A Roadmap to Successfully Accessing Funding through the Land & Water, Conservation Fund (LWCF)
In August of 2020, via the Great American Outdoor Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was permanently funded at $900 million annually, offering funding opportunities for eligible projects to support land acquisition, recreational facility improvements and park planning projects. The National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers (NASORLO) have developed a roadmap and a variety of resources to help you navigate the requirements and outline the process for submitting a standout project application for your state’s LWCF State Assistance Program. Every project starts with a great idea! Case examples will offer a step-by-step roadmap through the planning process, project completion, and sustainability phases and arm you for success.
Thursday, March 24 — Session #1: LWCF 101: Program Overview & Helpful Tips to Get Started
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize the goals of the LWCF State Assistance Program.
- Outline the eligibility requirements to receive LWCF funding for a public outdoor recreation project.
- Define what is a SCORP and how to align with state-specific requirements.
- List three tips/resources to assist in the planning process.
Thursday, April 21 — Session #2: Concept to Application: Explore a LWCF Project Case Example
Learning Objectives:
- Define the critical steps of planning and developing a LWCF project.
- Outline the steps to creating and managing a project timeline.
- Summarize a successful case example of a public outdoor recreation project funded through LWCF.
- List three helpful tips/resources to assist in submitting a successful application.
Thursday, May 12 — Session #3: Celebrating Your Community’s LWCF Award & Completion
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize the LWCF funding expectations after being awarded and for long-term sustainability and compliance.
- List important considerations to take as you prepare for the completion of your project.
- Summarize a community case example that used LWCF funding to deploy evidence-based best practices to support health and wellness.
- List three helpful resources to assist in project completion, celebration, and sustainability.