The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is making $476,000 available to local conservation organizations interested in working on wildlife habitat improvement projects on wildlife management areas throughout the state. The funds, available through the Heritage Enhancements Grants Program, will allow outdoors clubs to work on projects such as grassland plantings, brushland shearing, wetland restoration and hunter walking trails. “These grant dollars are available for large and small projects, so we’re encouraging proposals from all size organizations,” said Leslie Tannahill, grants specialist for the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. “The main requirement is that the funds are used by outdoors clubs for work on public lands managed by the Section of Wildlife.” The Heritage Enhancement Grants to Local Outdoors Clubs program provides funding to local conservation organizations to work on state wildlife management areas. The funding source for the program is the Heritage Enhancement Account, within the Game and Fish Fund. Grants are administered through the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife with input from local DNR wildlife managers. The grant program is in its seventh year. Grant applications and information packages are available now at www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/heritage.html, via e-mail at leslie.tannahill@dnr.state.mn.u or by calling Leslie Tannahill at (651) 259-5242. Completed grant applications are due Sept. 25. Work covered under these grants must be completed by June 30, 2010.
