Introductory note:
The purpose of this
program is to enhance the capability of conservation districts to carry
out conservation within their respective district.
Eligible Projects:
Projects eligible
for grant funds must carry out resource enhancement, restoration or protection
and must be new or in addition to those in which a district is currently
involved. Projects intended to replace existing programs are not eligible
for grant funding. Only conservation districts may make application for
assistance.
Application Process:
All applications
received during application period shall be reviewed by the Grants Review
Committee. The Committee shall review the applications for feasibility,
practicability, and potential benefits to the applying district. The Committee
shall rank the applications and make recommendations to the Executive Director
as to award of grants. After reviewing Committee’s ranking and recommendations,
the Executive Director shall make his recommendation of projects to be
funded to the Commission.
After review of
the applications and the recommendations of the Executive Director, the
Commission may make grant awards based upon the potential benefits to conservation
in the applying district, region or the State as a whole.
Grant Agreement
Prior to providing
funds, the Executive Director and conservation district awarded a grant
shall enter into a grant agreement. The grant agreement shall incorporate
the application by reference and establish the terms and conditions of
the grant. No funds shall be disbursed prior to execution of this agreement.
At the completion of the project for which grant funds have been provided,
the conservation district shall provide to the Director a review of the
project including, but not limited to the following: actual benefits of
the project; how actual benefits differed from what was expected; summary
of project receipts and project expenditures. Funds provided shall be accounted
for as part of a conservation district’s financial operation. The Executive
Director may require additional accounting of funds, as he deems necessary.
Conditions:
The following conditions
shall apply to grants:
Maximum total grant
available per district is $25,000 per year. For multiple district applications,
grants of up to $25,000 per project per district per year may be approved.
Grants shall be awarded
for only two (2) years for the same or similar projects.
Grant funds must be
matched by local cash funds on a ratio of $1 local to $2 grant. Local funds
may be used only once for any matching requirement.
In cases where the
grant is used to fund personnel, it must be used for newly hired personnel
or additional hours of existing employees.
Contact: Conservation and Information Services
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
101 East Capitol Avenue Suite 350
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Telephone: (501) 682-3953 Fax (501) 682-3991
E-mail: carolyn.manning@arkansas.gov
ANRC
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