arizona game & fish (azgfd) heritage fund · 2017. 7. 28. · urban wildlife guidelines...

THE HERITAGE FUND IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY!

Arizona Game & Fish (AZGFD)Heritage Fund

AZGFD Heritage Grant Workshop

•Welcome•Introductions•Overview •Important information•Application HOW-TO•Questions


Heritage Fund “Grants Program”

The Heritage Fund “Grants Program” was established in 1992 by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission

The Heritage Grants Program benefits communities statewide and supports critical conservation programs throughout Arizona

Since Inception, the Department has awarded over 800 Heritage Grants totaling more than $16,000,000

Heritage grants are funded solely through the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Heritage Fund

If the Department does not receive its full allocation of Heritage dollars, available funding for grants may be reduced.


Heritage Grant Eligible Applicants

Federal, Tribal, State or Local governments; public school districts and charter schools

Non-profit organization 501(C) are now eligible without a government sponsor


Heritage Grant Sub-categories and Dollars Available

Environmental Education $ 16,000.00

Outdoor Education $ 16,000.00

Schoolyard Habitat $ 30,000.00

Urban Wildlife $100,000.00

Public Access $ 50,000.00

IIAPM $200,000.00


Heritage Grants Awarded2017 Grant Cycle $Avail/Award #Apps/Award

Environmental Ed $ 16k/$16k 23/5

Outdoor Ed $ 16k/$16k 20/9

Schoolyard $ 30k/$29.8k 13/3

Urban $100k/$100k 26/7

Public Access $ 50k/$50k 6/2

IIAPM $200k/$124,159 8/4

In 2017 we received 96 applications and 30 Grants were Awarded – 31% success rate


2017 Heritage Grant DEADLINE DATE

Tuesday, October 31, 2017by 5:00 p.m.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Phoenix Office

5000 W. Carefree Highway

Phoenix, AZ 85086


Heritage Grant Submittals

Hard Copy Applications - One original and one copy

Signature on the application must be an individual whohas signature authority

Electronic applications are accepted-MUST be receivedby the DEADLINE date and time. (Scanned or ElectronicSignatures are accepted) Note: if emailing proposal wehighly recommend applicant confirms receipt bycalling 623-236-7530

Faxed copies will not be accepted.


AGFD Heritage Grants

ALL Grant applicants must submit by Deadline Date

Four-page application (EE, OE, Schoolyard, Urban, Public Access & IIAPM)

ALL supporting documents are required with initial application.

Heritage Grant application materials and forms can be found at www.azgfd.gov/w_c/heritage_apply.shtml


Heritage Grant Pre-Screening

EE, OE, Schoolyard, Urban, Public Access & IIAPM

Pre-screen criteria:

Eligible Applicant

Proposal must meet one or more of the Goals, Objectives or Priorities listed within the respective Funding Window

Application must have authorized signature

All OE proposals must include a Field-trip itinerary

All proposals that meet the pre-screen criteria will transition to the grant Review and Scoring process


Heritage Grant Review & Scoring

Scoring Teams are established for each fund sub-category

Teams comprised of 3-5 members (with 2-3 AGFD and 1-2 Heritage Public Advisory Committee members)

Teams evaluate proposals using evaluation criteria listed on Page-8 of the Heritage grants manual


Heritage Grant Review & Scoring

Each proposal is reviewed & scored based on its own merit

Each proposal evaluated against evaluation criteria and assigned a score by each scoring team member

Compiled scores highest-to-lowest in rank-order

Scoring team recommendations are presented to AGFD Executive Staff for review, discussion and approval then the Director for final approval


Heritage Grants Funding Window (FW)

• FWs for each fund Sub-Category are reviewed & approved by our Department annually

• Approved FWs cannot change during Heritage grant cycle

• All Proposals Must meet one or more FW Goals, Objectives or Priorities to be Eligible


Environmental Education (EE) Funding Window $16,000

CRITERION 1: Educator Professional Development Partnerships. The emphasis of this criterion is to provide funds to off-set costs associated with Department-sponsored educator professional development training. These costs may include teacher leave time, substitute teacher fees, facility rentals, related classroom materials, and more. The training may be orientated toward a specific school or district, Arizona County or college/university pre-service program. Preference will be given to continued and sustained training, as opposed to one-time workshops. Professional development must focus on Arizona wildlife species and emphasize one or more of the specific topics listed in E.E. Funding Windows:

CRITERION 2. North American Model of Wildlife Conservation Education and Outreach-To develop andimplement unique projects that can educate the general public on the North American Model of WildlifeConservation.

CRITERION 3. Developing Natural Resource Stewards-To fund collaborative multi-agency/organizationprojects that use outdoor recreation as the foundation to develop public appreciation and stewardship of naturalresource conservation.


ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Guidelines


Focus on wildlife species native to Arizona

Must impact Arizona schools and students

Should span academic disciplines and grade levels

Continued/sustained training preferred vs. one-time workshops

Enhance public awareness / safeguarding natural resources

OUTDOOR EDUCATION (OE)Funding Window $16,000


CRITERION 1. Arizona Outdoor, Nature-Based Field Trip Experience - to get students into nature to explore habitats and wildlife first hand.

CRITERION 2. Outdoor Programs at the Hirsch Conservation Education Area Field-Trip - to bring students to the BASF Biscuit Tank.

Heritage OE GuidelinesOE proposals must also include field-trip itinerary

Projects must be closed in one year

Funds can only be used to cover transportation and substitute teacher fees and resource costs necessary to carryout the activities

Should include pre/post activities to ensure learning continues beyond the individual field-trip

Applicants seeking AGFD on-site support for both classroom presentation and hands-on activity must specify this within their application proposal


SCHOOLYARD HABITAT Funding Window $30,000


CRITERION 1: Development of New Wildlife Habitats on School sites.

CRITERION 2: Enhancement or Restoration of Heritage Funded Schoolyard Habitat.

Schoolyard Guidelines


Must involve students in all project phases

Must demonstrate long-term use and sustainability

Development, design, construction and habitat site protection are all fundable costs

Funds are primarily intended to be used for wildlife habitat improvements and should not be used for items considered decorative or ornamental

Proposal must include a map/design and a sample list of native plants that will be in your habitat

Heritage SCHOOLYARD Habitats

Projects should promote wildlife

and habitat education through

project design


Desert tortoise enclosure

Heritage SCHOOLYARD HabitatsFunds used to purchase scientific equipment, tools, computers, optics, etc. is an allowable expense however, these should be reasonable in scope compared to the overall requested budget

Students should be active participants from initial design and implementation to final evaluation and project closure

Ineligible Projects

Research without direct application to wildlife or wildlife habitats

Picnic areas, playgrounds and parks

Trails not related to wildlife or wildlife habitats

Interpretive materials relating to history or archaeology

General landscaping or vegetable garden projects



URBAN WILDLIFEFunding Window $100,000

CRITERION 1: Human/Wildlife Conflicts: Projects that reduce risk of critical incident conflicts.

CRITERION 2: Watchable Wildlife Viewing: Wildlife-focused festivals, programs, workshops.

CRITERION 3: Wildlife Corridors/Habitat Conservation: Projects supporting and/or promoting urban smart growth efforts and projects that would study impacts to wildlife of new/proposed urban development.

CRITERION 4: Urban and Community Fishing Waters:Projects to improve sport fishery populations and enhance fish habitats.

URBAN Wildlife GuidelinesConserve, enhance and establish wildlife and wildlife habitats in harmony with urban environments within an incorporated area or in close proximity to an urban area.

Increase public awareness of urban wildlife/urban habitat resources.

Project must be: within city or town; or within 5 miles of the boundary or in an Urban area that receive significant impact from human use.


Heritage URBAN Wildlife ProjectsUrban wildlife viewing guide

Urban lake fish habitat or Angler enhancement projects

Wildlife viewing blindor platform

Heritage Urban Wildlife ProjectsInterpretative signs about an urban wildlife of nature trail

An educational exhibit about urban wildlife

Projects that focus on wildlife viewing

Projects that focus on public enjoyment of wildlife in urban setting

Projects that enhance wildlife viewing opportunities

Projects that increase angling recreation



PUBLIC ACCESSFunding Window $50,000

CRITERION 1: Create, maintain or enhance wildlife-oriented recreational access (motorized or non-motorized) onto public or State Trust lands previously inaccessible to the public

CRITERION 2: Obtain perpetual or other long-term rights-of-way to secure public access for wildlife oriented recreation where it may be jeopardized by potential land development, energy development or other land status changes.

CRITERION 3: Create, maintain or enhance existing wildlife-oriented recreational access (motorized or non-motorized) onto public lands through improved design and construction methods.


PUBLIC ACCESSFunding Window $50,000

CRITERION 4: Education and information outreach pertaining to public access in Arizona, including ethical and responsible use of private and public lands, and opportunities for volunteerism.

CRITERION 5: Realignment of existing access routes to protect sensitive habitat areas.

CRITERION 6: Projects that improve anglers’ access to urban or community fishing waters, lakes with public access, streams with public access, and to other community waters used by anglers. Any project that improves angler access is allowed, including construction projects, leases, or other improvements that benefit angler access.

