The Target Range Grant Program supports the development of safe, public, and accessible shooting facilities in Louisiana.
Donor Name: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
State: Louisiana
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 07/01/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) administers the Wildlife Restoration Program Fund in Louisiana through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. This federal program receives its funding from federal excise tax generated by sales of certain firearms and archery equipment. LDWF will determine the annual apportionment from this federal program to be used to provide public recreational target shooting access in Louisiana. Funds allocated to the Target Range Grant Program can be used for:
- New target range construction projects
- Expansion or rehabilitation of existing public target ranges that increases the user capacity
Funding Information
Funding provided by this program is on a cost-reimbursement basis. Project sponsors must initiate their approved projects with their own funds and be reimbursed up to 90 percent of allowable costs after submitting documentation of expenses. The maximum amount which may be requested for assistance is $1,500,000 in matching grant funds. Funding will be awarded by this program for two distinct grant types:
- Planning and Development Grants: Maximum $250,000 grant funds
- Construction and Equipment Grants: Maximum $1,500,000 grant funds.
Grant Period
- Planning and Development Grants 1-year project period.
- Construction and Equipment Grants 3-year project period.
Eligible Projects
The following activities are permitted under this target range funding program:
- Planning and development activities including feasibility studies (marketing, environmental, cultural, NEPA requirements, etc.), environmental stewardship/lead management plan development, and design, architectural, and engineering services needed prior to construction.
- Construction of new target ranges for public access on public lands (federal, state, parish, municipal, district, etc.).
- Construction of new target ranges on private property. To receive funding for target ranges on private lands, the sponsor must own the property or obtain a legally binding easement, lease, or license, satisfactory to LDWF, keeping the target range open to the public for the useful life of the facility.
- Development of additional target range facilities on existing target ranges.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades through the addition of features that facilitate access and use of target range facilities by persons with disabilities.
- Environmental mitigation through redesign, reconstruction, or relocation to mitigate or minimize impact to the natural environment. Special eligibility requirements apply to these projects.
- Acquisition of easements or leases for target range facilities. Easements or other than less than fee simple property interest must be secured for at least the useful life of the facility and must be recorded in the deed of the property. Please note that easements or leases paid for with grant funding are not eligible to be used as matching funds.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants will include local government subdivisions (cities, parishes, municipalities), non-profit, and commercial (private) entities. The following criteria will be part of the considerations to determine eligibility for funding (if applicable):
- Any previously completed LDWF Grant Projects must be in compliance with all the terms of the Project agreement under which they received assistance and all program guidelines
- For active grants, all required project documentation (such as construction plans, quarterly status reports, reimbursement requests, etc.) must be complete and have been received on schedule
- Each sponsor’s financial stability and management practices will be assessed by LDWF. Depending on this assessment, the sponsor may be required to adhere to additional special conditions and restrictions as determined by LDWF grant management standards.
For more information, visit LDWF.
