GRANTS OUTLOOK 1999
With the passage of several legeslative initiatives during the 1998 sessions of the Illinois General Assembly, and the US Congress, 1999 appears to be the most promising year in recent memory for grant prospects for Illinois governments working on projects in the areas of recreation, open space and conservation.
The new federal highway bill. Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (or TEA-21), tops the list as far as dollars are concerned. Over the next five years, more than $100 million should be available through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for efforts such as pedestrian and bicycle related development projects. As noted in the matrix on pages 32b and 32c, the deadline for the first round of project proposals will be March 1.
As part of the TEA-21 legislation, the Clean Vessel program has also been refunded and a new, although modest, program is being discussed to provide assistance to build transient facilities for targe, non-trailerable boats. Also funded in the TEA-21 legislation has been a revitalization of the Recreational Trails program, known earlier as the Symms program. This program is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under the general oversight of IDOT which coordinates with the Federal Highway Administration. This program is the broadest of all the trail funding sources and is available for such projects as hiking, equestrian and motorized trails as well as bicycle trails.
The major disappointment at the federal level was the failure of Congress to provide funding for state and local grants under the broadly scoped Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program. Legislation was introduced late in the year by Senator Landrieu of Louisiana and others to combine LWCF with an effort to fund non-hunting resource projects (called Teaming with Wildlife) and funding for coastal area protection. The bill died with the end of the legislative session but may be introduced in the next session. Thus, you'll note that LWCF was removed from the Grants Outlook this year.
Returning to "the good news," at the state level the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSIAD) program continues to grow at the same robust pace as the real estate market by which it is funded. For 1999 (fiscal year 2000), slightly more than $17.7 million is expected to be authorized for open space and outdoor recreation grants to local Illinois governments.
The Public Museum Capital Grant program is a new state program with park and recreation implications. It was approved in 1998 and is expected to be funded again in 1999. The program was authorized at the $10 million level in 1998 and can provide assistance for up to one-third of the cost of museum-related capital development and land acquisition.
Another new state initiative available to local government agencies is the Off-Highway Recreational Trails program. This program is estimated to provide upwards of $200,000 per year for a variety of motorized trail facilities including those for motorcycles and snowmobiles.
The grants staff at the DNR is currently managing nearly 500 active (not yet completed) grant projects. The impact of the new programs discussed as well as full funding of most ongoing programs could result in project delays and misunderstandings. However, Illinois is blessed with a talented and well-trained group of individuals at both the state and local levels who are dedicated to ensuring that the public's money is spent efficiently to enhance open space and provide high-quality facilities. The year 1999 will be a challenging one in this regard. •
Ron Hailberg, CLP
Chief, Division of Grant Administration Illinois Department of Natural Resources
WINTER 1999 SUPPLEMENT /30a
1999 STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR PARKS, RECREATION, CONSERVATION LANDS & FACILITIES
Program Title |
Boat Access Area Development |
Clean Vessel |
Conservation 2000 Ecosystem Program |
IL Bicycle Path Grant |
IL Clean Lakes |
IL Wildlife Preservation Fund ''% |
Acronym/ Nickname |
BOAT ACCESS |
——— |
——— |
BIKE PATH |
ICIP |
—-——• |
Purpose |
Acquire and develop public boot access areas |
Construct and renovate pumpout and dump stations at boot access areas |
Provide financial and technical assistance for Ecosystem Partnerships |
Acquire and develop local areas for public non-motorized bike paths |
Technical and financial assistance for inland lakes |
Mgt., site inventories or education related to stewardship of land, water, plant and animals |
Administrative Agency |
Illinois Deportment of Natural Resources |
Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Illinois Deportment of Natural Resources |
Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency |
Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Division |
