The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is accepting proposals for $6 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants. Proposals must be for the acquisition of land for public outdoor recreation.

Requests must be for a minimum of $250,000 with a minimum total project cost of $500,000. There is no maximum request for this grant cycle. The LWCF is a 50-50 percent matching reimbursement program. Grantees must be able to fund 100 percent of their project while seeking periodic reimbursements. The following are eligible to apply: counties, cities and towns, park and recreation authorities, tribal governments, state agencies.

Applications are due no later than June 28 at 5 p.m.

Instructions and an application are available at www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreational-planning/lwcf. Details of a webinar for prospective applicants will be posted to this page.

A separate grant cycle for development projects will be held later this year or in 2020.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 established a federal reimbursement program for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is administered by DCR on behalf of the National Park Service. The program represents a federal, state and local partnership. A key feature of the program is that all LWCF-assisted areas must be maintained and opened, in perpetuity, as public outdoor recreation areas.