Heritage PUBLIC ACCESS Guidelines

•Ensure public lands or waterways in AZ are available to the general public for wildlife-oriented recreational use

•Responsible use of public and private lands

•Where feasible, projects designed and constructed to accommodate persons with disabilities


Heritage PUBLIC ACCESS Projects

Enhanced recreational access thru improved design and construction

Realignments of existing access routes to protect sensitive habitats

Enhanced recreational access to a public waterway including accommodations for persons with disabilities

Identification, Inventory, Acquisition, Protection and Management (IIAPM)

CRITERION 1: Projects that focus on species the Department actively manages or species the Department needs more information to allow for active management

CRITERION 2: Projects that address any other species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) information needs


Heritage IIAPM Funding Window $200,000

Heritage IIAPM Guidelines


• Preserve and enhance Arizona’s natural biological diversity

• Proposals must be consistent with one or more of the priorities listed within the IIAPM Funding Window

Heritage IIAPM Project Ideas

Development and/or evaluation of translocation methods for nongame wildlife.

Develop a method to determine accurate populations of Gila topminnow.


Heritage IIAPM Project Ideas

To assist the Department in designing effective Sonoran desert tortoise conservation and wildlife management actions, conduct studies to investigate tortoise demography or threats.

•Assessing Raptor Concentration Areas to include migration corridors, stop-over habitats, and/or wintering areas south of Interstate 40.

Heritage Grant Special NotesMax OE request $2,500 & $10,000 for EE and Schoolyard

No Max amount for Urban, Public Access or IIAPM

Grant Agreement Effective Date – Date signed by Director

Funds should be requested within 120 days of grant effective date

Projects must be completed within 36 months of grant effective date, except OE is 12 months

90% of grant award is paid up-front, and the final 10 % when the project closes

Must control land or waters for any capital improvements

All current application materials needed to apply for Heritage Grant are listed on Department website

Heritage Project Partners

Neighborhood or Community Groups

Universities

Community Colleges

Public Schools/Districts to include Charter Schools

Federal, State, and Local Agencies

Private Consultants

Non-Governmental Organizations


AGFD Heritage Grants

Heritage Grant Cycle Estimated Timeline

Aug 2017 Public Announcement of 2018 Heritage Grant Cycle

Aug 2017 Grant Workshops conducted statewide

Oct 31 GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE

Nov Application Pre-Screening Process

Nov-Dec Application Evaluation and Scoring Process

Dec Rank-Order Lists compiled

Jan Rank-order lists approved by E-Staff & Director

Feb Grant Agreements initiated and sent to successful applicants and funds awarded


Application Page 1

Application Page 2

Application Page 3

Application Page 4

Budget Worksheet – Personnel

Include title of each position necessary to complete project

List line-item breakout of all positions

List hourly $ rate & total hours anticipated for each position needed to complete project

Volunteer labor based on type of work activity & designated as “match”

Although “match” not required, highly encouraged as Heritage Grant award process is competitive. All match must be documented and secure.

Heritage funds can not be used to supplant (or replace) personnel costs for any permanent salaried or hourly employee

However, if employees involved in planning or completion of project, anticipated personnel costs can be included as “match”

Budget Worksheet – Wage Estimates

Bureau of Labor Statistics Website: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_az.htmEstimate of Hourly Wage Rate Examples:

Project Administration - $15.10

Project Management - $41.76

Construction Laborer - $13.28

Grounds Maintenance - $10.04

Equipment Operator - $20.85

Habitat Designer - $24.06


Budget Worksheet – Development

List all design, construction and development items needed to complete the project

Work already completed (pre-agreement) can only be listed as match, and is not a reimbursable expense

Equipment rentals and associated costs are allowable if used for completion of a project


Budget Worksheet – Other

Travel: Heritage funds used for travel to/from study/research areas at 44.5 cents per mile rate

Supplies: List all anticipated supplies needed for the project.

Indirect Costs: Proposals can only list indirect costs as “match”

Equipment: At the end of the project period any equipment purchased with grant dollars over $500.00 must either be authorized for continued use by the applicant for the original purpose or surrendered to the Department.


Grant Report & Product RequirementsProject semiannual progress reports

Mid-year reports due July 31st

End-of-year reports due January 31st

Project participants responsible to maintain project financial statements and receipts

“Draft” project reports 30-days prior to close-out

“Final” project close-out report/product(s)


Project On-Site Monitoring Inspections

All Heritage grant projects are subject to monitoring inspections this includes:

• Open or ongoing projects

• Closed Projects (within 5 years of grant closure)

• Projects that are still within the “Term of Public Use.”

“Term of Public Use” refers to the time period during which the project or/facility is expected to be maintained for public use


Heritage Grant Contact Information


Robyn Beck, Wildlife Grant Administrator, 623-236-7530,[email protected] for any questions related to the Heritage Grantapplication process or Heritage Grant program administration

Heritage Schoolyard Pond


School District: Paradise Valley Unified School DistrictSchool: Sonoran Sky Elementary SchoolProject title: “Native Habitat.”Awarded: $8,900.00 Date awarded: 8/95

AZGFD Heritage Grants


Questions or Comments?

arizona game & fish (azgfd) heritage fund · 2017. 7. 28. · urban wildlife guidelines...

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