Section 3060.70  Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Grant Program

a)         Eligibility Requirements

1)         Eligible recipients are limited to persons.

2)         Eligible projects are limited to those seeking to preserve, protect, perpetuate or enhance non-game wildlife and/or native plant resources in Illinois through research, management or education.

3)         Grants shall be limited to a maximum of $2,000.

b)         Application Procedures

1)         Grant applications for funding assistance under this program shall be submitted to the Department at One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Illinois 62702-1271, Attention:  Office of Resource Conservation.  The application deadline will be April 1.  Application forms and instructions are available through the Department.  Applications received after the deadline will be returned to the applicant and not considered by the Department.

2)         Applications shall contain all of the following required information:

A)        the name and address of the applicant

B)        the name of a contact person

C)        a daytime telephone number and e-mail address (if available) for a contact person

D)        a comprehensive project description with justification, including:

i)          species to be preserved, protected, perpetuated or enhanced

ii)         plan for implementation, operation and maintenance

iii)        property location and map of property and any neighboring habitat linkage, if applicable

iv)        number of acres to be improved, preserved or protected

E)        a comprehensive funding/budget summary, including:

i)          actual cash contributions other than the grant amount

ii)         labor equity contributions

iii)        documented price of equipment or commodities

F)         signature of the applicant or authorized individual for applicant

c)         Project Evaluation and Procedures

1)         All applications received on time, and containing the minimum required information will be reviewed by Department staff.  Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant for completion and resubmittal.  Submitting an incomplete application does not extend the application beyond the application deadline.  Department staff will select those projects that they determine best fit the purposes of the fund and prepare a prioritized list of projects recommended for funding.  Staff will consider the following in making recommendations: completed application, deadline met, past grant performance of applicant, eligibility, feasibility, habitat quality on the property, adverse impacts and priority for the Department.  The staff shall provide to the Director all eligible applications and a prioritized list of recommended projects deemed to be consistent with the purposes of the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund.

2)         The Director shall make the determination of what grants shall be awarded. Applicants shall be notified of the Director's decision.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 19781, effective December 4, 2008)