Grants for Humanities Programming, Deadline Aug. 18

America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations grants support projects in the humanities that explore stories, ideas, and beliefs in order to deepen our understanding of our lives and our world. The Division of Public Programs supports the development of humanities content and interactivity that excite, inform, and stir thoughtful reflection upon culture, identity, and history in creative and new ways. Grants for America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations should encourage dialogue, discussion, and civic engagement, and they should foster learning among people of all ages. To that end, the Division of Public Programs urges applicants to consider more than one format for presenting humanities ideas to the public.

NEH offers two categories of grants for America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations: planning and implementation Grants. Planning grants are available for projects that may need further development before applying for implementation. This planning can include the identification and refinement of the project’s main humanities ideas and questions, consultation with scholars, preliminary audience evaluation, preliminary design of the proposed interpretive formats, beta testing of digital formats, development of complementary programming, research, or the drafting of interpretive materials.

Implementation grants support the final preparation of a project for presentation to the public. Applicants must submit a full walkthrough for an exhibition, or a prototype or storyboard for a digital project, which demonstrates a solid command of the humanities ideas and scholarship that relate to the subject. Applicants for implementation grants should have already finished most of the planning for their projects, including the identification of the key humanities themes, relevant scholarship, and program formats. For exhibitions, implementation grants can support the final stages of design development, but these grants are primarily intended for installation.

Current Closing Date for Applications: Aug 18, 2010

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Eligible Applicants:
State governments
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education

National Endowment for the Humanities

Contact us for more information!

MDNRE Trust Fund, Deadline August 3

It will soon be park season and if you are seeking to provide more recreational opportunities now is the time to get started! The MDNRE Natural Resources Trust Fund has a secondary deadline August 3 for land acquisition projects only.

* 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

ORV Trail Grants Available, Due May 1

2010-11 Off-Road Vehicle Trail Grant Applications Available

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced today
that the 2010-11 Off Road Vehicle (ORV) trail grant applications are
available to public agencies, and nonprofit incorporated clubs and
organizations.

Applications are available for grants to maintain existing designated
state ORV trails, routes, and use areas; repair public lands damaged by
inappropriate ORV use; and develop new ORV trails, routes, and use
areas. Grant funds also are available to pay for liability insurance,
leases or easements.

"We currently have 28 trail sponsors that maintain more than 3,300
miles of state designated ORV trails and routes statewide," said Steve
Kubisiak, DNRE Recreation and Trails Program coordinator. "We depend
on these partnerships to maintain the trails, and encourage
participation from all user organizations and other public agencies to
help us maintain Michigan’s great ORV trail system."
Grant applications are prioritized to address existing trail
maintenance and restoration needs on public land. New trail, route, and
scramble area development proposals will also be considered.

Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2010.

Contact us for more information!

Scenic Byways Grants Available, Due April 16

Federal highway has announced the availability of scenic byway grants for the next funding cycle. The picture shown is an underground water tank GFA designed along a scenic heritage route in Peninsula Township.

Expected Number of Awards: 150
Estimated Total Program Funding: $40,000,000
CFDA Number(s): 20.205 -- Highway Planning and Construction
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes

Eligible Applicants
County governments
City or township governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Individuals

Additional Information on Eligibility:
Federal agencies, local units of government, and nonprofit organizations may apply to this program, but they must coordinate their applications with their State Departments of Transportation (DOT). The formal applications to FHWA are submitted by the State DOTs, and the projects are generally managed by the cognizant State DOT. Indian tribe governments have the option of submitting byway grant applications through the State or directly to the FHWA Division office in their State.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued the FY 2010 solicitation for proposals under the National Scenic Byways Program. Under this program, the Secretary of Transportation may make grants to States or Indian tribes to implement projects on roads designated as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads, State scenic byways, or Indian tribe scenic byways. The Secretary may also make grants to States or Indian tribes to plan, design and develop a scenic byways program. Eligible projects must be from one of the following eight eligible activities:
State or Indian tribe Scenic Byway Programs,
Corridor Management Plans,
Safety Improvements,
Byways Facilities,
Access to Recreation,
Resource Protection,
Interpretive Information,
or Marketing.

FHWA will continue to be more strategic in its FY 2010 National Scenic Byways Program grant awards process by targeting its resources toward projects that provide the greatest benefits. FHWA is particularly focusing on projects that place additional emphasis on livability, or with demonstrated benefits for the byway traveler and invites the application of large-scale, high-cost projects that provide strategic benefits to the byway. The Federal share of the byway project grant is 80 percent.

Contact us for more information!

Recreation Grant Workshops

Recreation Grant Workshops Scheduled Around the State in January and February

The Department of Natural Resources announced today that informationalworkshops for communities interested in applying for grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) will take place around the state in January andFebruary. The MNRTF provides funding assistance for state and local outdoorrecreation needs, including land acquisition and development of outdoor recreation facilities. The MNRTF is a state program supported by revenues from the development of state-owned mineral resources, in particular oil and gas. The LWCF program also provides funding assistance for state and local outdoor recreation needs but is limited to development only of outdoor recreation facilities. The LWCF program is a federal program administered by the National Park Service. The MNRTF and LWCF programs are directed at creating and improving outdoor recreational opportunities and providing protection to valuable natural resources.

