Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) will grant approximately $643,495in federal Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program funding to local public outdoor recreation projects this year. Project applications are due July 1, 2002. Typical facilities eligible for funding include ball fields, campgrounds, golf courses, ice-skating ponds, picnic facilities, tennis courts, playground equipment, and hiking trails.
"Those planning to sponsor projects will want to begin work on their application immediately," said Walt Timmerman, Chief of the Recreation Bureau for FWP’s State Parks Division, which administers the program. "These types of projects can be complex and may require a lot of planning and so by necessity the grant applications may also require more time."
Applications for this funding will be reviewed and rated by a selection committee using a standard set of criteria. Those ranking highest will be awarded funding, said Timmerman. Cities, counties, school districts, conservation districts, Indian tribes, and other interested parties will receive a mailing with program details soon.
The maximum grant per project is $75,000, which may provide up to 50 percent of a project’s total cost. A project sponsor must make full payment on all project expenses before being reimbursed for up to 50 percent of allowable costs. A project sponsor may meet project costs by using agency work-force accounts, cash, and in some cases, land. Volunteer services and donated material, though encouraged, cannot be used to match the grant.
So that small communities with fewer grant-writing resources do not have to compete directly with the larger metropolitan areas, Montana State Parks has instituted two separate grant categories for the 2002 LWCF grant round. The Small Grant category will comprise sponsors requesting $24,999 or less per grant application. The Large Grant category will include sponsors requesting $25,000 or more per grant application.
Other grant requirements are:
Project sponsors must be a city, county, school district or similar official state entity or sovereign Indian Nation within Montana. The sponsor must have complete control of the land, preferably by fee title. The sponsor must have adequate resources to operate and maintain the area after the project is complete. The LWCF program provides no funds for routine operation and maintenance. The area within the project boundary must be maintained for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity. Applicants must include the results of a recent outdoor recreation survey that demonstrates support from local citizens. The federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Program (LWCF), established in 1965, encourages a partnership between national, state and local governments in planning and funding outdoor recreation. Since 1965, Montana has received over $31 million for outdoor recreational projects.
For further information on the federal Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program funding and grant application process, call the Montana State Parks office in Helena at 406-444-3750 of check the FWP web site soon at fwp.state.mt.us under Parks.
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