OLYMPIA - The state soon will be accepting applications for funding to build a range of outdoor recreational facilities and to conserve farmland and wildlife habitat, the Recreation and Conservation Office announced today.
"We're very excited about these funding grants," said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office, which manages these grant programs. "These grants help make our communities great places to live, work and play."
The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board offers nine grant programs for activities such as building parks and boat ramps, renovating trails, protecting wildlife habitat and conserving working farms. Since 1964, the board has granted more than $900 million in grants for more than 4,300 eligible projects statewide.
This year, the board is offering grants in the following categories: - Beaches - Funding to acquire, restore or improve shorelines, tidelands and submerged lands for public purposes.
- Boating - Funding to acquire, develop or renovate boating facilities, including boat launches and ramps, guest moorage and support facilities for all sizes of boats.
- Farmland Preservation - Funding to acquire and conserve important farmland.
- Parks - Funding to acquire land and develop outdoor facilities for the public.
- Trails - Funding to maintain and develop all kinds of trails. Environmental education and trail safety programs also are eligible.
- Wildlife conservation - Funding to acquire and conserve important wildlife habitat.
People or organizations interested in learning what projects and sponsors are eligible and how to apply for these funds, are encouraged to attend a workshop being held at the following locations: - Feb. 5 Spokane and Mount Vernon
- Feb. 6 Tukwila and Yakima
- Feb. 7 Centralia (This workshop is full.)
The workshops run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register before Feb. 1 by visiting the Web site at http://www.rco.wa.gov/rcfb/grants_workshop.htm (link no longer active).
"These grants come from a variety of sources - the federal government, state funding, and user fees," Cottingham said. "They are an important source of funding for local governments, tribes and community organizations to provide places for people to recreate and wildlife to live. Washington wouldn't be the great state it is without this kind of public investment."
Grant applications are due May 1, 2008. For more information on the agency, the workshops or its grant programs, visit the Web site: http://www.rco.wa.gov.
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