), Land Acquisition (OAR 695-045), and Water Acquisition (OAR 695-046).

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0120
Distribution of Funds

Focused Investment Partnership Initiative funds shall be distributed through project-level grant agreements through a process described in the partnership agreement described in OAR 695-047-0100.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0130
Reporting

(1) Reporting for project-level grants shall be determined in each project grant agreement.

(2) At the end of each biennium, the Focused Investment Initiative partnerships shall, in collaboration with OWEB staff, report the following to the Board:

(a) Initiative progress for the biennium;

(b) Additional investments generated through the Initiative beyond match used for project-level applications;

(c) Updated Work Plan and budget proposed for the next biennium; and

(d) Any proposed changes to the geography, scope, or Core Partners of the Initiative.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2025, amend filed 01/30/2025, effective 01/30/2025
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018

695-047-0140
Waiver and Periodic Review of Rules

The Director may waive the requirements of Division 47 unless required by statute, when doing so will result in more efficient or effective implementation of the Board’s Focused Investment Partnership grant program. Any waiver must be in writing and included in the grant file to which the waiver applies. Any waiver of the requirements of Division 47 will be reported to the Board at the next Board meeting. The administrative rules for Focused Investment Partnership grants shall be periodically reviewed by the Board and revised as necessary and appropriate.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 541.906
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 541.890-541.969
History:
OWEB 1-2018, adopt filed 02/02/2018, effective 02/02/2018