GRANTS OUTLOOK 1998
To provide a context for discussing park, recreation and open space assistance programs for 1998, it may be useful to review how state and federal programs have fared during recent years.
In the areas for which the state of Illinois provides grant funds the news has been excellent, especially for two of
the most important programs: Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) and Bike Path. OSLAD
funding has increased from $9.2 million to $14 million in the past five years; a growth of 52 percent. Interest in
this comprehensive open space program, which assists with projects ranging from natural areas to outdoor sports
complexes, continues to grow. Grant proposals exceeded $20 million again in 1997.
During the same period the state's Bike Path grant availability has also grown substantially (65 percent) from $2
to $3.3 million with demand at about $5.8 million last year.
The Boat Access program funding, supported largely by state motor fuel taxes, has remained constant at $1
million. Demand for these funds has ranged from $2 million to $3.4 million per year.
Unfortunately, federal assistance for state and local open space needs has failed to match state efforts. For the
Land and Water Conservation Fund program (LAWCON), fiscal 1995 was the last year new money was authorized by Congress. In addition, the Enhancement program was not included in the recent six-month extension of
ISTEA by Congress. Consequently, it is not surprising to find that the demand for grant funds has exceeded
available sources by up to 300 percent in some programs.
For 1998 (fiscal year 1999), OSLAD is expected to grow beyond $14 million, but the future for the companion
federal program, LAWCON, is uncertain.. The Bike Path and Boat Access programs should remain at current
levels of just over $3 million and $ 1 million, respectively. Smaller grant programs such as the Local Government
Snowmobile program will also retain current funding levels.
The Illinois legislature in 1997 approved a new grant program for off-highway vehicle trails, which will begin in
1998 under the Recreational Trails of Illinois Act. An advisory panel will begin work early in the year and rules and
procedures for grants are expected to be in place by July. Information regarding amounts to be provided for grants
is not yet available.
The Conservation 2000 Ecosystem program, listed in the following matrix for the first time, is a combination
of financial and technical assistance for projects to improve natural resources within designated watersheds. Agencies are eligible for consideration if they lie within one of the state's 22 designated ecosystem partnerships. Program specifics are available from the Department of Natural Resources' Office of Reality and Environmental Planning.
Several areas of interest to park, recreation and conservation agencies remain outside established programs.
These include funding for indoor recreation facilities, operations and maintenance activities and most planning
efforts, although the Department has made limited funds available for targeted Greenways planning. Conservation
Congress III, in its September session, recommended extension of the Greenways planning initiative to additional
areas of the state. The federal Urban Park and Recreation Recovery program, first funded in 1979 to assist with
renovation of aging indoor urban recreation facilities, has not been funded since 1995. Expanded efforts in any of
these areas will require legislation and new funding sources, which is always a difficult challenge.
To prepare for grant participation, comprehensive plans to accurately compare local needs with available land
and facilities and early consultation with grant managing agencies remain key to successful grant competition. In
addition, for larger agencies in which grants are a regular aspect of capital planning, information feedback to
funding agencies on grant problems and successes helps ensure existing programs remain responsive to changing
needs of local districts and municipalities.
Ron Hallberg, CLP
Chief, Division of Grant Administration
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
January/February 1998 / 28a
1998 STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR
|
Program Title
|
Open Space Land Acquisition and Development
|
Land and Water Conservation Fund
|
IL Bicycle Path Grant
|
Clean Vessel
|
Urban and Communtiy Forestry Grant
|
Local Government Snowmobile
|
|
Acronym / Nickname
|
OSIAD
|
LWCF or LAWCON
|
BIKE PATH
|
———
|
UCFG
|
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 rehabilitate public areas for snowmobiling
|
|
Administrative Agency
|
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
|
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
|
Illinois Department 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 Hallberg
|
Ron Hallberg
|
Jan Nation
|
Reinee Hildebrandt
|
Ron Hallberg
|
|
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
|
524 S. Second St.
Springfield, IL 62701
|
|
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
|
|
E-mail
|
rhallberg@dnr.slate.il.us
|
rhallberg@dnr.state.il.us
|
rhallberg@dnr.slate.il.us
|
jnation@dnr.state.il.us
|
rhildebrandl@dnr.slate.il.us
|
rhallberg@dnr.state.il.us
|
|
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% Stale 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
|
July 1
5:00 p.m.
|
(*2)
|
March 1
5:00 p.m.
|
Not yet determined
|
April 30
5:00 p.m.