Both local units of government and the DNR are eligible for MNRTF and LWCF assistance.Workshops scheduled for 2010 are:

Iron Mountain: Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at America’s Best Inn located at 1609 S. Stephenson Ave. in IronMountain.

Inkster: Thursday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Inkster Parks and Recreation Department’s Games Room located at 2025 Middlebelt in Inkster.

Grand Rapids: Wednesday, Feb. 3, from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m at the Amway Grand Plaza located at 187 Monroe Ave. NW in Grand Rapids. Note: Must be registered for MRPA Conference to attend these two sessions.

Grayling: Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ramada Inn located at 2650 S. I-75 Business Loop in Grayling.

Lansing: Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Michigan Library and Historical Center Forum located at 702 West Kalamazoo St. in Lansing.

The workshops are free and open to the public, and reservations are not necessary to attend. Topics for all of the workshops will include applicant and project eligibility, distribution of funds, application and attachment preparation, project selection and grantee obligations. The grant application deadline is Thursday, April 1, 2010. Grant application materials will be available from the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants, click on "Grant Programs" under Overview or by contacting Grants Management at the DNR at 517-373-9125.

Application materials also will be available at the workshops. The DNR is committed to conservation, protection, management, accessible use and enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future generations.

Trails Funding, Apps Due Dec 15

What types of projects will be considered for the 2010 grants?
• Those that have hikers as the primary constituency, though multiple human-powered trail uses are eligible.
• Those that secure trail lands, including acquisition of trails and trail corridors and the costs associated with
acquiring conservation easements.
• Projects that will result in visible and substantial ease of access, improved hiker safety and/or avoidance of
environmental damage. Higher preference is often given to projects with volunteer labor.
• Projects that promote constituency building surrounding specific trail projects - including volunteer recruitment
and support.

Award amounts range from $500 to $5,000.
• Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and must submit their IRS designation letters.
• Except for land acquisition programs, acceptable projects should be completed in one year. Multi-year projects
will be considered only in exceptional cases.
• Grants will not be awarded to (a) religious organizations for religious purposes, (b) private foundations or (c)
political causes, candidates or legislative lobbying efforts.
• The grantee must complete a final report on the project’s progress, successes and failures, funds dispersal and
what role the grant played in the project, due April 30, 2011.

Applications must be submitted electronically by December 15, contact us for more information!

ORV Trail Grants, Due Aug 1

Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Trail Improvement Program

This program provides funding for maintenance of established ORV trails and facilities as part of the designated statewide trail system, development of new trails and facilities, and restoration of natural resources damaged by ORV use.

Applications for trail, route, or area maintenance and/or development must be for facilities that are open to the public. Applications for damage restoration funds must be for lands under public ownership.

Applicant must be a public agency or nonprofit, incorporated club or organization. Individuals are not eligible.

Grant applications are due August 1 of each year.

The time period from grant application to grant award is approximately four months.


Dollar Amount(s) Available:

Maximum allowable is up to 100 percent of cost, not to exceed the actual grant allocation; there is no minimum.

Grant applications are prioritized to address existing trail maintenance and restoration needs on public land. New trail, route and scramble area development proposals also will be considered.

A separate application is available for grants to eligible county sheriff departments to enforce ORV regulations. Counties that have either designated ORV trails or abandoned railroad rights-of-way that are being converted into Michigan Trailways are eligible for law enforcement funding.

Contact your GFA client rep for more information!


Source(s) of Funds:

ORV Trail Improvement Fund.

DNR Trust Fund Land Acquisition Grants, Due Aug 3

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) has been in place since 1976. It provides financial assistance to local governments and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to purchase land or rights in land for public recreation or protection of land because of its environmental importance or its scenic beauty. It also assists in the appropriate development of land for public outdoor recreation.

The MNRTF is supported by annual revenues from the development of State-owned mineral resources, largely oil and gas. It is governed by Article 9, Section 35 of the State Constitution and Part 19 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 451 PA 1994, as amended. The program is administered by the MNRTF Board of Trustees and the Grants Management office of the DNR. The MNRTF Board of Trustees meets six times a year and all meetings are open to the public.

MNRTF projects provide for natural resource protection and outdoor recreation. By law, no more than 25 percent of the Trust Fund revenues available for appropriation each year can be used for development, therefore the majority of funding is allocated for acquisition projects. Applications are accepted annually as follows:

April 1 - Land acquisition and recreation development project application deadline. Development project applications must be submitted by April 1.
August 3 - Secondary application deadline for land acquisition projects only.

Grant awards are dependent on the appropriations process, but project agreements are normally distributed within 12 to 18 months after the application submission.

No minimum/maximum limits on land acquisition grants. (Source: MDNR Website)

Contact us for more information!