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grants outlook 2008
Grant Program Updates and Facility Trends in OSLAD Projects
by the staff of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Division of Grant Administration
Starting in January 2008, local park, recreation and conservation agencies will have the ability to complete and submit applications to IDNR electronically using the online process for all grant programs under the Division of Grant Administration. The most recent programs added are all the Illinois Trails Grant Programs, which include the Bike Path Program, Local Government Snowmobile Program, Snowmobile Trail Establishment Fund (STEF), Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) and the federal Recreational Trails (RTP) Program.
Your agency can apply for funding assistance on the following department Web site: http://dnr.state.il.us/ocd/gaoutnew.htm.
Help Update the Illinois Recreation Facilities Inventory
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has recently contracted with the University of Illinois' Office of Recreation and Park Resources (ORPR) to update the Illinois Recreation Facilities Inventory (IRFI). To ensure statewide recreation equity, the IRFI provides valuable information that compares community facility needs to state per capita averages.
As a reminder, please respond to any communications from the ORPR regarding the assessment of your agency's outdoor recreation facilities in a timely manner. IDNR intends to include this new information as part of our evaluation tool for the upcoming OSLAD application round (July 1, 2008 deadline).
Major Grant Programs- Fiscal Year 2008
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Available Funds
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Requested
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Funded
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OSLAD / LWCF
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$
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$34,900,000
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(1)
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Bike Path
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$3,000,000
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$3,400,000
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$3,000,000
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Boat Access
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$725,000
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$1,642,900
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(1)
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Note (1) Application review still
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underway at press time
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Facility Trends as Gleaned from OSLAD Grant Program Requests
The Division of Grant Administration has recently conducted research that identifies some interesting facility trends over the last five years in Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program applications.
As you know, the OSLAD program has experienced tremendous growth in funding ability and agency participation in recent years, and, during each funding cycle, the staff has observed an increase in innovation and creative designs for project components. Projects submitted continue to offer a dynamic diversity of elements that include a variety of physical, mental and social play opportunities for recreation facility users.
All of the following facilities are eligible for funding, but remember that proposing multiple recreation elements in an OSLAD application will be more competitive.
Wetland Education Facilities
Within the last two years, the OSLAD program has seen a definite increase in the number of facilities that promote environmental and wetland studies, such as interpretive trails, wildlife observation stations, wetland enhancements and prairie restorations.
Multi-Use Trails
Multi-use trails show up at the top of every agency's recreational use survey, and rightfully so because of their popularity with all age groups. Since 2005, applicants have increased their requests for funding bike trail connectors in parks, walking and jogging paths and city-wide multi-use trails.
There has been a 66 percent increase in the development of fitness and exercise stations along these trails over the last three funding cycles. The wooden structures that were once popular in the 1970s have been replaced with protected and coated metal materials and innovative designs to provide a variety of cardio exercise activities developed especially for senior citizens.
Spray Play Areas
Whether you label them spray grounds, water playgrounds or splash pads, these water play areas with interactive play features have become a great investment for many communities because of the low cost-to-benefit ratio. The OSLAD program has funded more than forty of these facilities since 2003.
Lawn Game Areas
Requests for developing pitches for lawn games (bocce ball in particular) have increased dramatically since 2005. Other activities, such as shuffle board, bag-o, croquet and horseshoe pits, have been incorporated into many park designs as senior activity areas that provide opportunities for participation in lifelong leisure activities.
Dog Parks
In closing, the staff would be remiss if we did not include the somewhat controversial facility included in recent applications - dog parks. Yes, we have funded those facilities, but have limited IDNR's cost share for funding dog parks.
Research tells us that locally there are a few important questions to consider. In what park do you locate the facility: a neighborhood park or community park? Are there health risks? What about maintenance of these facilities? Who will monitor the park and enforce local rules and permitting? What about resident verses non-resident use?
Weigh the pros and cons. We're sure you'll make the right decision.
Good luck!
The table on pages 18-19 outlines the facts associated with all IDNR grant programs.
