Deadline: 9-Aug-22
The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) has launched its Pollinator Meadows Grant Program to help local governments and nonprofits convert turf grass to pollinator habitat.
The Foundation will seek a statewide geographic distribution of funds for the first round of grants awarded under this program.
Funding Information
- Grantee covers upfront costs and payment is made on a reimbursement basis.
- One payment of $20,000, or 50% of the costs to convert turf grass to pollinator meadow, whichever is less, is made after installation of meadow habitat and signage is complete.
- Up to $1,000 of the payment can be used to assist with first-year maintenance during the grant period.
- Grantee commits to funding yearly maintenance and maintaining habitat for 5 years after the grant is closed.
Activities Funded
- Seed, plants, and supplies
- Contractor to remove turf grass and to install and conduct initial maintenance of habitat
- Contractor to conduct initial burn or mowing of habitat
- Outside professional assistance to develop a 5-year management plan, which grantee must commit to funding on its own after grant ends
- Signage (not to exceed $1,000)
Eligibility Criteria
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Applicants:
- Local Governments (i.e. Park Districts, Nature Centers)
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (i.e. Museums, Community College Foundations)
Note: ALL applicants (nonprofits and local government agencies) are required to provide a Federal Employer Tax ID/Employer Tax ID Number (FEIN/EIN).
Criteria
- Meadow Sites must currently be in turfgrass.
- Meadow Sites must be accessible to the public.
- No more than one application per applicant will be considered.
- This is a one-time-only grant program, with one award per organization over the life of the program.
- The grant covers a portion of the cost of installing meadows and initial maintenance conducted during the 18-month grant period.
- The grant period ends after the payment request is submitted and approved.
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Grantee agrees to:
- Cover yearly maintenance costs
- Monitor and document the germination and establishment of native species for 1 year after habitat installation
- Maintain the Pollinator Meadow Habitat for 5 years after the grant is closed.
- Each grant must result in a minimum of 2 acres of new Pollinator Meadow.
- The 2 acres of Pollinator Meadow does not need to be in one location, so long that each Meadow site is a minimum of one acre of contiguous habitat.
- Meadow Sites must meet a minimum set of habitat requirements.
- Priority will be given to sites certified through Conservation@Work, Monarch Watch’s Monarch Waystation Program, or sites implementing the NRCS, IL Conservation Practice Standard 327 criteria for pollinator habitat.
- Grantee agrees to install signage acknowledging the grant.
For more information, visit Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.
For more information, visit https://www.illinoiscleanenergy.org/natural-areas-program/pollinator-meadows-program/