Division of Grant Administration |
Division of Grant Administration |
Office of Realty and Environmental Planning |
Division of Grant Administration |
Division of Water Pollution Control |
Division of Natural Heritage |
Program Manager |
Ron Hallberg |
Jan Nation |
Dr. Brian Anderson |
Ron Hollberg |
Gregg Good |
Carl Becker |
Address Phone Fax E-mail |
524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.782,748) 217.782.9599 rhallberg@dnr.state. il. us |
524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 jnotion@dnr.state.il.us |
524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.782.3715 217.524.4177 bonderson@dnr.sble. il .us |
524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 rhallberg@dnr.state.il.us |
Box 19276 Springfield, IL 62794-9276 217.782.3362 217.785.1225 epa1156@epa.state.il.us |
524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.785.8774 217.785.8277 cbecker@dnr.state.il.us |
Funding Formula and Source |
Up to 90% Acq. Up to 100% Dev. State Funding |
Up to 75% Federal Funding |
Up to 100% State Funding |
Up to 50% State Funding |
Up to 60% State Funding |
Up to 100% State Funding |
Max |
$200,000 |
$30,000 |
None |
Acq. None Oev. $200,000 |
$75,000 (Phase 1) $300,000 [Phase 11) |
$1,000 |
Annual Application Deadline |
September 1 5:00 p.m. |
Not yet determined |
February 16 |
March 1 5:00 p.m. |
August 31 (pre-app) October 31 (final app) |
April 16 (*1) |
Payment Method |
Reimbursement of approved and accrued costs |
Reimbursement |
Reimbursement |
Reimbursement after project completed |
Reimbursement |
Varies |
Eligibility |
Local units of government |
Local units of government and others |
Individuals, organizations and corporations |
Local units of government |
Owners/managers of publicly owned lakes |
Organizations with resource inventory, mgt. and education |
Available Funds FY99 |
$1,000,000 |
To be announced in spring of 1999 |
$3,000,000 |
$3,300,000 |
$700,000 |
$40,000 |
* 1 Approximate annual date *2 No funding FY99 *3 Notional total $ |
*4 Approximate total *5 Future cycles to be determined |
30b/ Illinois Parks and Recreation
local Government • Snowmobile . |
Off-highway Recreation Trails Program |
Open Space Land Acquisition and Development |
Public Museum Capital Grant |
Recreational Trails Program |
TEA-21 Enhancement |
Urban and Community Forestry Grant |
SNOW MOBILE |
OHV |
OSLAD |
—--— |
SYMMS, RTP |
Enhancements or ITEP |
UCFG |
Acquire, develop and rehabilitate public areas for snowmobiling |
Acquire, develop, operate and maintain off-highway vehicle parks and trails |
Acquire and develop outdoor recreation areas |
To help museums expand and upgrade facilities to enhance their ability to meet their educational mission |
Provide and maintain recreational trails and trail-related projects |
Transportation-related historical, pedestrian and bike development projects |
Assist local units of government to create or enhance local forestry programs |
Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Illinois Deportment of Natural Resources |
Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Illinois Deportment of Transportation |
Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Division of Grant Administration |
Division of Grant Administration |
Division of Grant Administration |
State Museum |
Division of Grant Administration |
Office of Planning and Programming |
Division of Forest Resources |
David Sellman |
David Sellman |
Ron Hallberg |
Karen Fyfe |
Ron Hallberg |
Troci Pfeiffer |
Reinee Hildebrandt |
524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.782,7481 217.782.9599 dsellmon@dnr.state.il.us |
524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 dsellman@dnr.state.il.us |
524 S, Second St. Springfield, 11 62701 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 rhallberg@dnr.state.il.us |
524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.782.7388 217.782,1254 kfyfe@museum.state.il.us |
524 S. Second St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 rhallberg@dnr.state.il.us |
2300 S. Dirksen Pkwy., #307 Springfield, IL 62764 800.493.3434 217,785.8140 pfeifferTL@nt.dol.state.il.us |
P.O. Box 19225 Springfield, IL 62794-225 217.782.2361 217.785.5517 rhildebrandt@dnr.state.il.us |
Up to 100%Dev., Up to 90% Acq. State Funding |
Up to 100% State Funding |
Up to 50% State Funding |
Up to 33 1/3% State Funding |
Up to 80% Federal Funding |
Up to 80% Dev. Up to 50% Acq. Federal Funding |
Up to 50% State Funding- |
None |
None |
Acq. $400,000, Ctev. $200,000 |
$2,000,000 |
none |
None |
No more than 5% of total available funds |
May 1 5:00 p.m. |
March 1 5:00 p.m. |
July1 5:00 p.m. |
Not yet determined |
March 1 5:00 p.m. |
March 1 and Nov. 1 (In 2000, only November date will be available) |
April 30 5:00 p.m. |
Reimbursement after project completed |
