MDC offering up to $75,000 in grants to help St. Louis area parks implement conservation projects

St. LOUIS, Mo.—The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) works with and for communities to sustain healthy fish, forests and wildlife.  One of the ways in which it does this is by offering funding for conservation-friendly projects in St. Louis area parks through a unique partnership and funding opportunity: The Back to Nature StL Grant.  

Applications for the grant should be relevant to the goals of MDC’s Community Conservation Program.  The Back to Nature StL grant supports terrestrial and aquatic habitat improvement in urban area parks, encouraging partnerships for supporting community conservation efforts, native habitat restoration and long-term natural landscape management, and engaging the public through conservation education and volunteer opportunities.

The grant has funding available for entities managing public park property in St. Louis City or County. This grant opportunity will be offered every other year, and it offers grants up to $75,000, distributed over a three-year period at $25,000 per year.  The grant also requires a 25% match by the applicant, which can be met through direct funding or in-kind contributions to the project.

Examples of eligible projects the Back to Nature StL Grant include native plant establishment such as prairie or native warm-season grass reconstruction, forest management, wetland enhancement, exotic species control, interpretive signage related to the project, and staff training for natural landscape management.  All project applications should have a long-term management plan.

Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. on Sept. 17.  Grant proposals may be mailed or emailed as a pdf document to:

Josh Ward, MDC Community Conservation Planner
Missouri Department of Conservation
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
11715 Cragwold Road
Kirkwood, MO, 63122
Email: Josh.Ward@mdc.mo.gov
Phone: 314-301-1506 ext. 4213

Applicants will be notified of their status by Oct. 15.