Traditional Grant Cycle

The Minnesota State Legislature has allocated all CPL funds to be used for projects taking place in the 7-county Metro Region and in cities with populations of 50,000 people or greater, so there will be no statewide round for Fiscal Year 2027. For more details, please review the updated request for proposals and full funding schedule and best practices documents.

• Public Waters Project Form

• CPL Evaluation Criteria Table

• Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and government entities

• Projects must occur on public lands or waters or lands protected by a permanent conservation easement

• Competitive grants evaluated with the CPL Evaluation Criteria Table

• Grants from $5,000-$500,000 with a 10% non-state match requirement and a total project cost cap of $1,000,000.

• Projects that protect, restore or enhance forests, wetlands, prairies & habitat for fish, game and wildlife in Minnesota

• Protection projects include fee title and permanent conservation easement acquisitions

  • Land acquired in fee must be open to all seasons of hunting and fishing

• Up to 2 rounds of funding (if funding remains from the 1st round).

* A signed Land Manager Review and Approval Form is a required attachment for all applications. The Public Waters Project Form must also be completed and attached if any work will involve public waters.