Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Phase VIII: Statewide and Metro Habitat

The CPL Program fulfills MS 97a.056 Subd. 3a, directing LSOHC to establish a conservation partners' grant
program, encouraging and supporting local conservation efforts. $6,850,000 of the appropriated funds was
available for grants. This is a stand alone program but depends on the support and technical advice of local 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, and wildlife. A 10% match from non-state sources is required for all grants.
CPL staff develop a Request for Proposal and Program Manual incorporating LSOHC priorities, solicit applications,
work with applicants to submit scorable applications, oversee grant selection, prepare/execute grant documents,
review expenditure documentation, ensure financial integrity, make payments, monitor grant work, assist
recipients with closing out agreements, and prepare required reports. CPL staff complies with the Department of
Administration- Office of Grants Management policies.
Application process:
A Request for Proposal/Program Manual was posted on the CPL website in August 2016. Document contains all
grant program information.
Applications are submitted on the online grant application system. Applicants use the mapping tool in the
application to map project sites. Applications are accepted until September 2016 for round 1 of all grant cycles.
Expedited Conservation Project (ECP) applications and applications for less than $25,000 have a shorter
application form. The application system accepts ECP applications until funding runs out, but is designed for 5
rounds of applications. Traditional (statewide) applications were accepted once, Metro applications were accepted
twice, and ECP applications were accepted one time.
Grant Selection Process:
CPL Grant Program Staff review applications for completeness. Technical Review Committees, selected by the
Commissioner of Natural Resources, evaluate applications based on criteria below. A final score is given to all
applications. Committees include representatives from the DNR, BWSR, UMN, USFWS, USFS, counties, and other
local government and non-profit organizations. A final ranking committee of Directors of the DNR Divisions of Fish
and Wildlife, Ecological Resources/Waters, and Forestry consider the technical review committee, division and
regional DNR comments, and recommend projects and funding to the Commissioner. ECP grants are reviewed by
CPL staff, using criteria established for each type of project, and make recommendations. Division of Fish and
Wildlife leadership make final decisions. CPL Grant Program Staff work with grantees to complete financial
reviews, grant agreements, and other paperwork. Work may not begin until grant contract is executed.
Applications are evaluated on these criteria:
Amount of habitat restored, enhanced, or protected
Local Support
Degree of collaboration
Urgency
Multiple benefits
Consistency with current conservation science
Adjacent to protected lands
Full funding of project
Budget/cost effectiveness
Public access for hunting and fishing
Use of native plant materials
Applicants' capacity to successfully complete and sustain work
Project Reviews and Reporting:
Grantees submit annual accomplishment reports on forms provided by CPL staff, based on LSOHC report forms.
Reports account for the use of grant and 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 Administration Budget:
Grant administration costs total $112,200, include salary/fringe for grants staff, direct and necessary costs, travel,
supplies, and expenses. An Internal Service Level Agreement (SLA) is developed with MNIT to update/manage the
online grant application system.
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 reimbursement basis, meaning payment is made to the grantee after work has been
performed or materials purchased, but before the vendor is paid by the grantee. Grantees provide proof that work
is completed or a purchase made to receive payment. Proof that the vendor was paid must be submitted to CPL
staff before additional grant payments are made. Payment advances may be made for acquisitions with a signed
purchase agreement. Partial payments are allowed. Funds are built into grants for required Legacy logo signage
and forms of acknowledgement/notification including, but not limited to, local news advertisements announcing
completion of grantees projects.