Reimbursement after project completed |
Reimbursement after project completed |
Reimbursement |
Reimbursement |
IDOT pays eligible costs on a reimbursement basis |
Reimbursement after project completed. |
Local units of government |
Local units of government, private organizations, individuals |
local units of government |
Museums operated by or located on land owned by a local Government |
Federal, state and local government, private organizations |
State and local units of government |
Units of government with forestry ordinances |
$65,000 |
$200,000 |
$17,715,700 |
$10,000,000 |
$1,000,000 (*4) |
$21,000,0001
|
$100,000 |
*1 Approximate annual date * 2 No funding FY99 *3 Notional total $ |
*4 Approximate *5 future cycles to be determined |
Winter 1999 Supplement /30c
TIPS FOR GRANT SPONSORS
No matter how well a particular grant program is funded, demand always exceeds available money. Therefore, except for programs that provide assistance on a pro-rata basis, there are winners and losers. To help you be a winner more often than a loser, below are several tips from grant administrators from the Department of Natural Resources. Their suggestions will not guarantee a grant; however, the failure to follow at least most of them will surely guarantee that an application will be a waste of time and money and, possibly, an embarrassment.
• Ensure that comprehensive planning is current (less than five years old). Confirm through inventories, surveys, meetings and hearings that your project is, in fact, wanted by constituents and would rate highly as a need based on state averages and the new state plan.
• Phone or meet early with the grant staff. Often grant sponsors prepare and submit applications without ever speaking to those most knowledgeable about project eligibility, relative priorities, current trends or process details.
• Provide documents and visuals that are neat and easily understood. Wordiness, sloppy labeling, lack of scaled drawings and unreadable photocopies can set off bells in an evaluator's mind regarding the seriousness of the applicant.
• If you employ a professional to prepare a grant application (e.g., grant consultant or engineer) carefully screen and contact references to ensure that candidates have both experience and competency in the area for which funding is sought. For example, for the swimming pool feasibility Study required by OSLAD, ensure that the engineering firm can provide references for other successful pool studies.
• Especially for small districts and villages that don't prepare applications yearly, discussions with neighboring agencies that have been through a grant competition is suggested. Most agencies in Illinois are willing to share their experiences. Grant managing agencies can provide lists of previous grant recipients by area of the state.
• For larger agencies with a broader range of project needs, ensure that projects are selected that best fit the objectives of the individual grant program.
• A final suggestion: read and follow the instructions provided.
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
Illinois Arts Council ......................................................................................... www.state.il.us/agency/iac/dlines.htm
Illinois State Museum .............................................................................................................. www.museum.state.il. us
Federal
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)............................................................................. www.gsa.gov/fdac/
Department of Education.................................................................................................... www.ed.gov/funding.html
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
National Endowment for the Arts.......................................................................................................... arts.endow.gov
National Endowment for the Humanities ..........................................................www.neh.fed.us/htrol/applying.html
Foundation
The Foundation Center............................................................................................ fdncenter.org/aboutfc/about.html
Philanthropy Journal ............................................................................................. www.philanthropy-journal.org/
Other
TEA-21 ................................................................................................................................................... www.istea.org
National Trail Enhancement Clearinghouse.............................................................................. www.railtrails.org/ntec
Non Profit Resources Catalogue............................................................. www.clark.net/pub/pwalker/whats_new.html
30d