New Hampshire Conservation Grant Program

The New Hampshire Conservation Grant Program, managed by the State Conservation Committee, provides competitive grants for projects aimed at protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources. Focus areas include water quality, wildlife habitat, soil conservation, and land protection. Eligible applicants include municipalities, nonprofits, and schools. Projects should be completed within two years and do not require matching funds, although additional financial contributions may strengthen applications.

The State Conservation Committee's Conservation Grant Program supports and promotes programs and partnerships that protect, restore and enhance the state's valuable natural resources. The New Hampshire State Conservation Committee (SCC) is the state government agency responsible for managing the Conservation Grant Program. Competitive grants are awarded annually to physical and tangible environmental projects that foster stewardship and the sustainability of New Hampshire's natural environment (RSA 261:97-c,III).The Conservation Grant Program's six focus areas include:
Water Quality and Quantity: Restore, enhance, maintain or protect.Wildlife Habitat: Create, restore, enhance, manage or protect.Soil Conservation and Flooding: Reduce or prevent erosion or improve soils. Best Management Practices: Plan and implement for agriculture, storm or forestry.Conservation Planning: Accomplish a conservation project or outcome that includes a public involvement component.Land Conservation: Permanent land protection through conservation easement or fee acquisition and/or associated transaction and stewardship costs.

Eligibility

Eligible Grant Applicants include:
County Conservation DistrictsCounty Cooperative Extension Natural ResourcesMunicipalities, including agencies and commissions engaged in conservation programsQualified nonprofit organizations engaged in conservation programsPublic and private schools (kindergarten through Grade 12)Scout groupsEligible Sites
Projects on public and private land are eligible with the signed consent and approval of the appropriate governing body or landowner(s).
Projects are to be completed within two years.

Ineligibility

Examples of ineligible projects
New trail construction and interpretive signage. Classroom curriculum development.Preparation of educational brochures.Researching techniques to improve wildlife habitat.Natural resource inventories not likely to result in on-the-ground improvements.Outreach materials that are not directly connected to on-the-ground conservation projects.Remediation of stormwater and erosion issues due to development and/or lack of regular maintenance.Removal of structures from the project siteData collection and survey work not part of a comprehensive planning project.