Transcript FY 2011 CPL Applicant Powerpoint

Conservation Partners Legacy
Grants Program
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Funded thru the Clean Water, Land and Legacy
Constitutional Amendment
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2008 election
sales tax 3/8 of one percent.
33% of receipts dedicated to the Outdoor Heritage
Fund (OHF).
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSHOC)
recommends projects to the legislature.
2009 and 2010 MN Legislature approved the
recommendation to fund this program.
Why was this program created?
Provide financial support for organizations to collaborate
on projects at the local level.
 Projects are intended to:
enhance, restore, and protect forests, wetlands, prairies,
and habitat for fish, game, or wildlife in Minnesota.
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What’s different this year?
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Public waters added to eligible sites
Match requirement has changed
Reimbursement payments only
Acquisition of lands in public domain
All parcels coming to DNR on priority list
All parcels coming to DNR include:
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All IDP work and funding
$3,000 LAM fees
Revised application system
How much money is available?
Is match is required?
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Total of $4,216,560 for grants
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$5,000 - $400,000 per request
Non-state match required
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10% for grant amounts requested under $100,000
15% for grant amounts requested over $100,000
Up to 1/3 can be in-kind resources
Who can apply?
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Local, regional, state and national non-profit
organizations
Government entities
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DNR is eligible but will not apply
DNR staff will work with partners to submit
applications and complete projects on DNR land
What are the timelines?
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Applications due September 16, 2010 at
5pm
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Announce funded grants in mid-November.
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If funds remain, applications for a second round
will be due February 25, 2011.
Earliest possible start January, 2011
Work must be completed by June 30, 2014.
Where can the work be done?
Restoration and enhancement projects
must be done on:
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Lands under public
ownership;
Lands under a permanent
conservation easement
(MN Statute 84C.01, Subd. 1); and
Public waters (MN Statute 103G.005, Subd. 15)
What about protection?
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Acquisition
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Fee title:
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Fee title
Permanent conservation easement
Must be open to public hunting and fishing
during open seasons unless otherwise provided
by state law.
Easements:
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Must include provisions for monitoring and
enforcing conditions of the easement.
Acquisitions to be conveyed to DNR
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Each parcel must be on DNR’s acquisition
priority list
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DNR Managers should know this but make sure
Must have $3,000 included in budget for
LAM fees (can be grant funds)
Must include Initial Development Plan
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Work to be completed must be specified
Specify funding for all work (can be grant $)
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Part of Project Review and Approval Form. Work
with the Land Manager. Applicant fills in this
information on application system.
Who can hold conservation
easements?
MN Statute 84C.01, Subd. 2
"Holder" means:
(i) a governmental body empowered to hold an interest in real
property under the laws of this state or the United States; or
(ii) a charitable corporation, charitable association, or
charitable trust, the purposes or powers of which include
retaining or protecting the natural, scenic, or open-space values
of real property, assuring the availability of real property for
agricultural, forest, recreational, or open-space use, protecting
natural resources, maintaining or enhancing air or water quality,
or preserving the historical, architectural, archaeological, or
cultural aspects of real property.
Lands in Public Domain
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Can not use OHF funds to acquire:
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Land fully or partially owned by state or
political subdivision of state.
UNLESS
 Purchase creates additional direct benefit
to restore, enhance, protect habitat; and
 Purchase is approved by at least 9
members of the council
How does that work for CPL grants?
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If you want to purchase this type of land,
you must get it approved as a CPL grant first
CPL staff will work with the Council to get
their approval
Expect a delay in receiving your grant
agreement until this project is fully
approved
Definitions
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Land Manager (LM): person responsible for the long-term
management of the land that will be acquired or where
work will be done. Every parcel of land has a Land
Manager.
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Provides oversight and input (technical assistance) for grant work
Does not do the work.
Complete the Project Review and Approval form (including a
Natural Heritage Review) for the project site.
Project (Grant) Manager (PM): person responsible for
applying for and managing the grant.
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Ensures work meets all grant program, legal, and other
requirements.
Ensures work is completed in a timely manner and as proposed.
Is not the Land Manager - coordinates with the Land Manager.
Completes all reports according to deadlines.
Definitions
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Initial Development Plan (IDP): lays out the cost,
responsibility, and timing of initial work needed to bring
new properties up to agency standards.
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Required for DNR acquisition projects.
All costs are eligible as grant funds.
Includes both facility and habitat work
Match funds: all funds provided by grantee or a partner, as
part of the required contributions of non-state origins.
This includes in-kind resources that may not be actual cash
(supplies, volunteer work, etc.) but have a cash value.
Grant Funds: the state funds awarded through this grant
program.
Project Review and Approval Form
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Gives agency approval for a project on land
that the agency manages.
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Includes Natural Heritage Database review:
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i.e., Forest Service completes for MDHA to work
on Forest Service land.
