The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced that applications for the 2008 local grants, trail grants, cooperative water recreation grants and Metro Greenways grants are now available.
These grants help local governments, organizations and individuals throughout the state create partnerships with the DNR to fund projects that protect natural resources and provide outdoor recreation opportunities.
Programs include regional parks (outside the metro area), natural and scenic areas, conservation partners/environmental partnerships, local trail connections, federal recreation trails, regional trails (outside the metro area), fishing piers, public boat accesses and Metro Greenways Land Protection grants.
These matching grants fund projects such as natural area acquisition, trail connections or trails for long distance travel, water-based recreational facilities, parks that provide regional natural resource based recreation opportunities, habitat restoration and improvement, and other conservation projects.
Though the amount of funding for these programs is uncertain at this time, it is anticipated that both federal and state funds will be available during 2008. Initiating the application process now provides more time for DNR staff to assist in developing project ideas and for project completion.
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Application information is available on the DNR Web site at www.mndnr.gov .
Click the "Grants" heading and find the appropriate grant program. For more information, contact the grants staff listed in the program descriptions.
To obtain the application packet by mail, write to Local Grants Program, Department of Natural Resources, Office of Management and Budget Services, Box 10, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4010.
