VLCF Announces New Round of Grants for Land Conservation Projects

At its meeting on Aug. 20, 2012, the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation board approved the launch of a new grant round, with approximately $1.5 million to be awarded to land conservation projects. The grant round started on Aug. 24, 2012, and the deadline for grant applications is 5 p.m. on Oct. 24, 2012.

Applications may be submitted by public bodies (localities, regional park authorities, Soil and Water Conservation Districts) and registered tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.

Grant awards are based on applications for 50 percent or less of total project costs, and 100 percent or less of total project costs for state agencies.

Application projects must be for a minimum of $10,000 in total cost or a grant amount of no less than $5,000.

Proposed projects must be for specific sites that meet the criteria for one or more of the application categories:

• Natural area protection.

• Open spaces and parks.

• Farmlands and forest preservation.

• Historic area preservation.

Two-hour workshops to explain the grant process and scoring criteria will be held on:

• Sept. 5, 2012, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Main Public Library, 2315 Memorial Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24501.

• Sept. 14, 2012 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Fredericksburg Historic District Marriott, 620 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.

The Grants Manual is posted at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/virginia_land_conservation_foundation/.

Approval of grant awards will take place at a VLCF Board meeting on Dec. 6, 2012. Contact Sarah Richardson, 804-225-2048, sarah.richardson@dcr.virginia.gov, for more information.