Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 213 - Department of Rural Services › Rule 213.00.10-002 - Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant Program (WRFGP) - To set grant criteria, application forms, and instructions for applications

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
Arkansas Rural Development Commission and The Department of Rural
	 Services
The Department of Rural Services (DRS, formerly the Office of Rural
	 Advocacy) is a state agency charged with assisting rural communities with a
	 population of 20,000 and under. Established under Act 302 of 1991, DRS assists
	 local agencies in rural areas with information and technical assistance.
	 Currently, more than 80% of Arkansans live in rural areas.
The Arkansas Rural Development Commission (ARDC) is a group of citizens
	 from around rural Arkansas charged with overseeing the programs of DRS. Seven
	 of its members are appointed by the Governor, two are appointed by the Senate
	 President Pro-Tern, and two are appointed by the Speaker of the House.
	 Commissioners serve five-year terms, and meet throughout the year to discuss
	 rural issues that affect Arkansans.
The mission of these two groups is to
"Enhance the
	 quality of life in rural Arkansas."
One focus of the agency is to be a source of information for rural
	 citizens and provide support services to rural communities. DRS publishes a
	 bi-annual newsletter that covers rural policies and topics. The agency also
	 hosts an annual conference and local forums around the state throughout the
	 course of the year.
For information about the other DRS grant programs visit our website at
www.arkansas.gov/drs
or call
	 1-888-787 -2527.
In Cooperation with the Arkansas Game and Fish
	 Commission
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Department of
	 Rural Services are cooperating to ignite interest in the natural, cultural, and
	 scenic beauty, fish, wildlife and other natural resources of Arkansas and to
	 promote economic development in a healthy and environmentally sound
	 manner.
Definitions
For the purpose of this regulation, unless otherwise stated herein, the
	 following definitions apply:
* "ARDC" means the Arkansas Rural Development Commission
* "Commission" means the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
* "Department" means the Arkansas Department of Rural Services
* "Grantee" means an entity which has been awarded a grant under this
	 program
* "Program" means the Wildlife Recreation Facilities Program
* "Rural Area" means any area within the outer boundary of any city or
	 town having a population of 20,000 or more persons
General Information and
	 Eligibility
Through the Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant, the Arkansas Game and
	 Fish Commission, the Arkansas Rural Development Commission (ARDC) and the
	 Department of Rural Services strive to ignite interest in the scenic beauty and
	 nature known to Arkansas. The Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant will assist
	 rural communities with the development and improvement of these wildlife
	 recreation facilities.
Incorporated cities and towns and unincorporated communities in RURAL
	 areas of
less than 20,000 in population
(verifiable by current
	 U.S. Census information) are
eligible
to apply for assistance
	 through the Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant. In keeping with our enabling
	 legislation, a rural area is defined, for the purpose of this program, as "all
	 the territory of the State of Arkansas that is not within the outer boundary of
	 any city or town having a population of 20.000 or more according to the latest
	 federal census or within such a city's or town's neighboring urbanized
	 areas."
What Type of Projects and Costs are
	 Eligible?
(A)
  Projects eligible for funding consideration under the Wildlife Recreation
  Facilities Grant include, but are not limited to the construction or renovation
  of the following facilities that are specifically designed to encourage and
  enhance the ability of the general public to participate in wildlife recreation
  activities:
* Community fishing ponds;
* Firing ranges;
* Fishing access areas;
* Fishing piers;
* Archery ranges;
* Fish cleaning stations;
* Canoe or boat launches;
* Observation platforms and blinds.
(B) Costs eligible for grant funding include,
  but are not limited to:
* Materials for construction;
* Labor directly related to the construction of the proposed
	 project;
* Interpretive or directional signage directly related to the proposed
	 project;
* Design fees;
* Parking, sidewalks, and other access construction directly related to
	 the proposed project.
Note: If you are not positive that your project is eligible,
	 please call and speak to a Grants Coordinator at 1-888-787 -2527
What Type of Projects and Costs are
	 Ineligible?
Projects and costs that are
NOT
eligible for funding
	 through this program include, but again are not limited to:
* Land acquisition, whether by purchase of fee title, rights-of-way,
	 easements, or payment of leases, rents, permit fees or other land-use related
	 fees or costs;
* Purchase of construction equipment or tools;
* Books, publications, or brochures;
* Advertising fees or materials;
* Website development;
* Salaries, direct or indirect employee costs, or any other
	 payroll-related expenses that are not directly related to the construction of
	 the proposed project;
* Interpretive programs;
* Payment of public utilities;
* Purchase of personal athletic equipment;
* Projects which provide private or selected patronage;
* Planting or establishment of gardens or row-crop agriculture;
* Irrigation equipment;
* Playground equipment;
* Construction of fairgrounds or rodeo facilities;
* Costs of normal operation or maintenance;
* Debt service;
* Legal fees;
* Training or travel expenses;
* Reimbursement of expenses or costs related to facilities already
	 constructed.
