Grants shall not be made from this appropriation for projects that have a total project cost exceeding $575,000. BWSR grants provide funding to local units of government to deliver soil and water conservation services to their communities. Applications are submitted using CPLâs Online Grant Application System (OLGA). Applicants use OLGAâs mapping tool to map project sites. Applications accepted beginning in August, 2013, until round one deadline in mid-September, 2013. Applications requesting grants up to $25,000 or Preapproved Project Grants have a shorter application form. Of this appropriation, $366,000 may be spent for personnel costs and other direct and necessary administrative costs. A brand new 3,500 acre solar project in Becker, Minnesota is a great example of where Minnesotaâs energy future is headedâthe old 20th Century technology of a coal-powered power plant is being phased out and replaced by the new 21st Century technology of large-scale solar generation. 5(j), © 2017. 137, Art. Reinvest In Minnesota Reserve Fact Sheet Conservation Easements The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program (CPL) is managed by the Department of Natural Resources to provide competitive matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national non-profit organizations, including governments. Civil Rights | Conservation Partners Legacy; Enforcement; Forest management; Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Habitat improvement; OHV damage account; Pass-Through; Angler and Hunter Recruitment and Retention Grants; Park and trail; Recreation; Rural fire department assistance; Shooting sports; Water; Water recreation; Grant outcomes reporting; Gifts and donations Phone: 651-602-7933 Minnesota NRCS Programs. Minnesota Transition to Organic Cost-Share Program: Other Funding: New Markets Cost-Share Program: Other Funding: Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Grant: Grant: Nutrient Management Initiative (NMI) Grant: Organic Certification Cost-Share Program: Other Funding: Pilot Agricultural Microloan Program: Loan: Produce Safety Water Testing for Generic E. coli Mini-Grant: Grant Project Grants. The AGRI Value-Added Grant helps Minnesota processors add value to Minnesota agricultural products by investing in the purchase of equipment, production capacity, market diversification, and market access for value-added products. Grants over or under $25,000 were selected for funding once. Preapproved (ECP) Project Grants were awarded 4 times during the year. The Minnesota Conservation Improvement Program (CIP), administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce â Division of Energy Resources, requires utilities to invest 1.5 percent of their annual income in conservation programs.Municipal and cooperative utilities are no longer allowed to concentrate their investments in load-management ⦠No State funding opportunities are available at this time. NRCS administers CIG. Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. See the Fall 2016 newsletter for more on the three projects begun in 2016. Elk Foundation Announces Minnesota Conservation Grants MISSOULA, Mont.âThe Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, an international conservation organization with a focus on habitat protection and enhancement, has announced its 2008 project grants for Minnesota. The commissioner shall provide notice of the grant program in the game and fish law summaries that are prepared underMinnesota Statutes, section 97A.051, subdivision 2.Of this amount, $3,000,000 is for aquatic invasive species grants to tribal and local governments with a delegation agreement under Minnesota Statutes, section 84D.105, subdivision 2, paragraph (g), for education, inspection, and decontamination activities at public water access, and other sites. A final decision on recommendations is pending. The RFP for the program officially opened today, with proposals being accepted until Dec. 31. For grant applications of $25,000 or less, the commissioner shall provide a separate, simplified application process. Legislative Coordinating Commission, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. A portion of the dollars appropriated from the Outdoor Heritage Fund are being made available through a small grants program administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Commissioner makes final decisions. CPL Grant Program staff work with grantees to complete financial reviews, grant agreements, and other paperwork. Work may not begin until grant is executed. Plain Writing |  Match: Cash or in-kind, identified at time of application. New for the 2018 Farm Bill are on On-Farm Trial projects. The first ⦠1, Sec. NRCS offers funding opportunities at the State level to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. Site Map | To enhance, restore, or protect the forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. $500,000 for the Center for Sustainable Building Research to coordinate activities related to Sustainable Building 2030 (SB2030) Grants shall not be made for activities required to fulfill the duties of owners of lands subject to conservation easements. to provide support for the Minnesota Compass project (www.mncompass.org); and to build and maintain the small area data profiles and a custom mapping tool for metro neighborhoods and statewide regions. The full application package, including all necessary forms and instructions and submission information can be found on the National CIG webpage. If acquiring land or a conservation easement, priority shall be given to projects associated with existing wildlife management areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8; scientific and natural areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 84.033 and 86A.05, subdivision 5; and aquatic management areas under Minnesota Statutes, sections 86A.05, subdivision 14, and 97C.02. * Up to four percent of this appropriation may be used to administer the grants. * (The preceding text beginning "Of this amount, $3,000,000" and ending "and other sites. Projects may be watershed-based, regional, multi-state or nationwide in scope. Grants of up to $1,000 to USA, Canada, and International nonprofit, university, and conservation organizations for conservation programs that protect worldwide habitats and wildlife. Minnesota Conservation Improvement Program. This page requires Javascript. The CPL Program has been recommended by the L-SOHC to (and approved by) the ⦠Funding for the CPL grant program is from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created by the people of Minnesota. DNR were able to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with DNR and OHF policy and guidance, if additional funding became available or if a grantee could not complete a project as planned. Grant Selection Process CPL Grant Program Staff review applications for completeness. Technical Review Committee(s), selected by the Commissioner of Natural Resources, evaluate applications based on criteria listed below. A final score is given to all applications. Of this amount, $3,860,000 in the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources for a program to provide competitive, matching grants of up to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national organizations for enhancing, restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. Financial assistance through low interest loans and grants is available for well construction, repair, and sealing from a variety of programs. Conservation Reserve Program; Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) Financial Assistance Programs (AWEP, CSP, EQIP, WHIP) Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP) 2018 Farm Bill Research & Development Staff research and develop guidelines and methods to meet storage, display, treatment, and other institutional needs. NRCS provides funding opportunities for agriculturalists and others through various programs. 