|
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 FY98
|
$13,145,000
|
0
|
$3,300,000
|
Reauthorization pending
|
$150,000
|
$65,000
|
* 1 Approximate annual date
* 2 No funding FY98
* 3 National total $
*4 Approximate total
*5 Future cycles to be determined
28b / Illinois Parks and Recreation
PARKS, RECREATION, CONSERVATION LANDS & FACILITIES
|
Program Title
|
Boat Access Area Development
|
IL Wildlife Preservation
|
ISTEA Enhancement
|
Recreational Trails Program
|
IL Clean Lakes
|
Conservation 2000 Ecosystem Program
|
|
Acronym / Nickname
|
BOAT ACCESS
|
----------
|
Enhancements or ITEP
|
SYMMS
|
ICLP
|
-----------
|
|
Purpose
|
Acquire and develop public boat access areas
|
Mgt., site inventories or education related to stewarship of land, water, plant and animals
|
Transportation-related historical, pedestrian and bike development projects
|
Provide and maintain recreational trails and trail-related projects
|
Technical and financial assistance for inland lakes
|
Provide financial and technical assistance for projects improvements
|
|
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
|
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
|
|
Division
|
Division of Grant Administration
|
Division of Natural Heritage
|
Office of Planning and Programming
|
Division of Planning
|
Division of Water Pollution Control
|
Really and Environmental Planning
|
|
Program Manager
|
Ron Hallberg
|
Carl Becker
|
Traci Pfeiffer
|
DickWeslfall
|
Gregg Good
|
Dr. Brian 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
|
524 S. Second St.
Springfield, IL 62701
|
|
Phone
|
217.782.7481
|
217.785.8774
|
800.493.3434
|
217.782.3715
|
217.782.3362
|
217.782.3715
|
|
Fax
|
217.782.9599
|
217.785.8277
|
217.785.8140
|
217.524.4177
|
217.785.1225
|
217.524.4177
|
|
E-mail
|
rhallberg@dnr.slate.il.us
|
cbecker@dnr. state, il. us
|
pfeifferTL@nt.dot.state.il.us
|
dwestfall@dnr.state.il.us
|
epa1l56@epa.sfcte.il.us
|
banderson@dnr.state.il.us
|
|
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 100%
|
|
Max
|
$200,000
|
$1,000
|
None
|
Pending full reauthorization
|
$75,000 (Phase I)
$300,000 (Phase II)
|
None
|
|
Annual Application Deadline
|
September 1
5:00 p.m.
|
April 18
(*1)
|
(*5)
|
May 1
|
August 1 (pre-app)
October 31 (final app)
|
February 16
|
|
Payment Method
|
Reimbursement of approved and accured costs
|
Varies
|
IDOT pays eligible costs
|
Reimbursement
|
Reimbursement
|
Varies
|
|
Eligibility
|
Local units of government
|
Organizations with resource inventory, mgt. and education
|
Local units of government
|
Federal, state and local government, private organizations
|
Owners / managers of publicly owned lakes
|
Individuals, organizations and corporations
|
|
Available Funds FY98
|
$1,000,000
|
$40,000
|
Reauthorization pending in Congress
|
Reauthorization pending in Congress
|
$650,000
(*4)
|
$3,500,000
|
*1 Approximate annual date
*2 No funding FY98
*3 National total $
*4 Approximate total
*5 Future cycles to be determined
Winter 1998 Supplement / 28c
TIPS FOR GRANT 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 28b and 28 c) 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.
— Adapted from Grants Outlook 1996 by Ron Hallberg, CLP,
published in the Match/April 1996 Illinois Palis & Recreation
GRANTS RELATED INTERNET WEBSITES*
*(all addresses begin http://)
State
Dept. of Natural Resources Recreation Grants........................... dnr.state.il.us/ildnr/offices/ocd/newgrnts.htm
C2000 ..............................................................................................................dnr.state.il.us/c2000/c2000.htm
Dept. of Commerce and Community Affairs........... www.commerce.state.il.us/dcca/files/commasst/afHn.htm
Federal
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) ............................................................ www.gsa.gov/fdac/
Department of Education..................................................................................... www.ed.gov/money.html#gc
Department of Housing and Urban Development...................................................... www.hud.gov/funds.html
Department of Interior ................................................................................................... www.ios.doi.gov/nrl/
Department of Labor ........................................................... www.dol.gov/dol/oasam/public/grants/main.htm
Environmental Protection Agency............................................................... www.epa.gov/regional/statelocal
Federal Emergency Management Agency ........................................................ www.fema.gov/fema/5-in.htm
Institute of Museum and Library Services.............................................................................. www.ims.fed.us
National Endowment for the Arts ............................................................................................ arts.endow.gov
National Endowment for the Humanities ................................................ www.neh.fed.us/html/applying.html
Foundation
The Foundation Center................................................................................. fdncenter.org/aboutfc/about.html
National Network of Grantmakers ....................................................................... fdcenter.org/onlib/nng.html
Philanthropy Journal...................................................................................... www.philanthropy-journal.org/
Other
ISTEA...................................................................................................................................... www.istea.org
Non Profit Resources Catalogue............................................... www.clark.net/pub/pwalker/whats_new.html
January/February 1998 / 28d