State Grants Available for Boating, Parks, Trails, Farmland Preservation, and Conservation

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) will begin accepting applications this spring for grants to build parks, trails and boating facilities and to conserve wildlife habitat and protect farmland.

This year, the office is offering grants in the categories below. Grant applications will be accepted March 1 through May 3, 2010. Workshops to help you determine which grant program is right for you are offered later this month.

• Boating – Funding to develop and renovate boating facilities or provide boater education programs aimed at larger, motor boats (26 feet and longer).

• Parks – Funding to acquire land and/or develop parks, ball fields, sports courts, outdoor swimming pools and waterfront access areas for the public.

• Trails – Funding to maintain and develop trails.

• Farmland Preservation – Funding to preserve valuable farmland.

• Wildlife Habitat Conservation – Funding to conserve significant natural areas or habitat for plants, animals, and other wildlife. This includes grants to protect areas along streams and waterways.

For more information about the grants available this year, visit the RCO Web site at: http://www.rco.wa.gov/grants/grant_news.shtml

RCO administers 13 grant programs for activities such as building parks and trails, protecting wildlife habitat, conserving working farms and recovering salmon from near extinction. Since 1964, the office has granted nearly $1.5 billion for more than 6,600 projects across the state.

Workshops
Not sure what grant program is right for you? RCO will hold workshops for those interested in applying for grants at the locations below. At the workshops, staff will explain what grants are being offered and how to quality for them, and describe the application process. Register at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DTPL33P

February 23
Moses Lake
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Big Bend Community College

February 26
Tacoma
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
La Quinta Inn

Volunteers Needed to Evaluate Grant Proposals
The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is looking for volunteers to help review and evaluate grant applications for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.

Volunteers are needed with the following expertise:

• Local government representatives with expertise in outdoor recreation.

• State government representatives with expertise in outdoor recreation or habitat conservation.

• Tribal government representatives with expertise in outdoor recreation.

• Citizens with knowledge of general recreation issues or experience in recreation and trail groups; conservation clubs; federal agencies; or recreational bicycle, equestrian, pedestrian trail or recreational water trail groups.

• Citizens with knowledge of biology, botany, ecology, fish and wildlife management, geology, natural resource management, watershed management and planning, or zoology, or experience in academia, acquisitions, agriculture, engineering, forestry, geomorphology, hydrology, lakes management, land use management, urban planning, or management of marine, freshwater, wetland, stream or river systems.

For more information or to volunteer, visit the Web site at http://www.rco.wa.gov/grants/grant_news.shtml#wwrp