Bismarck, ND – The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD) is soliciting applications for approximately $1 million of Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants to be awarded to eligible projects in North Dakota communities.
The applications will be available on NDPRD’s website at https://www.parkrec.nd.gov/business/grants/land-and-water-conservation-fund starting Wed., Feb. 1 through Tues., Feb. 28 utilizing our new platform, Web Grants. NDPRD has worked to establish this grant administration program to ensure potential grantees have ease to accessing and submitting applications for LWCF.
The grant program aligns with the state’s Main Street Initiative to build healthy, vibrant communities that attract and retain skilled workforce by providing critical outdoor recreation opportunities. Eligible project sponsors include cities, counties, and townships; park and school districts; state agencies; water management districts and federally recognized tribes.
The LWCF provides grants for outdoor recreation projects such as ball fields, pools, campgrounds, playgrounds, and land acquisitions for park development. Some previously awarded LWCF grant projects can be viewed on our YouTube channel series Miles and Moments.
The LWCF is a federal program funded by offshore oil and gas royalties that were created by Congress in 1964 to safeguard natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. This 50/50 matching grant reimbursement program is administered at the state level by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD) and funded at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS).
Sponsors are required to be Title VI compliant, and any non-compliant sponsors can become certified during the review of applications and before being granted funding. Projects submitted during the application period must be in the planning stage and cannot be started or completed. There is approximately a 9-to-12-month application review waiting period before obtaining the grant contract and grant funding.
For more information, please review our website at or contact Char Langehaug, Grants Coordinator at (701) 328-5364.