RE: Invitation to 2008 NYSCPP Grants Announcement                 Contact:

April 16, 2008 (10:30 – 11:30)                                                            Ethan Winter

LCA Press Room (LOB 130)                                                             Land Trust Alliance

                                                                                                             (518) 587-0774                                                                                                                                                                                    

Land Trust Alliance and DEC to Announce $825,000 in

Conservation Partnership Grants to 42 New York Land Trusts

 (Albany, NY)  On Wednesday, April 16th, at 10:30 am, the Land Trust Alliance will join Senator Carl Marcellino, Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, and Commissioner Grannis to announce an unprecedented investment in New York’s land trusts through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program.  The Land Trust Alliance cordially invites you to attend this announcement.

At the press event, to be held in the LCA Press Room (Legislative Office Building, Room 130), the Land Trust Alliance will formally announce 52 capacity-building and land conservation grants totaling $825,000 to 42 land trusts across New York State.  The New York State Conservation Partnership Program is supported by an appropriation in the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and is administered by the Land Trust Alliance in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).  

The Land Trust Alliance will announce grants to local and regional land trust organizations that will dramatically enhance their efforts to conserve important natural areas and open space in more than 30 counties across the state.  To date, these competitive land trust grants have leveraged more than $9 million in privately raised conservation funds, enabling creation of new partnerships with local government and other partners, strengthening organizational effectiveness, and permanently conserving 10,000 acres of important land.   

The New York State Conservation Partnership Program is supported by a $1 million appropriation in the 2007-08 EPF.  Since 2002, more than 60 different local and regional land trust organizations have received technical assistance and grant funding for over 200 high priority projects, building one of the strongest statewide networks of local land trusts in the country.  In addition, with the launch of a voluntary land trust accreditation program in 2007, this grants and technical assistance program is helping community-based organizations in New York State meet rigorous national quality standards and ultimately prepare for accreditation.

The 2008-09 State budget includes an EPF appropriation of $1.575 million for a seventh round of technical assistance and competitive land trust grants to be awarded in 2009. For information about the Land Trust Alliance and New York State Conservation Partnership Program, please contact Ethan Winter, New York Conservation Manager, at (518) 587-0774 or via email at ewinter@lta.org.   

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NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

SUMMARY of 2008 LAND TRUST GRANT AWARDS

NUMBER OF GRANTS:  52 grants to 42 different land trusts 

CONSERVATION TRANSACTION GRANT AWARDS: $144,150 (12 grants; 955 acres protected) 

CONSERVATION CATALYST GRANT AWARDS: $109,500 (7 grants) 

CONSERVATION CAPACITY & EXCELLENCE GRANT AWARDS: $308,350 (28 grants) 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT AWARDS: $263,000 (5 grants) 

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