www.iLparks.org January /February 2008 17
FISCAL YEAR 2009 STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES
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Program Title
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Boat Access Area Development
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Boating
Infrastructure
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Clean Vessel
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Conservation 2000 Ecosystem Program
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Illinois Bicycle Path Grant
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Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund
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Acronym/ Nickname
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BAAD
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BIGP
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CVA
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C2000
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BIKE PATH
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Purpose
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Acquire and develop public boat access areas
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Develop and maintain facilities for transient, non-trailerable recreation boats
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Construct and renovate pump-out and dump stations at boat access areas
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Provide financial and technical assistance for Ecosystem Partnerships
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Acquire and develop local areas for public non-motorized bike paths
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Management; site inventories; or education related to stewardship of land, water, plants and animals
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Administrative Agency
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Division
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Division of Grant Administration
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Federal Aid/ Special Funds
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Federal Aid/ Special Funds
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Office of Realty & Environmental Planning
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Division of Grant Administration
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Division of Natural Heritage
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Program Manager
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David Sellman
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Rose Ragland
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Rose Ragland
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Tammy Watson
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Tom DiLello
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Glen Kruse
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Address
Phone Fax E-mail
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 dave.sellman@ illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.2602 217.785.2438 rose.ragland@ illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.2602 217.785.2438 rose.ragland@ illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.7940 217.524.4177 Tammy.L.Watson@ illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 dnr.grants@ illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.785.8691 217.785.2438 glen.kruse® illinois.gov
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Funding Formula and Source
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Up to 90% Acq. Up to 100% Dev. State Funding
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Up to 75% Federal Funding
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Up to 75% Federal Funding
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Up to 100% State Funding
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Up to 50% State Funding
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Up to 100% State Funding
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Max
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$200,000 motorized $80,000 non-motorized
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Tier 1: $50,000 Tier 2: Not yet determined
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$50,000
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None
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Acq. None Dev. $200,000
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$2,000
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Annual Application Deadline
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September 1 Noon
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October 15
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N/A
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Last Business Day of February
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March 1 Noon
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April 1 5:00 p.m.
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Payment Method
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Reimbursement of approved and accrued costs
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Reimbursement
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Reimbursement
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Varies
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Reimbursement after project completed
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Reimbursement
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Eligibility
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Local units of government
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Local units of government and others
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Local units of government and others
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Individuals, units of government, organizations, corporations residing within an Ecosystems Partnership area
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Local units of government
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Individuals, organizations, corporations, schools, local government
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Available Funds FY08
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$725,000
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Tier 1: $100,000 (state allocation) Tier 2: Compete Nationally
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$100,000
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To be announced fall 2008
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$3,000,000
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$40,000
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*1 Unknown at this time
18 Illinois Parks & Recreation www.ILipra.org
FOR PARKS, RECREATION, CONSERVATION LANDS & FACILITIES
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Land and Water Conservation Fund
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Local Government Snowmobile
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Off-highway Vehicle Recreation Trails Program
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Open Space Lands Acquisition & Development
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Recreational Trails Program
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Urban & Community Forestry Grants/Inner City Funds
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LWCF
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SNOW
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OHV
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OSLAD
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RTP
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UCFG/ICE RFP
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Acquire and develop outdoor recreation areas
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Acquire, develop and rehabilitate, operate and maintain public areas for snowmobiling
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Acquire, develop, operate and maintain off-highway vehicle parks and trails
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Acquire and develop outdoor recreation areas
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Develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related projects
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Assist local units of government to create or enhance local forestry programs
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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Division of Grant Administration
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Division of Grant Administration
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Division of Grant Administration
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Division of Grant Administration
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Division of Grant Administration
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Division of Forest Resources
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Sue Eubanks
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David Sellman
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David Sellman
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Tom DiLello
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David Sellman
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Reinee Hildebrandt
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 susan.eubanks@ illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 dave.sellman® illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 dave.sellman© illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 dnr.grants@ illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.782.7481 217.782.9599 dave.sellman@ illinois.gov
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One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 217.785.8771 217.785.2438 reinee.hildebrandt@ illinois.gov
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Up to 50% Federal Funds
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Upto 100% Dev.
Up to 90% Acq. State Funding
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Up to 100% State Funding
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Up to 50% State Funding
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Up to 80% Federal Funding
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Up to 50% State Funding
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Acq. $750,000
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None
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None
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Acq. $750,000, Dev. $400,000
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None
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No more than 5% of total available funds
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July 1
Noon
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May 1 Noon
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March 1 Noon
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July 1
Noon
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March 1 Noon
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to be announced see: http://dnr.state.il.us/ conservation/forestry/ Urban/grantoppor.htm
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Reimbursement after project completed
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Reimbursement after project completed
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Reimbursement after project completed
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Reimbursement after project completed
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Reimbursement
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Reimbursement after project completed
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State and local units of government
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Local units of government
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Local units of government, private organizations, individuals
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Local units of government
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Federal, state and local government, private organizations
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Units of government with forestry ordinances
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(*1)
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$120,000
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$600,000
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(*1)
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$1,400,000
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$75,000-$100,000 (Approximate Total)
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www.ilparks.org January/February 2008 19
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