Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grants

Grants to Missouri Agencies and Schools to Create
and Maintain Public Facilities for Outdoor Recreation

Share it:

Agency Type:

State

Funding Source:

Add to My Calendar

Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) - Division of State Park’s (DSP) Grants Management Section (GMS)

Conf. Date:

01/07/21

Deadline Date:

02/24/21 Postmarked

Description:

Request a Grant Writer

Grants to Missouri governmental agencies and public schools to develop and acquire outdoor recreation areas that are accessible to the public. The purpose of the program is to create and sustain high quality outdoor recreation facilities and areas in the state and to maintain and protect local recreation resources.

Projects that are recommended for funding by GMS are those that demonstrate an ability to meet the needs outlined in the 2018-2022 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), which is available at the link below. The SCORP serves as a framework for the planning, development, management and protection of Missouri’s outdoor recreation resources.

All LWCF-assisted projects must be maintained in a state of outdoor recreation and open to the public in perpetuity. No grant funding will be awarded to projects which, in whole or in part, will not be open to the public. Eligible LWCF projects include the following broad categories.

Acquisition of land for outdoor recreation. These include the acquisition of land and waters or partial rights to them. Proposed acquisitions of interests in lands and waters of less than fee simple title, including leasehold interests, are not eligible unless such lesser rights (e.g., permanent recreation use easements or similar devices) will ensure access to the public in perpetuity.
Development/construction of new outdoor recreational amenities and support facilities needed by the public for recreation use of an area.
A combination of both acquisition of land and development/construction of new outdoor facilities.
Rehabilitation, restoration and/or repair of existing recreational amenities and support facilities. Rehabilitation means extensive repair needed to bring a facility up to standards suitable for public use, but does not mean routine maintenance.

Scoring criteria places emphasis on:

The applicant’s ability to complete the grant project and maintain the site in perpetuity as required under Section 6(f)(3) of the LWCF Act;
The site’s suitability for protection under Section 6(f)(3) of the LWCF Act;
How well developed the project proposal is, including acquisition and scope of work;
How the project will meet unmet recreational needs within the community or area;
Whether the project provides opportunities for underserved populations, such as elderly, minority, low-income, physically challenged or other special populations;
How the project aligns with a priority listed in Missouri’s SCORP, which is the framework for the planning, development, management and protection of Missouri’s outdoor recreation resources;
Whether the project demonstrates strong public support and indication of need, solicited through public comment forums;
The use of partnerships and donations to show project support and offset project costs;
A detailed and complete project budget;
What assurances the project sponsor can provide that there is adequate funding and manpower to complete the project within the established timeframe; and
The applicant’s effects on the environment as identified in the Environmental Resources Survey.

Outline of SCORP: https://mostateparks.com/page/61215/landand-water-conservation-fund-lwcf-grants

For a list of eligible project types, see: https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/LWCF-OPSP-2021.pdf#page=26

GrantWatch ID#:

GrantWatch ID#: 169710

Estimated Size of Grant:

$25,000-$500,000

Term of Contract:

Development or renovations must begin within one year of signing the grant agreement. Sponsors have two years from date the project agreement is signed to complete their LWCF project.

Eligibility:

See RFP and/or Grant Guidelines for full eligibility

Additional Eligibility Criteria:

Grants are open to any local government, city and county, and public school. LWCF grants are available to political subdivisions of the state and other appropriate public agencies, such as counties, municipal governments, local park and recreation departments, and public school districts. All eligible project sponsors, including those that have other than public outdoor recreation purposes, must be able to commit their resources to the perpetual stewardship of the LWCF-assisted public outdoor recreation area pursuant to Section 6(f)(3) of the LWCF Act.

All LWCF-assisted projects must be maintained in a state of outdoor recreation and open to the public in perpetuity. No grant funding will be awarded to projects which, in whole or in part, will not be open to the public.

