Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program ML2014

The CPL program fulfills MS 97a.056 Subd. 3a, directing LSOHC to establish a conservation partner’s grant program encouraging/supporting local conservation efforts. $4,090,000 of the requested $4,550,000 will be available for grants. This is a stand-alone program, but depends on support/technical advice from public land managers, habitat and acquisition specialists, and support staff.

Grant activities include enhancement, restoration and protection of forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota. A 10% match from nonstate sources is required for all grants. Match may be cash or in-kind, and must be identified at time of application.

CPL Program Staff will develop a Request for Proposal (RFP)/Program Manual incorporating LSOHC  priorities. Staff will solicit applications, work with applicants to submit scorable applications, oversee grant selection, and prepare/execute grant documents. Staff will also review expenditure documentation ensuring financial integrity, process payment requests, monitor grant work, assist recipients with closing out agreements, and prepare required reports.

Applicants will describe the project location, activity type, and benefit to habitat, fish, game and wildlife. The CPL staff complies with the Department of Administration-Office of Grants Management policies. Stakeholders involved in this program include applicants, reviewers, and land managers. No opposition is known. 

Application Process

The RFP/Program Manual will be posted on the CPL website in August 2014. The traditional Over $25K/Under $25K grant cycle will have one guaranteed grant round and a second round if sufficient funds remain. Applications will be accepted online through mid-September for Round 1. Projects under $25,000 will have a simplified application.

The Expedited Conservation Projects grant cycle will be open continuously beginning in August, and applications will be awarded up to 5 times through May 2015, depending on available funds.

DNR may choose to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with DNR and OHF policy and guidance, if additional funding becomes available or if a grantee cannot complete a project as planned.

Grant Selection Process

CPL Grant Program Staff will review applications for eligibility. Technical Review Committees, selected by the Commissioner of Natural Resources, evaluate applications based on criteria listed below. A final score will be given to all applications. Committees include representatives from DNR, BWSR, the University of MN, state universities or private colleges, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, or other appropriate members from government, non-profit and business organizations. A final ranking committee comprised of Directors of the DNR Divisions of Fish and Wildlife, Ecological Resources/Waters, and Forestry consider TRC, Division and Regional DNR comments, and recommend projects/funding levels to the Commissioner. ECP Grants will be reviewed by CPL staff and DNR habitat experts using criteria established for each type of project. The Commissioner will make final funding decisions.

CPL Grant Program staff work with grantees to complete financial reviews, grant agreements, and other paperwork.  Work may not begin until grant is executed.

Application Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:        

Amount of habitat restored, enhanced, or protected

Local support       

Degree of collaboration       

Urgency       

Multiple benefits       

Habitat benefits       

Consistency with current conservation science       

Adjacent to protected lands       

Full funding of project      

Budget/ cost effectiveness      

Public access for hunting/fishing      

Use of native plant materials      

Applicants’ capacity to successfully complete, sustain work

Project Reviews and Reporting

Grantees submit annual accomplishment reports on forms provided by CPL staff, based on L-SOHC report forms. Reports account for the use of grant/match funds, and outcomes in measures of wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat restored, enhanced, and protected. The report must include an evaluation of these results. A final report is required by all grantees 30 days after project completion. CPL Grant staff will submit accomplishment reports to L-SOHC as required.

CPL Administration Budget

Grant administration costs of $460,000 will be billed using actual costs. Costs include salary/fringe for CPL grants staff, direct support services, travel, supplies, and outreach. An internal Service Level Agreement (SLA) will be developed with DNR’s Management Information Systems to update/manage the online grant application system. CPL grants staff will also manage the Conservation Partners Legacy Metro Grant Program ML2014 using the salary administration funds from this program. 

Three FTEs are necessary to run an ongoing grant program with a cumulative budget of over $20 million. As of May 2013, there are 148 active grants, and an additional 42 grants have recently been completed and closed. Having 3 FTEs will ensure that the CPL program is able to effectively promote the program, monitor grants, and meet all program requirements. These same three FTEs will manage the Conservation Partners Legacy Metro Grant Program ML2014 using no additional salary costs. 

DNR Land Acquisition Costs

Applicants are required to budget for DNR Land Acquisition costs that are necessary to support the land acquisition process for parcels to be conveyed to the DNR.  These costs are billed to awarded grants on a professional services basis. DNR Technical Support The Division of Fish and Wildlife provides ongoing technical guidance, helping applicants prepare grant proposals and meet requirements for working on state lands. Project development and oversight is provided by area managers and additional guidance is provided for land acquisitions.

Grantee Payment

Grantees are paid on a reimbursement or “for services rendered” basis, meaning payment is made to the grantee after work has been performed or materials have been purchased, but before the vendor is paid by the grantee. Grantees must provide proof that work has been completed or a purchase has been made in order to receive payment. Proof that the vendor was paid must be submitted to CPL staff before additional grant payments are made. Funds may be advanced to projects to accommodate cash flow needs for acquisitions.

Funds are built into grants for required Legacy signage and acknowledgement/notification of completed projects (such as local news advertisements).