The Land & Water Conservation Fund supports the development of public outdoor recreation opportunities across Vermont, with a focus on creating parks and open spaces, enhancing recreation areas and facilities, and protecting wilderness areas and forests.
Donor Name: Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 12/13/2024
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Program (LWCF) became effective in January 1965 to create parks and open spaces, protect wilderness and forests, and provide outdoor recreation opportunities. Funds are derived from federal recreation fees, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues from leasing oil and gas sites in coastal waters, federal surplus real property sales, and a portion of federal motorboat fuel taxes. Funds are apportioned to federal agencies, and to the 50 states and 6 territories through the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service (NPS). In Vermont, LWCF is administered by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation. LWCF grants provide up to 50% matching assistance to the state and local governments.
Funding Information
- For the 2024-2025 LWCF Grant Round, they recommend submitting projects that request $25,000 to $1,000,000 in funding from LWCF (total project costs ranging from $50,000-$2,000,000). They anticipate that selected projects will be distributed across this funding range.
- LWCF is a reimbursement program, and grantees must be capable of financing the project and (after a grant agreement is fully executed) first paying for expenditures and then submitting a request to the State for reimbursement using the required documentation. Applicants must commit to a minimum 50% match, meaning LWCF can only cover half the total project expenses.
Grant Period
June 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.
Project Eligibility
Eligible projects include:
- Acquisition of land for parks and public outdoor recreation
- Development of new outdoor recreation facilities
- Renovation of existing facilities for outdoor recreation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Municipalities (e.g. towns, cities, school districts, water districts, park districts, etc.)
- State government agencies, other governmental entities (district or local authorities), or tribal governments.
For more information, visit DFPR.
