Grant Round Process (DCS)

Timing is Important!

The Division of Conservation Services grant programs are normally conducted on an annual cycle, unless a special round is announced by the Secretary.

If the community would like to be eligible for reimbursement, do not proceed with the project unless the community has a signed contract for it. Costs incurred prior to execution of the contract cannot be reimbursed. Award announcements are anticipated on or about 60 days from the Application Deadline.

FY10 Grant Round

• Application Release Date:  Early April
• Workshop Date:  May 21 at 10:00 am
• End of Open Question Period: June 30
• Application Deadline:   July 15 at 3:00 pm
• Site Inspections:  to be completed by mid September
• Award Announcement:  approximately 90 days from Application Deadline
• Project Completion:
  • June 30, 2010 for LAND Projects and some PARC projects
  • June 30, 2011 for other PARC Projects

All project sites must be:

• Legally dedicated as permanently protected open space for conservation or recreation use
• Open to the general public (not just local residents)
• Accessible to people with disabilities
• Accessible for appropriate outdoor recreational purposes

Each grant program:

• Is a reimbursement program requiring the applicant to raise, borrow or appropriate the total project cost, and then be reimbursed a portion of that cost by the grant
• Requires a local investment and therefore only reimburses on a sliding scale to each municipality, from 52% to 70% of the total project cost up to a maximum grant limit set by the Secretary
• Has regulations and guidance documents
• Involves a competitive project selection system
• Favors proposals that support the Secretary's focus as detailed in the grant round announcement letter

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for either PARC or LAND grants, your municipal Open Space and Recreation Plan must be up to date and approved, and there must be no current unresolved parkland conversion issues with EEA.  To learn more about these items, please refer to the links below:

• Open Space and Recreation Plan Status
• The community applying is not in violation of EEA's Article 97 Policy .

At our last workshop for communities, the attached power point presentation was offered.