Help MN Spend Over $4.5 Million On Habitat Improvement

Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program

$4,624,000 will be available in FY13 for projects that restore, enhance and/or protect habitats for MN’s fish, game and wildlife.
New this year is the addition of the Expedited Conservation Projects (ECP) grant cycle, for projects under $50,000.  There is a list of eligible restoration and enhancement projects- see the ECP web page for more details.
The traditional Round 1 will open August 15 and close September 26, 2012- see the O25K/ U25K webpage for more details.
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See all rounds of funded projects
CPL users survey results
Funding for the CPL grant program is from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created by the people of Minnesota. The CPL Program was recommended by the L-SOHC to (and approved by) the MN Legislature annually since 2009.
The CPL Program has been recommended by the L-SOHC to (and approved by) the MN Legislature from 2009-2011. The MN DNR manages this program to provide competitive grants from $5,000 to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national nonprofit organizations, including government entities. The grants are for work to enhance, restore, or protect the forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota.
FY2013
For FY2013, there is $4.624 million available for grant projects.  The first round of O25K/ U25K will be open for applicants on August 16, 2012 and close September 26, 2012.  The ECP grant cycle will open on August 16, 2012 and close May 15, 2013.  See the respective grant cycle web pages for program information, including the Request for Proposals (RFP).
FY2012
In FY2012, there was a total of $5.31 million available for to award as grants. Applications for the first round of awards were accepted until September 15, 2011. Of the 31 applications ($2.83 million in requests), 20 projects were funded for a total of $1.8 million. Round 2 yielded 66 applications ($6.3 million in requests), with 38 projects being funded totaling $2.56 million.  Remaining funds will be awarded during FY13 grant rounds.
FY2011
In FY2011, there were 2 rounds of funding. For the first round, 56 applications totaling $5.9 million in requests were received. Of that, 35 applications for a total of $3.72 million were funded. During the second round, 21 applications totaling $1.3 million were received and 13 projects for a total of $630,400 were funded. Click on the FY11 Grant Information link to the left for all current available information on these awarded grants. A total of $4,065,584 was awarded in FY2011.
FY2010
For the first year of the CPL Program, 127 applications totaling $16.5 million in requests were received. Of that, 35 applications for a total of $3.74 million were funded. Click on the FY10 Grant Information link to the left for specific application and summary information. All grant funds were awarded during the fall cycle.
Information for Grant Applicants
Many of the requirements for this grant program are based on recommendations by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) to and approved by the Minnesota Legislature. These requirements were incorporated into the DNRs Conservation Partners Grant Program Accomplishment Plan as approved by the LSOHC. Links to all years of legislation and Accomplishment Plans are provided below.

• Minnesota Constitution, Article XI. See Section 15
• 2009 MN Law Chapter 172, Article 1. See Section 2, Subd.5(a) (FY2010)
• 2010 MN Law Chapter 361, Article 1. See Section 2, Subd. 5(i) (FY2011)
• 2011 MN Law First Special Session Chapter 6, Article 1. See Section 2, Subd. 5(g) (FY2012)
• 2012 MN Law Chapter 264, Article 1. See Section 2, Subd. 5i (FY2013)
• LSOHC Funded Programs Accomplishment Plans and Update Summaries
  Link to access all CPL accomplishment plans, by year of funding

For more information contact:
Email: LSCPLGrants.DNR@state.mn.us
Phone:
Sam Fleitman,  CPL Grants Coordinator
651-259-5233
Jamie Gangaware, Conservation Resource Specialist
651-259-5174 (St. Paul)
Mailing Address:
Conservation Partners Legacy Grant
MN DNR
500 Lafayette Road
Box #20
St. Paul, MN 55155
Related DNR Programs:

• HE CP Comparison