3a, directing LSOHC to establish a conservation partnerâs grant program encouraging/supporting local conservation efforts. $3,494,000 of the appropriated $3,860,000 was available for grants. This is a stand-alone program, but depends on support/technical advice from public land managers, habitat and acquisition specialists, and  support staff.  Grant activities: enhancement, restoration, protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A 10% match from nonstate sources is required for all grants. " was indicated as vetoed by the governor.). Other Grantmaking. No less than five percent of the amount of each grant must be held back from reimbursement until the grant recipient has completed a grant accomplishment report by the deadline and in the form prescribed by and satisfactory to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. Grants will affect Beltrami, Kittson and Marshall counties. The Grant SWCD in partnership with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) manages and implements the State of Minnesota RIM Reserve Program. In an effort to extend the Minnesota Zooâs conservation footprint, the Zoo has a program to help fund conservation projects in wildlife habitats around the world. Committee(s) include representatives from DNR, BWSR, the University of MN, state universities or private colleges, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, or other appropriate members from government, non-profit and business organizations. A final ranking committee of Directors of the DNR Divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Ecological Resources/Waters, and Forestry consider TRC, Division and Regional DNR comments, and recommend projects/funding levels to the Commissioner. Preapproved Project Grants are reviewed by CPL staff, using criteria established for each type of project, and make recommendations. Outcomes are dependent on grantees' project choices. Enter Keyword, Phrase, or Text to Take a Survey The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has awarded 46 conservation grants to various organizations and entities for restoring, enhancing and protecting habitat in Minnesota. The program shall require a match of at least ten percent from nonstate sources for all grants. To learn more about funding opportunities available through this grants program, please visit the Conservation Partners Legacy Grants webpage. Jessica Weis Conservation Service, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program. 2015 Grant Awards: Classroom Grant. For more information see the National CIG Program website. CPL Program Staff develop a Request for Proposal/Program Manual incorporating LSOHC  priorities, solicit applications, work with applicants to submit scorable applications, oversee grant selection, prepare/execute grant documents, review expenditure documentation, ensure financial integrity, make payments, monitor grant work, assist recipients with closing out agreements, and prepare required reports.  Applicants describe: location of work, activity type and habitat; benefit to habitat, fish, game and wildlife; and duration of benefits. Acquisition projects: applicants describe parcel selection process.  CPL staff complies with the Department of Administration-Office of Grants Management policies. Stakeholders involved in this program are applicants, reviewers, land managers. No opposition is known. Application Process A Request for Proposal/Program Manual was posted on the CPL website in August, 2013. Document contains all grant program information. Easements must be permanent. Grantees may acquire land or interests in land. NRCS offers a funding opportunity to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production.  Project development and oversight is provided by area managers and additional guidance is provided for land acquisitions.  Grantee Payment Grantees are paid on reimbursement or âfor services renderedâ basis, meaning payment is made to the grantee after work has been performed or materials purchased, but before the vendor is paid by the grantee. Grantees provide proof that work is completed or a purchase made to receive payment. Proof that the vendor was paid must be submitted to CPL staff before additional grant payments are made. Reasonable amounts may be advanced to projects to accommodate cash flow needs, match federal share, or for acquisitions. Advances must be specified in final grant agreement. Partial payments are allowed. Funds are built into grants for required Legacy logo signage and forms of acknowledgement/notification including, but not limited to, local news advertisements announcing completion of grantees' projects. $60,000. Environmental Assistance grants provide financial assistance for the development of environmentally sustainable practices in Minnesota through voluntary partnerships and goal-oriented, economically driven approaches to pollution prevention and resource conservation. Application Criteria Applications is evaluated on these criteria:       Amount of habitat restored, enhanced, or protected Local support       Degree of collaboration       Urgency       Multiple benefits       Habitat benefits       Consistency with current conservation science       Adjacent to protected lands       Full funding of project     Budget/ cost effectiveness     Public access for hunting/fishing     Use of native plant materials     Applicantsâ capacity to successfully complete, sustain work Project Reviews and Reporting Grantees submit annual accomplishment reports on forms provided by CPL staff, based on L-SOHC report forms. Reports account for the use of grant/match funds, and outcomes in measures of wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat restored, enhanced, and protected. The report must include an evaluation of these results. A final report is required by all grantees 30 days after project completion. CPL Grant staff submits accomplishment reports to L-SOHC as required. The Minnesota Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) Grant Program identifies effective approaches to help achieve the annual state energy conservation goal of 1.5 percent of annual retail sales of electricity and natural gas. The program is providing funds to help protect and restore the natural environment. Priority shall be given to restoration and enhancement projects on public lands. The following is a list of loan and grant programs available for well sealing. NRCS provides funding opportunities for agriculturalists and others through various programs. $2,600,000 for the Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) program through which Commerce awards grants in a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Since the creation of the CPL program, grantees have restored, protected or enhanced nearly 9982 acres of habitat in Minnesota. The CPL program fulfills MS 97a.056 Subd. All restoration or enhancement projects must be on land permanently protected by a conservation easement or public ownership or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. CIG will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations. The application system will accept Preapproved Project Grant applications year-round. 2, Subd. Connecting to Collections Grant MHS received a prestigious planning grant from the IMLS to identify collections care needs in cultural institutions in Minnesota and develop a plan.