Captures records of any endangered, threatened
or special concern species from within project
site.
Gives applicant feedback on avoidance/
minimization techniques to complete project.
Includes IDP information for DNR
acquisitions
Project Review and Approval Form,
continued
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Applicant must upload as a PDF with
original signature from agency.
REQUIRED for all project sites.
If the work will be done on lands managed
by more than one agencies, multiple forms
are required.
Applications will be considered incomplete
without all necessary forms attached.
Public waters and Project Review
and Approval Forms
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All public waters projects need Project
Review and Approval Forms from:
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DNR Area Hydrologist (Division of Waters)
DNR Area Fisheries Supervisor and/or
DNR Area Wildlife Manager
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That means at least 2 forms
In addition, any agency approval (county,
SWCD, USFWS- this depends on applicant)
Any application missing the required forms
will be considered incomplete
Call if confused!!
What do applicants need to do?
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Begin working ASAP with the Land
Managers (DNR, USFWS, USFS, County, etc.)
Decide on project to be done
Discuss entire project with Land Manager(s)
Receive a completed, signed Project Review
and Approval form
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Original signature
PDF format
One from each Land Manager
Then what?
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Apply online, entire application.
New this year:
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Log-in and password
Save progress, return later
Map sites by Land Manager
Upload Project Review and Approval form
Upload all required financial/ easement
documentation to system
Once submitted, no changes
Nothing accepted via email this year
Review and Selection Process
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Has four steps
Expect to be completed by mid-November
Most application information is non-public
until the grants have been negotiated with
the grantee
Initial Review of Applications
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Completed by CPL staff after deadline
Ensures you followed directions, and met
program guidelines
Pull all ineligible applications from further
review
Pull all incomplete applications from further
review
Ineligible Applications
Less than $5,000 or more than $400,000 in
grant funds requested.
Do not meet the requirements of MN Law
Chapter 361, Article 1.
Apps that include:
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Legally required mitigation, restoration,
compliance to ESA, or court ordered activities.
Projects currently receiving direct
appropriations or submitted during L-SOHC’s
FY2012 Call for Requests.
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Previously funded projects not in active status are
eligible.
Incomplete Applications
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One or all Project Review and Approval forms
missing.
Incomplete or unsigned Project Review and
Approval form.
Missing financial documentation (if required).
Missing easements or other info (if required)
Match amount doesn’t meet requirements.
Technical Review
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Four committees based on habitat types
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Forest, prairie, wetland/water, and fish, game
and wildlife habitat
Comprised of DNR, USFWS, Universities/
Colleges, County, SWCD, BWSR and non-profit
staff.
Will review each application and score using
predetermined criteria
Rank and recommend projects to DNR
Division Directors
Criteria and Scoring
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All applications scored 0-9 on each criteria.
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List of criteria in Program Manual (pg. 17)
Come from Legislative and DNR requirements
Cover variety of topics from urgency to species
diversity
Also online; can link to species and landscape
plans
Application system requires applicants to
specifically address each criteria.
Division Directors Review
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Comprised of DNR Division Directors
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Attempt to distribute funding evenly:
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Fish and Wildlife, Forestry, Ecological
Resources and Chief Financial Officer
Between all habitat types
Above/ below $125,000 grant amount
requested
Geographically around the state
Makes final funding recommendations to
DNR Commissioner
Commissioner’s Approval
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The Commissioner must approve all
projects that are funded
Plan to announce funded grants in midNovember
How does an organization get paid?
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Sign up for electronic payment
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Makes it all quicker!
Reimbursement only
Must submit proof of
vendor payment with request
 Can do limited advances
for acquisitions
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State must pay within
30 days
Turnaround has usually
been quicker
Final Payment
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5 percent holdback on final payments for all
grants
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Includes acquisitions
Will be paid in full if final accomplishment
report submitted at time of request
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All paperwork and project requirements must
be met
County board approval
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Required for designation of DNR land as:
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WMA/ AMA
SNA
Must be obtained before acquisition is
complete
Vegetation and seed requirements
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All vegetation and seed used in all habitat
types:
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Must be of ecotypes native to Minnesota
Preferably of the local ecotype
Use high diversity of species originating from as
close to the restoration site as possible.
Protect existing native prairies, grasslands,
forests, wetlands and other aquatic systems
from genetic contamination
Other tips
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Read thru all the info on the CPL website,
especially:
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The Project Information page for project details
The FY2011 Grantee page for payment and
documentation info
Read the RFP and Program Manual carefully
Start early – don’t wait til the last minute
Call with any questions
Website Information
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www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/cpl
Online Application System
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www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/cpl
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How to Apply page
“Enter Application System”
Contact
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Leslie Tannahill, Conservation Grants
Coordinator
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507-206-2861 or 651-259-5242
Jamie Gangaware, Conservation Grants
Specialist
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651-259-5174
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[email protected]