GMS NAS - Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program 2027

GMS NAS - Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program 2027 is sponsored by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR). An Illinois state grant opportunity sponsored by DNR (422) for natural areas stewardship.

NAS - Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program 2027 Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program NAS - Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program 2027 Eligible Recipients are Conservation Land Trusts performing stewardship activities on eligible land. • Land protected by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission as a dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve, dedicated buffer, or registered as a Land and Water Reserve.

• Preserve/Reserve must have a current management schedule approved by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. • Conservation Land Trusts can work on eligible land owned by another entity provided there is a properly executed agreement between the Conservation Land Trust and the landowner, and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission has been notified of this agreement at the time of application.

The agreement must be in effect at minimum through the end of the grant term. • Work on land owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is discouraged unless the qualifying and/or significant feature receiving work crosses an IDNR boundary and inclusion of the IDNR portion of the feature is critical for the success of the stewardship project. Other exceptions may be considered by the grant reviewers.

Grant assistance may be obtained for the following activities: • Stewardship activities.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, stewardship of land or water for the following: - Stewardship actions identified in a current, approved management schedule which are designed to maintain, preserve, or improve the condition of native natural communities, diversity of species, and ecological processes, - control of exotic and invasive species, - restoration/enhancement of native plant communities.

• Contractual services for any eligible project, • Purchase and rental of supplies and equipment such as: - UTVs, trailers, sprayers, seed, herbicide), - personal protection items (except boots), • Staff time (excluding benefits) Department Of Natural Resources The purpose of the Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program is to increase stewardship on dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves and registered Land and Water Reserves through grants to Conservation Land Trusts, and to increase stewardship capacity within Conservation Land Trusts.

Funding Opportunity Number FY2027 Natural Areas Stewardship https://il. amplifund.

com/Public/Opportunities/Details/85897e5a-e31c-4404-a472-48b6985501d0 Funding Source Description Funding for this grant program is derived from a portion of the Illinois Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF); NAAF is a Department of Natural Resources fund that supports the acquisition, protection, and stewardship of natural areas, including habitats for endangered and threatened species (Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act, 525 ILCS 35/14).

Stewardship actions funded by this grant program must be included in the management schedules approved by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Eligible costs may include contractual services, staff time related to the project, equipment and materials necessary to complete stewardship projects such as tools, safety items, herbicide, construction materials, and indirect costs. Benefit costs are not eligible.

Grant Program Administration: By Administrative Rule, maximum funding to one project is $100,000. A suggested minimum project amount is $20,000. There is a 5% or $1,000 matching fund requirement, whichever is less on each project.

Length of grant term will be no more than two (2) years and will be paid on a reimbursement basis at the end of the project unless other arrangements are provided in the grant agreement. Eligible recipients are Conservation Land Trusts exempt from taxation under Section 501 (c) (3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and include in its purposes the restoration and stewardship of land for conservation purposes.

Indirect Cost Description 10% de minimus or the entity's NICR rate Restrictions on Indirect Costs Other Funding Requirement Submission Timeline Additional Information The match is to be 5% or a minimum of $1,000 Allow Multiple Applications Application Review Start Date / Pre-Qualification Deadline Question Submission Information Question Submission Open Date Question Submission Close Date Question Submission Email Address Question Submission Additional Information If your question is related to the general; grant application process or difficulties with Amplifund, contact susan.

duke@illinois. gov. If your question is program specific with regards to stewardship items or nature preserves, please contact the program biologist kelly. neal@illinois,gov. Applicant Eligibility Information Beneficiary Eligibility Information Credentials Documentation Eligibility Information Additional Eligibility Information Additional Information URL https://www2.

illinois. gov/dnr/grants/Pages/StewardshipGrants. aspx Additional Information URL Description Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program Award Administration Information Periodic performance and periodic financial reporting is required quarterly.

State Awarding Agency Contacts Office of Grant Management and Assistance One Natural Resources Way Springfield, Illinois 62702-1271 Desk (217) 785-4416 Fax (217) 785-2438 Natural Areas Program Manager Division of Natural Heritage Illinois Department of Natural Resources Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Evaluation Criteria Narrative Sections Maximum Points Criteria Project Summary 10 Scoring based on assessment of stewardship action improving conditions or addressing threats to the qualifying features for which the site was dedicated or registered.

Conservation Land Trust Summary 0 Not scored, used to determine eligibility Capacity/Leveraging 10 Scoring based on assessment of the project's increase to stewardship and capacity than would otherwise occur. Site Information 0 Not scored, used to determine eligibility Qualifying Features 15 Scoring based on assessment of the relationship between the qualifying features and the stewardship action proposed.

Stewardship Action Summary 15 Scoring based on assessment of the appropriateness of the mechanism and method of the stewardship action. Expected Outcomes and Benefits 40 Scoring based on assessment of whether project outcome maintains or improves the conditions of the qualifying and/or significant features and the urgency of need. Additional Benefits 10 Scoring based on benefits to implementation of the statewide plans.

Ability to complete work 0 Not scored, used to determine eligibility Conflict of Interest Disclosure 0 Not scored, used to determine eligibility Review and Selection Process Project Evaluation and Procedures All complete, eligible and timely applications will be forwarded to IDNR Division of Natural Heritage for evaluation according to the criteria detailed below.

Natural Heritage will provide a recommendation to the DNR Director, who makes the final decision on awards. Each applicant will be notified by email of the Director’s decision regarding their application. Anticipated Announcement Dates