Sheboygan County Stewardship Fund Grant

Sheboygan County Stewardship Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Sheboygan County
Last Updated: April 01, 2026

Summary

The Sheboygan County Stewardship Fund Grant, established by voter support in 2000, aims to enhance recreational opportunities and conserve natural resources in Sheboygan County. The grant funds various projects including land acquisitions and restorations. Eligible applicants include government agencies and 501(c) non-profits. Applications are typically available in late winter/early spring, aligning with Knowles-Nelson State Stewardship funding. The program prioritizes projects that involve public access and environmental stewardship, ensuring sustainable growth and resource preservation.

Overview

In November of 2000, over 70% of the voters of Sheboygan County voted in favor of establishing a County Stewardship Fund to develop recreation opportunities and help conserve Sheboygan County’s natural resources. The types of projects that the County will support include project development, purchase of development rights, land acquisition, and restoration. To date, 89 projects have received funding in excess of $1.3 million. Any town, village, city, county agency, or other government agency completing projects within Sheboygan County or any non-profit group as reported in federal form 501(c) may apply for funds through this program. Applications are typically released in late winter/early spring so that those entities seeking Knowles-Nelson State Stewardship dollars can know whether or not they will have County dollars to help with their potential match. The amount of County and State funding available varies from year to year. Prior to submitting a County application, it is highly suggested you contact the Planning & Conservation Department to discuss your plans. Goals of the Sheboygan County Stewardship Fund Ensure citizen involvement in the County’s Stewardship processCultivate environmental stewardship within individuals, organizations, and government entitiesHelp implement projects identified in the Sheboygan County Outdoor Recreation & Open Space Plan, and other relevant plansProvide matching funds by the County for leveraging dollars from federal, state, local, and private entities for conservation activitiesCoordinate County stewardship activities to be in harmony with other conservation and recreational activities already occurring in or planned for the CountyInitiate only those stewardship activities that cannot be accomplished by current or upcoming regulatory tools, such as land use planning, zoning, land division ordinances, and shorelandwetland-floodplain regulationsPreserve the County’s natural resources while minimizing the loss of property tax revenuesForm green space and wildlife habitat corridors by linking existing natural areas togetherAcquire, protect, and restore only those resources that can adequately be maintained by specific public or private custodians in the futurePreserve the natural resources of the County while continuing to promote wise growth and economic developmentPromote beautiful, healthy, and thriving cities, villages, and towns so that new and existing County residents will always have attractive and useful quality of life amenitiesProvide higher priority for Stewardship funding to those municipalities that have adopted Smart Growth-compliant comprehensive plans

Eligibility

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Ineligibility

Funding for projects that were already completed prior to submitting the application. The only exceptions to this are for real estate expenditures needed for acquisition (typically an appraisal, survey, title insurance, historical or cultural assessments, or environmental inspections).Playground equipment. Funding will not be provided to cover wage reimbursements. Invasive species removal must be part of a larger restoration effort. Funding for invasive species removal alone will not be considered.Routine property maintenance (tree clearing, stump grinding, brush cutting, etc.). Funding for this type of maintenance must be part of a larger restoration effort as well.Projects that do not allow the general public to access the site and/or enjoy the project