Natural and Scenic Area grants

Program purpose
To increase, protect and enhance natural and scenic areas. For more information, see the Natural and Scenic Area Program pages.

How it works
Provides matching grants to local units of government for up to 50% of the cost of acquisition of natural and scenic areas.

Eligible applicants
Cities, counties, townships and school districts.

Eligible projects
Eligible projects include fee title acquisition and permanent easement acquisition. Minimal betterment activities are eligible as part of the proposed acquisition project and include interpretive, educational or boundary signing and protective fencing. For more information, read the use guidelines in the Program Manual .

Minimum requirements
Project proposals must have a total project cost of at least $10,000.

Program funding
A maximum of 50% of the total eligible project costs not to exceed a maximum grant of $500,000. Applicants must be able to fund at least 50% of the total project costs. Costs must be incurred and paid for before reimbursement can be made. Applicants are eligible to receive more than one grant. Significant progress must be completed on active projects before an additional proposal can be submitted.

Grant awards
The Department of Natural Resources will review and rank applications during the spring of 2010. Preliminary grant awards will be announced in the summer of 2010.

Project period
Projects cannot begin until all requested final documentation has been submitted and an agreement between the applicant and the state has been signed. Project start dates may be in the fall of 2010 or later, depending on the funding available and the project ranking. Funded projects must begin promptly after an agreement has been signed. All work must be completed no later than December 31, 2012.

To apply
To receive an application, please submit an Application Request Form. We recommend that the Application Request Form be submitted no later than January 31, 2010. The completed application is due on March 31, 2010.

Further information:
Grants Manager
Local Grants Program
Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road, Box 10
St. Paul, MN 55155-4010
Fax: (651) 296-6047

Related DNR Programs:
Remediation Fund Grant Program
Metro Greenways Protection & Restoration

Other Related Programs: None.