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The future of two major federal programs are major unknowns for local agencies in search of capital funding assistance in 1997. Congress will be debating a new highway spending bill, and the future of transportation enhancement projects will rest on the results. The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) provided approximately $120 million for state and local enhancements such as bicycle trails and corridor beautification in Illinois. Forecasts are positive and Governor Edgar, along with 13 other governors, has written to the chairman of the Senate's Environmental and Public Works Committee encouraging a reauthorization of this program without significant change.

Early reports on the future of the 30-year-old federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program have not been so encouraging. The stateside portion, the source of grants to local governments, has not received funding in the past two federal budgets. Land and Water provided more than $10 million a year to Illinois in early years of the program.

At the state level, the forecast is largely positive. Although the General Assembly has not yet acted on the Department of Natural Resources' fiscal year '98 budget, they have a strong record of past support for the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program. This program should have approximately $13 million available for grants in the new budget.

OSLAD demand last year was about $19.8 million which, if repeated, would indicate a potential 66 percent success rate for new applications. Also expected to be approved by the General Assembly are $3 million in Bike Path grant funds and $ 1 million in Boat Access grant assistance. An expected reduction in funding of the Urban Forestry program will result in a lowered grant limit to $5,000.

A brief review of 1996 outdoor recreation grant highlights included land acquisition assistance for 20 communities: 13 OSLAD, 6 Bike Path and 1 Boat Access. Development projects of interest in last year's Open Space grant program included hockey courts for in-line skaters, a facility not generally known as recently as five years ago. Swimming remained of strong interest with three new pools being funded under OSLAD along with three pool rehabilitation projects. A number of playground projects were requested and 34 were funded. Most were elements within more comprehensive park developments. Other popular facilities included 15 projects to enhance environmental or wetland study and several with fishing elements.

Governor Edgar remained a strong advocate for the Illinois Bike Path program which provided 22 new Bike Path grants in last year's program. Of particular interest is a multi-agency project in northeast Illinois to acquire an eleven-mile corridor involving two park districts, the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the Department of Natural Resources. A project in the St. Louis metro east area will help rehabilitate a dosed Route 66 bridge over the Mississippi River to link trails in both Illinois and Missouri. More than 400 miles of trail have been assisted under this program since its inception in 1990.

Agencies expecting to receive a donation of land for park purposes are reminded that the fair market value of that donation may be eligible to offset a portion or all of subsequent development costs in the OSLAD and Bike Path grant programs. Title for the land to be donated must not yet have been transferred and only freewill donations are eligible (not land required by ordinance or a quid pro quo contract). Agencies are encouraged to contact the grants staff to discuss the eligibility or best use of a proposed donation or any other issue involving grant programs and local project proposals.

The success of the state funded grant programs reflects in large degree the support of Governor Edgar and state legislators. With this understanding, communication of agency needs to elected officials directly and through IAPD and other organizations continues to be of great importance in maintaining strong grant programs in Illinois.

Ron Hallberg, CLP

Chief, Division of Grant Administration
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

March/April / 30a

Program Title	Open Space Land Acquisition and Development	Land and Water Conservation Fund	IL Bicycle Path Grant Program	Clean Vessel Program	Urban and Community Froestry Grant Program	Local Government Snowmobile Program
Acronym/Nickname	OSLAD	LWCF or IAWCON	BIKE PATH	- - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - - - -	SNOWMOBILE
Purpose	Acquire and develop outdoor recreation areas	Acquire and develop outdoor recreation areas	Acquire and develop local areas for public non-motorized bike paths	Construct and renovate pump-out and dump stations at boat access areas	Assist local units of government to create or enhance local forestry programs	Acquire, develop and rehbilitate public areas for snowmobiling
Administrative Agency	Illinois Department of Natural Resources	Illinois Department of Natural Resources	Illinois Deportment of Natural Resources	Illinois Department of Natural Resources	Illinois Department of Natural Resources	Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Division	Division of Grant Administration	Division of Grant Administration	Division of Grant Administration	Division of Grant Administration	Division of Forest Resources	Division of Grant Administration
Program Manager	Ron Hallberg	Ron Hollberg	Ron Hallberg	Ron Hallberg	Reinee Hildebrandt	Ron Hollberg
Address	524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701	524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701	524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701	524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701	P.O. Box 19225 Springfield, IL 62794-9225
Phone	217.782.7481	217.782.7481	217.782.7481	217.782.7481	217.782.2361	217.782.7481
Fax	217.782.9599	217.782.9599	217.782.9599	217.782.9599	217.785.5517	217.782.9599
TDD	217.782.9175	217.782.9175	217.782.9175	217.782.9175		217.782.9175
Funding Formula	Up to 50% State Funding	Up to 50% Federal Funding	Up to 50% State Funding	Up to 75% Federal Funding	Up to 50% State Funding	Up to 100% Dev., Up to 90% Acq. State Funding
Max	Acq. $400,000, Dev. $200,000	Acq. $400,000 Dev. $200,000	Acq. None Dev. $200,000	$30,000	No more than 5% of total available funds	None
Annual Application Deadline	July1 5:00 p.m.	(*2)	March 1 5:00 p.m.	Not yet determined	Foil Grant Cycle	March 1 5:00 p.m.
Payment Method	Reimbursement after project completed	Reimbursement after project completed	Reimbursement after project completed	Reimbursement	Reimbursement after project completed	Reimbursement after project completed
Eligibility	Local units of government	Local units of government	Local units of government	Local units of government and others	Units of government with forestry ordinances	Local units of government
Available Funds FY97	$13,500,000 (*6)	0	$3,000,000 (*6)	Reauthorization pending	$100,000	$80,000

