Land & Water Conservation Fund Program
Project Rating Questions

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, questions apply to both acquisition and development projects.

Planning Considerations

1.	Is the project: (For nonprofit applicants, answer based on local government plans where project is located.)
	a. specifically referenced in a locally adopted comprehensive outdoor recreation or land use plan? Yes - 1 pt
	b. a recommendation contained in a regional plan of another unit of government? Yes - 1 pt
	Project must implement a recommendation from a regional plan from another unit of government, such as a Regional Planning Commission Plan, an Integrated Resource Management Plan, or the department's Land Legacy Plan. Regional Planning Commission Plans count if the plan is other than the one that established Eligibility
2.	Will the project acquire new park and recreational lands? (Acquisition project Only) Yes - 3 pts
	Project Sponsor must be acquiring land for the community's first park, or for a park in an area in a community that isn't served by a park. An area is determined by the service area standards set in the local comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.
3.	Intergovernmental Cooperation and Planning - Is the project being implemented by two distinct governmental agencies? Yes - 2 pts
	At least two different governmental agencies must be involved in a consolidation effort that predicts a financial savings or a user end benefit over what would have been provided had not the project been consolidated. Examples would be a local governmental unit taking over the development and management of a state operated facility and a comparison of cost savings because of that effort; or, two local units of government working together to provide one facility that both can use instead of each implementing similar facilities.

Project Considerations

4.	Will the project acquire a linear corridor parkway, trail, or environmental corridor segment linking existing parks or state and multi-county trails to one another or to a city center, or other recreational site? (Acquisition Only) Yes - 1 pt
	The project must acquire land that is part of a corridor of land planned to provide a linkage between trails or other recreational sites, or recreational sites to a business or residential center.
5.	Will the project provide for acquisition of land contiguous to existing recreation sites? (Acquisition Only) Yes – 2 pts
6.	Will the project provide for habitat protection or restoration of habitat for fish and wildlife?
	If Acquisition - 2 pts If Restoration - 1 pt
	Project must include identified habitat protection or restoration goals and have scientific basis. Examples include acquisition of wetlands significant enough in relation to total project to impact habitat; acquisition of shoreline; vegetation restoration activities.
7.	Will the project improve recreation on natural waterbodies? Yes – 1 pt
	The waterbody must be navigable .
8.	Does the project acquire land that provides water based activities, defined as swimming, shore or ice-fishing, ice skating, or non-motorized boat access? (Acquisition Only) Yes – 2 pts
9.	Does the project provide or support multiple use, nature-based outdoor recreational activities that are feasible for the site? Yes – 1 pt
10.	Does the project provide or support multi-seasonal, nature-based outdoor recreational activities that are feasible for the site? Yes – 1 pt
11.	Has the project been substantially initiated by the sponsor without grants?
	(Development only) Examples would be where land has been acquired without grant assistance and/or a facility has been completed except for lighting or a support building. Substantial initiation of the project must be discussed in the narrative to receive this point.
	a. The Sponsor has acquired the land for the project without grants. Yes – 2 pts
	or
	b. The Sponsor has completed development of some basic eligible facilities. Yes – 1 pt
12.	Does the project involve the use of materials or products utilizing recycled products? (Development only) Yes – 1 pt
	Recycled products or materials used must be identified in the project narrative to obtain this point.