Limitation on Certain
	 Costs
* Costs associated with design fees, including engineering or architect
	 fees, shall not exceed more than ten percent of the total amount of requested
	 grants funds.
* Costs associated with amenities, such as parking, restrooms,
	 sidewalks, benches, interpretive signs, trash receptacles, etc. shall not
	 exceed more than twenty percent of the total amount of requested grants
	 funds.
* The Department may allow more than twenty percent of grant funds to
	 be used on a proposed project for parking areas or restrooms for fishing
	 accesses or boat launches, or where paved access of reasonable length to an ADA
	 (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant wildlife recreation structure is
	 desirable or required.
Funding Availability
Applicants with an eligible project may apply for up to $100,000 in
	 state funds toward a single project. Grants funded by the program are paid
	 directly from the Commission's Game Protection Fund.
Preferential Consideration
When designating which projects will be selected for funding, the
	 Department may give more consideration to projects that:
* Have particular appeal to youth for optimal wildlife-oriented
	 recreation
* Provide direct access for hunting, fishing, or wildlife-associated
	 activities
* Have commitments from other parties or the applicant to provide
	 additional cash for the project
* Have site preparations made prior to making an application
* Can specifically document written commitments of volunteer labor or
	 material donations for the project
* Include additional items of public support, such as resolutions from
	 neighboring municipalities or letter of support from government
	 officials
* Meet accessibility guidelines under the Americans With Disabilities
	 Act
Negative Consideration
When designating which projects will be selected for funding, the
	 Department may give less consideration to projects that:
* Have received funding from the program within the last five fiscal
	 years
* Are contingent on the actions or inactions of entities other than the
	 applicant or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of events beyond the applicants
	 control
* Are submitted by applicants with poor records of maintenance and
	 operation on prior construction projects using funds from this or any other
	 grant program administered by the Department
No Consideration
* The Department will only consider applications which are timely and
	 administratively complete.
* New applications from previously awarded communities that have not
	 received certificates of completion or have failed to return close out
	 documentation for a previous grant will not be considered. You are not eligible
	 for Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant if you are applying for a Wildlife
	 Observation Trail Grant through the Arkansas Department of Parks and
	 Tourism.
Application Process
WHEN can we apply?
The deadline for
Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant
of
	 fiscal year 2011 is March 18, 2011. If there are any funds left over after one
	 grant cycle, DRS may announce a second grant cycle to disperse the remaining
	 funds. All applications must be received or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. on the day
	 of the deadline or they will not be accepted. Faxes of applications will not be
	 accepted.
SUBMITTING an Application
Applicants
must
gain the approval of their local governing
	 body and the application
must
be signed by the county judge or
	 mayor who will be ultimately responsible for the grant should it be received.
	 If you are incorporated, you
must
apply through your mayor. If you
	 are unincorporated, you
must
apply through the county judge. This
	 process includes completion of the application form and presentation of it to
	 the local council if applying through the city or quorum court if applying
	 through the county. The local governing official (county judge or mayor) must
	 affix his signature to the following documents for the application to be
	 considered complete:
* certification letter
* resolution
* application
Applicants must submit an original application with original signatures
	 plus 2
copies.
Application Review
Applications are numbered and inspected for completeness and
	 eligibility in the order received by the Department of Rural Services.
	 Individual proposal consultations can be arranged with staff by appointment.
	 Applicants are encouraged to submit applications well before the deadline to
	 allow DRS staff to thoroughly review the application and assist applicants in
	 correcting any deficiencies prior to the deadline.
Applications received postmarked after the deadline date will not be
	 eligible for consideration.
After staff reviews the applications for completeness and eligibility,
	 recommendations will be taken to the Arkansas Rural Development Commission for
	 approval. Following approval from ARDC, recommended applications will be
	 presented to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for final approval.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will contact the awarded
	 applicants. After being notified by the Commission that a grant has been
	 awarded all contact and any questions should be with the Arkansas Game and Fish
	 Commission regarding the next stages in the proposed project.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205
Toll Free: 1-800-365 -4263
Documents Needed for a Complete
	 Grant
In addition to the grant application with all questions answered fully,
	 communities must include the following in order for the application to be
	 complete:
*
A signed Certification Letter
,
enclosed with application,
from the local governing official
	 (mayor for incorporated areas, county judge for unincorporated areas).
