The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) will open applications for the WWRP grant programs on February 14, 2024. There have been changes in grant evaluation criteria for six recreation and conservation-focused grant programs. These changes will affect this year’s applications for the following WWRP Grants: Local Parks, Water Access, and Trails. Changes also affect the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA), the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and the Youth Athletic Facilities (YAF) grant programs. If you’re working on a grant application for any of these programs for 2024, we strongly recommend you reach out to your grant manager immediately!
RCO is hosting a series of webinars on February 14
You won’t want to miss it if you are considering applying for a WWRP grant! The webinars will include information about the grants offered, eligibility requirements, deadlines, program changes for 2024, and how to apply for a grant. We will focus on the following grant programs with a May 1, 2024, due date:
- Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA)
- Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG)
- Community Forests Program (CFP)
- Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
- Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) (Farms, Forests, Habitat, Recreation)
- Youth Athletic Facilities (YAF)
Webinar Schedule, February 14, 2024
9 am Parks Application Webinar: This webinar is for applicants interested in the ALEA, BIG, YAF, or WWRP- Recreation grant programs. Register here!
11 am Habitat Conservation Application Webinar: This webinar is for applicants interested in grant programs that provide funds for WWRP habitat conservation areas. Register here!
1 pm Land and Water Conservation Fund Application Webinar: This webinar is for applicants interested in this federal program that funds parks and conservation areas. Register here!
3 pm Working Lands Application Webinar: This webinar is for applicants interested in preserving farmland, forestland, and community forests. Register here!
Please register for all webinars that interest you!
Even if you cannot attend the live webinars RCO will send you a link to the recording after they are posted on RCO’s website.
What’s New for 2024?
RCO will accept applications in PRISM Online on February 14. When you start your grant application, RCO will assign an outdoor grants manager to work with you. Click here to find your grants manager now.
Staff is updating RCO’s website, Applicant To-Do Lists, policy manuals, and other resources, which will be posted by February 14. Here are some of the changes:
- New evaluation criteria for recreation programs.
- New cost increase policy for ALEA projects.
- New grant limits for YAF.
- New policy for holding virtual review and evaluation meetings.