Eligible costs include:
- Labor costs
- Materials for new construction or for renovation of recreation facilities
- Materials for new construction or renovation of eligible support facilities
- Construction, Site Work, Demolition, and Removal costs are eligible for reimbursement
- Land/Easement Acquisition/Lease. A LWCF grant can reimburse up to 50% of the cost (not to exceed the grant award) to acquire title or easement interest in real property
- Planning/Engineering/Environmental Review costs, up to 10% of the total project cost
- Signage
- Use/operation of equipment for project construction
- Freight costs

Ineligible costs include:
- Routine maintenance
- Overhead costs that include regular operating expenses
- Indirect costs, which typically represent the regular expenses of doing business. Only costs that are directly related
to the project are eligible.
- Budget contingencies included as budget line items.
- Ceremonial or entertainment expenses or any other costs associated with opening or ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
- Publicity or promotional costs, such as brochures or other print materials, website development, etc.
- Appraisals or other incidental costs related to land acquisition, even if the acquisition is a project cost.
- Equipment purchase, such as hammers, ladders or lawn mowers.
- Payments to one vendor in excess of $25,000, if the vendor was not selected through a formal bid process as per state and federal requirements.

For further details on eligible and ineligible projects, see the following link: https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/LWCF-OPSP-2021.pdf#page=26

For further details on eligible and ineligible costs, see the following link:
https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/LWCF-OPSP-2021.pdf#page=53

Pre-proposal Conference:

The LWCF Application Workshop will be Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, from 9 a.m. to noon. The workshop will be an Adobe Connect Virtual Webinar. To register for the workshop, please email your name, phone number and sponsor’s name to the email address in the Contact Information field below.

Pre-Application Information:

A draft application may be sent to Grants Management Section staff by Jan. 31, 2021, for a courtesy review. Mail two copies of the application plus all supporting documents in the application packets. Application packets must be postmarked on or before Feb. 24, 2021.

To apply for a LWCF grant, local governments and public school districts must fill out a LWCF Project Application requesting funding. Project proposals must be approved at both the state and federal levels. Project sponsors will be required to complete and return two copies of the LWCF Project Application and one copy of the Project Description/Environmental Screening Form (PD/ESF).

The LWCF is a 50-50 matching grant program, which means the project sponsor must share at least 50% of the project cost. The sponsor’s match can include in-kind contributions and donations. Additionally, LWCF grants are reimbursement grants, which means the grants provide reimbursements to project sponsors after expenses have been incurred.

Timeline:
- December - The OPSP commences with a call for project proposals. The application and application guide are posted on the website. Notices are distributed in a variety of formats to local political subdivisions. Important upcoming dates
are posted on the website, as well as a pre-application checklist for potential applicants to begin compiling required supporting documentation.
- January - Application webinars are hosted for project applicants.
- February - Draft applications are given a courtesy review by GMS staff. Final application submittals are due by mid- to late-February. GMS staff reviews applications for eligibility and previous LWCF compliance history, and submits approved applications to the LWCF Internal Advisory Committee.
- April-June - The LWCF Internal Advisory Committee reviews, scores and ranks the approved applications. A draft list of recommended projects is submitted to the SLO for approval. GMS staff conducts risk assessments and pre-award site inspections to confirm field conditions and eligibility.
- June - The draft application packets are submitted to the NPS for review. Any edits required by the NPS are made.
- July - Final application packets are submitted through the federal Grant Solutions system.
- September- October - Once the NPS has approved and obligated the funding, all applicants will be notified of the results of the application review process, and sponsors of approved projects will receive a notice of award and project agreement. Sponsors are then required to attend a mandatory grant administration workshop.

Contact Information:

Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates/changes/addendums/conferences/LOIs.

Mail application packets to:

Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Division of State Parks
Grants Management Section
Attn: LWCF Planner
PO Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176

To register for the workshop, please email:
mspgrants@dnr.mo.gov

For questions about an application packet or the process, call (573) 751-0848 or (573) 751-8661
or send an email to the email address listed above.

URL for Full Text (RFP):

See the full text of this grant

Geographic Focus:

USA: Missouri

Categories:

View Full Grant »

We have grants for

GrantNews - The Premier Newspaper for Nonprofits

Grant Writers For Hire - Grant Writer Team