*
A Resolution
passed by the city council (for
	 incorporated areas) or the quorum court (for unincorporated areas)
enclosed with application.
The Resolution must have the may
	 or/county judge's signature, and the signature of the city/county clerk.
*
Backup documentation
for ALL items listed in
	 the project cost estimate. This includes written professional estimates for all
	 items the applicant is purchasing or receiving through donation.
*
A deed, title, or other instrument showing proof of
	 public ownership
. This may include an intent to donate letter from
	 a private individual or a lease that extends for 10 years or more.
*
A commitment to open the facility to public
	 use
. Also a commitment by a city, county or state agency to
	 maintain and operate the project for a minimum period of ten years.
*
A Preliminary site plan
. Including the
	 approximate dimensions and design of proposed facilities, the location of any
	 amenities, and proper marking and signage.
*
Location Map.
An 8.5 x 11 map showing the
	 county in which the project lies and its relation to the nearest
	 municipality.
*
Items of public support
.
This means
	 that you must have a letter of support from your local governing State Senator
	 AND State Representative.
These two letters are required but a community
	 could include support letters for the project from members of the community as
	 well.
THINGS TO REMEMBER!!!!!
* Use only paper clips or binder clips. Fancy binding is unnecessary
	 and will be removed.
*
Type the application.
* Apply for only what is needed. Total project costs do not have to
	 equal $100,000.
* Put everything on the checklist in order and label all backup
	 documentation clearly.
* Include documentation of public support from your State Senator AND
	 State Representative.
* If a community has a RCGP (Rural Community Grant Program), RSBG
	 (Rural Services Block Grant Program) or GIF (General Improvement Fund Grant
	 Program) open and the grant is in good standing, the community can still apply
	 for Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant funds. However, a community can only
	 apply for one Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant per cycle.
* Countywide applications must show that the project will affect rural
	 communities.
* An application for a project on land owned and operated solely by a
	 private organization is not eligible for funding. In order to be eligible, the
	 land must be owned or have a lease agreement for 10 years or more with the
	 city, municipality, county, non-profit, or state agency.
* The grants may not be used to reimburse any part of the project
	 already purchased or constructed.
No part
of the project that you
	 are applying for can be started until the community has received their grant
	 check.
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Questions about the grant program?
Not sure if your project is eligible?
Need to ask about the application process?
Give us a call toll-free at 1-888-RURAL-AR
Write us at:
101 East Capitol, Suite 202
Little Rock, AR 72201
Or e-mail us at:
Rural. Arkansas@arkansas.gov
CHECKLIST FOR A COMPLETE Wildlife Recreation
	 Facilities Grant APPLICATION
In addition to the grant application, communities must include the
	 following in order for the application to be complete. Failure to submit any of
	 the required documents by the cycle deadline will result in an incomplete
	 application and will not be reviewed by the Arkansas Rural Development
	 Commission for grant consideration. Please use this sheet to double check that
	 all required information is submitted.
[TICK] Signed Certification Letter (enclosed with application) from the
	 local governing official (mayor for incorporated areas, county judge for
	 unincorporated areas).
[TICK] Certification Letter has current calendar year date on
	 it.
[TICK] Resolution passed by the city council (for incorporated areas)
	 or the quorum court (for unincorporated areas) and signed by the mayor/county
	 judge and the city/county clerk.
[TICK] Resolution is notarized by the local governing official and
	 city/county clerk.
[TICK] Resolution is numbered and has current calendar year date on
	 it.
[TICK] A deed, title, or other instrument showing proof of public
	 ownership is included. This may include an intent to donate letter from a
	 private individual or a lease that extends for 10 years or more. Public
	 ownership is defined as owned or leased for 10 years or more with the
	 non-profit, state agency, city, municipality, or county.
[TICK] A preliminary site plan
[TICK] A location map (8.5 x 11)
[TICK] Items of public input support included. This must include
	 letters of support from the community's local governing State Senator and State
	 Representative.
[TICK] Backup documentation for ALL items listed in the project cost
	 estimate. This includes written professional estimates for all items the
	 applicant is purchasing and letters of intent to donate all materials and labor
	 being donated.
[TICK] The original grant is mailed PLUS two copies.
[TICK]
The application must be typed.
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