* 1 Approximate annual date
* 2 No funding FY97
* 3 Notional total $
* 4 Approximate total
* 5 Future cycles to be determined
* 6 Subject to state appropriation

30b / Illinois Parks and Recreation

Program Title	Boat Access Area Development Program	IL Wildlife Preservation Fund	ISTEA Enhancement Program	National Recreational Trails Fund Act	IL Clean Lakes Program	Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program
Acronym/Nickname	BOAT ACCESS		Enhancements or ITEP	SYMMS or NRTFA	ICLP	UPARR
Purpose	Acquire and develop public boat access areas	Mgt., site inventories or education related to stewardship of land, water, plant and animals	Transportation-related historical, pedestrian and bike projects	Provide and maintain recreational trails and trail-related projects	Technical and financial assistance for inland lakes	Asst. to physically & economically distressed urban jurisdictions to revitalize rec. facilities & systems
Administrative Agency	Illinois Department of Natural Resources	Illinois Department of Natural Resources	Illinois Department of Transportation	Illinois Department of Natural Resources	Illinois Environmental Protection Agency	National Park
Division	Division of Grant Administration	Division of Natural Heritage	Office of Planning and Programming	Division of Planning	Division of Water Pollution Control	Midwest Regional Office
Program Manager	Ron Hallberg	Carl Becker	Cynthia Fleischli	Dick Westfall	Gregg Good	Bob Anderson
Address	524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701	524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701	2300 S. Dirksen Pkwy. #307 Springfield, IL 62764	524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701	Box 19276 Springfield, IL 62794-9276	1709 Jackson St. Omaha, NE 68102-2571
Phone	217.782.7481	217.785.8774	217.785.9109 or 800.493.3434	217.782.3715	217.782.3362	402.221.3358
Fax	217.782.9599	217.785.8277		217.524.4177	217.785.1225	402.221.3360
TDD	217.782.9175			217.782.9175	217.782.9143	402.221.3547
Funding Formula	Up to 90% Acq. Up to 100% Dev. State Funding	Up to 100% State Funding	Up to 80% Federal Funding	Up to 50% Federal Funding	Up to 60% State Funding	Up to 70% Federal Funding
Max	$200,000	$1,000	None	$100,000-$133,000	$75,000 (Phase I) $300,000(Phase II)	Pending reauthorization
Annual Application Deadline	September 1 5:00 p.m.	April 18 (*1)	(*5)	May 1	August 1 (pre-app) October 31 (final app)	(*2)
Payment Method	Reimbursement of approved and accured costs	Varies	IDOT pays eligible costs	Reimbursement	Reimbursement	Reimbursement
Eligibility	Local units of government	Organizations with resource inventory, mgt. and education	Local units of government	Federal, state and local government, private organizaions	Owners/managers of publicly owned lakes	Select cities and urban counties
Available Funds FY97	$1,000,000	$40,000	Reauthorization pending	$333,472	$650,000 (*5)	0

*1 Approximate annual dote
*2 No funding FY97
* 3 National total $
*4 Approximate total
*5 Future cycles to be determined
*6 Subject to slate appropriation

Spring 1997 Supplement / 30c

TIPS FOR GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS

Most grant programs are very competitive. Probably the best tip for potential grant applicants is to start early. This gives sponsors time to possibly modify and double check all aspects of an application and address simple, easily corrected oversights that otherwise might lead to an unsuccessful application.

Another problem is simply not following grant application procedures by not providing required information or, conversely, providing too much information which requires grant evaluators to hunt for relevant facts and possibly miss key points.

Common problems of unsuccessful projects include lack of up-to-date comprehensive plans, little or no community involvement in reviewing the particular projects, and failure to meet basic site plan design and current open space standards. Others include applications that lack balance and diversity of recreation opportunities or do not clearly state how the project would meet the objectives of the particular grant program.

Potential grant applicants are encouraged to speak with the respective granting agencies (listed as "Administrative Agency" in the matrix on pages 30b and 30c) before submitting applications. Also helpful would be to discuss the process with previous year's applicants, especially successful applicants with similar populations and project types. Grant staff can provide names as well as grant application forms and instructions.

It is also important that local agencies keep state legislators in the information loop regarding their particular needs for assistance.

- Adopted from Grants Outlook 1996 by Ron Hallberg, CLP, published in the March/April 1996 Illinois Parks & Recreation

30d / Illinois Parks and Recreation