Administrative Considerations

13.	Was a complete application submitted by the deadline? Mailed applications must be postmarked or received on or before May 1. Yes – 1 pts
	A complete application consists of all documentation required in the application form checklist for the appropriate project type (located in the forms section of the application booklet). All required items must be filled out in their entirety .
14.	A local service or business organization, other unit of government, or nonprofit conservation organization is contributing financial support:
	greater than 25% of sponsor share of project costs - 1 pt greater than 50% of sponsor share of project costs - 2 pts
.	The contribution may consist of cash or donations of land, labor, services, materials, or equipment rental. The contribution must be documented in the application.
15.	Previous Grants
	a. Has the sponsor completed all previously funded projects? Yes-1 pt
	All Stewardship Local Assistance and Land & Water Conservation funded grant projects are complete. Previous development project sponsors get the point if they have not had one full construction year since grant award. New sponsor shall receive this credit for this question.
	b. The sponsor has never received a Local Assistance or LWCF grant in the past. Yes-2 pts
	or
	c. The sponsor has not received a Local Assistance or LWCF grant in the last 5 years. Yes- 1 pt
16.	Will the project enhance tourism?
	a. The project is of region wide or statewide significance in terms of travel. Yes - 2 pts
	The project will be used to attract large attendance, such as nature centers or other nature-based outdoor recreation focused facilities of statewide significance. Regional significance could be trails on the state trail system or trails that connect to state trails, or trails that cover more than one county, or river corridors that connect to state or regional parks. Documentation must be provided in application.
	OR
	b. The project will attract some visitors from outside the community. Yes-1 pt
17.	Will the project correct a documented health or safety problem at a public facility open for public use? Yes-1 pt
	Only documented problems can be considered. For example: State or local inspections of sanitary facilities or documented reports of conflicts between bikers and horseback riders.
18.	Are the appraisals complete and submitted to the department? (Acquisition Only) Yes - 1 pt
19.	Does the sponsor have an accepted option or offer to purchase agreement? (Acquisition Only) Yes- 2 pts
	An option or letter to purchase has been signed with the landowner(s)
20.	Will it be implemented immediately and can it be completed in two construction seasons or less? (Development only) Yes-1 pt.
	To receive this point, sponsor must provide that funds have been budgeted, and provide copies of a site plan and construction plans for the project.

TIE BREAKERS

When ties occur, a further evaluation of the following criteria will be used to break ties. One tenth.

(.1) of a point will be awarded for each “yes” scored criteria.

1.	A comprehensive land use plan compliant with s. 66.1001 (Smart Growth) has been adopted by ordinance. 1 pt.
	A copy of the adoption resolution must be submitted to the department.
2.	Does the sponsoring government have a park land dedication or impact fee ordinance? 1 pt.
	The ordinance is used to recover costs for the acquisition and/or development of parks and open space from developers when land is either platted or developed; copy of resolution of adoption should be included with application. Counties will receive this point
3.	Will the project serve a population of 5,000 or more? .1 pt.
	Determined by current census.
4.	Are matching funds budgeted or available immediately? 1 pt.
	The project can be started with matching funds available immediately upon approval of a grant.
5.	Will the project result in a first-of-a-kind facility for the project sponsor or service area? 1 pt.
	Facility can be judged on a service area basis as defined in the outdoor recreation plan
6.	Will the project provide or support a multipurpose, regional or statewide recreational trail or trail system? .1 pt.
7.	Will the project provide for major improvements in disabled accessibility to a park or recreation area having limited or no accessibility? .1 pt.
	Examples would include items such as sanitary facilities, shelters, or parking lots.
8.	Will the project specifically provide for the renovation or replacement of outdoor recreation facilities that are in danger of being lost for public use, including updating existing facilities to meet current ADA requirements? .1 pt.

ACTIVE PROJECT ADJUSTMENT

For each active project a Sponsor has under the Stewardship Local Assistance, Land & Water Conservation Fund, and Recreation Trails Act grant programs, points will be deducted from the total project application score as follows:

One active project - deduct one point	No. of Active Projects ________
Two active projects - deduct three points;
Three or more active projects – deduct five points

NOTE: An "active project" is defined as a project where the scope has not been completed. Development projects are allowed one full construction season from the grant award start date before being defined as "active"; acquisition projects are considered “active” if the grant award is prior to July 1 of last grant cycle.

Deduct: ___________

PROJECT GRAND TOTAL: ____________

Last Revised: Wednesday February 13 2008