* August 3 - Secondary application deadline for land acquisition projects only.
Application materials are generally available each January for the current year application cycle. Final grant recommendations are made by the MNRTF Board of Trustees in late fall and submitted to the Legislature for approval and appropriation of funds. Local grant and DNRE applications are evaluated and scored by the staff in Grants Management, using criteria and a point scale established annually by the MNRTF Board. While only state and local governments may apply to the MNRTF, any individual, group, or organization may nominate land for consideration for acquisition. A nomination is a suggestion that a parcel of land be considered for DNRE ownership.
Criteria:
Applications are evaluated on criteria established by the MNRTF Board of Trustees. Local units of government must provide at least 25% of the project's total costs as local match. Recommendations are made by the MNRTF Board of Trustees to the Governor, which are forwarded to the Michigan Legislature for final approval and appropriation.
There are eight (nine for development applications only) evaluation criteria:
1. Need for project
2. Applicant history
3. Site quality and Project quality
4. Natural Resource Protection and Use/Recreation Opportunities
5. Financial Need of the Applicant
6. Urban Area Recreation Opportunities
7. Local Match
8. Entrance Fees
9. Universal Design (development applications only)
Priority Project Types of the MNRTF Board for 2010 are:
1. Trails/Greenways
2. Wildlife/Ecological Corridors and Winter Deeryard Acquisitions
3. Project is located within an Urban Area.
Applicant Eligibility:
The state and counties, cities, townships, villages, school districts, the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, or any authority composed of counties, cities, townships, villages or school districts, or any combination thereof, which authority is legally constituted to provide public recreation. Local units of government must have a DNRE-approved 5-year recreation plan on file with the Department prior to application.
Application Process:
1. Submittal of a community recreation plan
2. Submittal of grant application
3. Evaluation by DNRE staff
4. Recommendation of funding by the Michigan Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board
5. Appropriation of project funds by the Legislature
Deadline(s):
Local community recreation plans must be submitted to the DNRE by the application due date. The secondary application deadline of August 2nd is for acquisition applications only.
Timeline(s):
Grant awards are dependent on the appropriations process, but project agreements are normally distributed within 12 to 18 months after the application submission.
Dollar Amount(s) Available:
Development project minimum/maximum grant amount: $15,000 to $500,000. No minimum/maximum limits on land acquisition grants.
Source(s) of Funds:
Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund
Source: MDNRE website
