Tag Archives: Heritage Fund

Arizona Game and Fish accepting 2017 Heritage Fund Grants

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is now accepting applications for more than $400,000 in Heritage Fund grants.

The deadline to submit an application is Oct. 31, 2016 to be eligible for grant funding, which will be available through a competitive application process in the following categories: environmental education, outdoor education, schoolyard habitat, urban wildlife/habitat, public access, and Identification, Inventory, Acquisition, Protection and Management (IIAPM). This year 501(c) non-profit organizations can apply for grant funds without the need of a sponsor

The Heritage Fund was created after voters approved an initiative in 1990 and is funded through Arizona Lottery ticket sales. Heritage funding goes toward conservation efforts such as protecting endangered species, educating students and the general public about wildlife and the outdoors, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The grant program was established by AZGFD in 1992 as part of the overall Heritage Fund program. The grants were initially developed as a way to promote outreach to enhance important partnerships and generate fresh approaches in support of the department’s mission.

Since the grant program’s inception, the department has awarded more than $14 million and supported more than 700 projects throughout the state.

Applicants for this year’s grants should refer to the documents on our Heritage Grant web page for guidance on applying. The documents include the Heritage Grant Application Manual, the Heritage Grant Application Form and the various “Heritage Grant Funding Window” documents, which describe eligibility information and provide specific eligibility criteria listed within each grant sub-category.

Potential grant recipients must have a project that is either located in Arizona or involves research in which the wildlife or its habitat is located in the state.

Proposals/applications for these grants can be submitted either by e-mail to rbeck@azgfd.gov or mailed to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Wildlife Grant Administrator, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. No faxed applications will be accepted.

Applicants can submit grant applications up until the application deadline of 5 p.m. (MST) Monday, Oct. 31, 2016.

Upcoming Heritage Grant Workshops
To learn more about Heritage Fund grants and how to apply for the more than $400,000 in available funds, attend one of the department’s workshops being held at the following times and locations:

  • 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 at the Flagstaff regional Game and Fish office at 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
  • 2-4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22 at the Game and Fish Headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix.
  • 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the Tucson regional Game and Fish office at 555 N. Greasewood Road.

Those planning to attend a workshop, and those wanting to learn more about eligibility for the grant money, should RSVP to Robyn Beck at (623) 236-7530. A minimum of three people must sign up for each workshop or the session will be cancelled 48 hours prior to the date.

Game and Fish Heritage Fund properties benefit from passage of Senate Bill 1361

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is grateful for the support of Governor Doug Ducey and the state Legislature in passing Senate Bill 1361, and helping to preserve Arizona’s 16 Heritage Fund properties that are essential to the state’s native wildlife and important habitats.

Sponsored by Senator Gail Griffin, Senate Bill 1361 grants the Arizona Game and Fish Commission the ability to spend a portion of the Heritage Fund monies that are allocated to the department on the operation and maintenance (O&M) of properties that have been, or will be, purchased to support endangered, threatened and sensitive wildlife species.

“Because passive property management is never a sound management approach, it was absolutely critical that the department be given the flexibility to use some of the Heritage Fund monies for operation and maintenance of the 16 properties purchased over the years, and those that will be acquired in the future,” said Commission Chairman Kurt R. Davis. “The cost for operating and maintaining the properties is already in excess of $1 million and growing rapidly as more properties must be purchased as part of the obligations under the Heritage Fund.”

The Heritage Fund was created in 1990 by Arizona’s voters to support wildlife and habitat by directing up to $10 million each year from lottery ticket sales. The department must use a portion of it to acquire properties that further its mission to protect and recover native wildlife species and their habitats.

The department does not receive any state General Funds and previously has used revenue generated from the sale of tags, permits, application and license fees, which comprise the majority of the department’s funding, to pay for the O&M obligation of Heritage-acquired properties.

Examples of ongoing and unanticipated O&M costs include preservation of structural assets, refurbishing agricultural wells, septic system replacement, stabilization of wetlands to reduce permeability, construction of flood control levees, replacement of culverts, removal of exotic vegetation, and control of dangerous fire fuels.

For more information about the department’s Heritage Fund, visit www.azgfd.gov/heritage.

Arizona Game and Fish seeks public comment on rules governing Heritage Fund grants

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department is currently reviewing its Article 7, Heritage Fund grants, rules as part of a scheduled periodic review process.

The department is seeking public comment on the proposed changes to Article 7. The summary of the proposed rule changes can be accessed online at www.azsos.gov/rules/arizona-administrative-register.

If you wish to submit written comments on the proposed rule revisions, please send comments to rulemaking@azgfd.gov by May 15, 2016. When submitting comments on a particular rule, please include a reference to the rule to which you are referring.

Written comments can also be sent via U.S. mail to:
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Rules and Risk Branch
Attn: Celeste Cook
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086