Office of the Secretary |
Al Nash (202) 208-6843
|
For Immediate Release: April 6, 2004 |
Wayne Strum (202) 354-6931
|
Secretary Norton Announces $92 Million
in Grants For State Recreation Projects |
WASHINGTON-- Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton today announced that close to $92 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund is being provided in Fiscal Year 2004 to the 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia. The funds will be used for state recreational projects that will enhance outdoor opportunities for present and future generations. "These allocations can help state and local governments--many facing budget shortfalls--invest in recreational projects so that all Americans will have access to recreational opportunities and open spaces," Norton said. "Local decisionmaking is a key to this program and a priority with this administration." The grant program is a major component of Secretary Norton's commitment to involve state governments in conservation planning activities. Under this partnership effort, the states, the territories and the District analyze their own recreational needs, set project priorities, establish application procedures and set deadlines. The LWCF has provided more than $3.4 billion to state and local governments since it was founded in 1965. These governments are required to match their grant 50/50, which has doubled the nationwide investment to more than $6.8 billion. More than 39,000 recreational projects have received funding and about 10,000 of those have added 2.3 million acres of state and local parkland. The National Park Service, which manages the fund, evaluates and approves grants and oversees project compliance and completion. The grants help states develop and maintain high quality recreation areas and stimulate nonfederal investments in the protection and maintenance of recreation resources across the United States. Through the program, states have invested in outdoor recreation planning, established and expanded their own scenic rivers and trails and encouraged their cities and counties to improve planning and development of recreation resources. More information is available from the agency that administers the program in each state. Their addresses and phone numbers can be found online at www.nps.gov/lwcf. The program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high quality recreation areas and facilities and to stimulate non-federal investments in the protection and maintenance of recreation resources the United States. It provides matching grants to state and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The LWCF is primarily funded by the collection of royalty receipts from oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. The OCS administered by the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service has contributed $19 billion dollars to the Land and Water Conservation Fund since 1982.
Note to Editors: Attached is a state-by-state breakdown of the FY 2004 LWCF grant allocations.
|
Land and Water Conservation Fund State Grant Allocations
Fiscal Year 2004
|
Alabama |
| $1,505,476 |
| New Hampshire |
|
$925,439 |
Alaska |
| $812,141 |
| New Jersey |
|
$2,514,015 |
Arizona |
| $1,692,300 |
| New Mexico |
|
$1,015,635 |
Arkansas |
| $1,127,700 |
| New York |
|
$4,602,356 |
California |
| $7,773,970 |
| North Carolina |
|
$2,098,683 |
Colorado |
| $1,530,452 |
| North Dakota |
|
$816,562 |
Connecticut |
| $1,433,923 |
| Ohio |
|
$2,928,848 |
Delaware |
| $869,387 |
| Oklahoma |
|
$1,298,026 |
Florida |
| $3,906,846 |
| Oregon |
|
$1,327,256 |
Georgia |
| $2,129,605 |
| Pennsylvania |
|
$3,158,174 |
Hawaii |
| $944,836 |
| Rhode Island |
|
$936,081 |
Idaho |
| $900,474 |
| South Carolina |
|
$1,424,179 |
Illinois |
| $3,143,272 |
| South Dakota |
|
$823,628 |
Indiana |
| $1,821,934 |
| Tennessee |
|
$1,714,171 |
Iowa |
| $1,158,500 |
| Texas |
|
$4,710,673 |
Kansas |
| $1,155,308 |
| Utah |
|
$1,125,856 |
Kentucky |
| $1,340,962 |
| Vermont |
|
$799,586 |
Louisiana |
| $1,553,887 |
| Virginia |
|
$2,042,432 |
Maine |
| $898,515 |
| Washington |
|
$1,852,210 |
Maryland |
| $1,809,750 |
| West Virginia |
|
$989,180 |
Massachusetts |
| $2,052,710 |
| Wisconsin |
|
$1,667,759 |
Michigan |
| $2,651,675 |
| Wyoming |
|
$786,025 |
Minnesota |
| $1,594,425 |
| District of Columbia |
|
$1,259,106 |
Mississippi |
| $1,113,283 |
| Puerto Rico |
|
$1,259,106 |
Missouri |
| $1,708,407 |
| Virgin Islands |
|
$141,539 |
Montana |
| $833,308 |
| Guam |
|
$50,000 |
Nebraska |
| $990,003 |
| American Samoa |
|
$50,000 |
Nevada |
| $1,082,426 |
| Northern Marianas |
|
$50,000 |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
|
$91,902,000 |