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2024 Proposal & Funding Process - Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

2024 Proposal & Funding Process

M.L. 2024 Project Appropriations

On April 4, 2024, the Legislature approved 101 projects for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF), as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). On April 15, 2024, the 101 appropriations were signed into law by the Governor as M.L. 2024, Chapter 83, with $79,644,000 from the ENRTF.

2024 ENRTF Appropriations

2024 Project Recommendations

As of July 20, 2023, the Legislative‐Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) has selected 101 projects totaling $79,644,000 to recommend to the 2024 Minnesota Legislature for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). In response to LCCMR’s 2024 Request for Proposal (RFP), 218 proposals requesting a total of approximately $174 million were received and considered through a competitive, multi‐stage evaluation. The following recommendations range from funding the full proposal and dollar amount requested to partial funding for specific proposal elements.

2024 Project Recommendations Summary and Process

2024 Proposals Selected for Presentations

For the FY 2024 and FY 2025 biennium (July 1, 2023 ‐June 30, 2025), approximately $79 million is available each year for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. As of March 31, 2023, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) received 218 proposals requesting a total of approximately $174 million. This RFP process is for funding beginning July 1, 2024.

LCCMR reviews and evaluates all proposals against their 10 adopted evaluation criteria. On June 8, members selected 102 proposals to invite for presentation before the LCCMR on June 22-23 and June 27-28 in order to receive further consideration. On July 20, the LCCMR will meet to make final selection and funding allocation decisions. In late 2023, the commission will meet to approve appropriation bill language for these projects that will be presented to the 2024 Minnesota Legislature as the official LCCMR recommendations for spending from the ENRTF.

Proposals Selected for Presentations Summary and Process

2024 Proposals Received

As of March 31, 2023, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) received 218 proposals requesting a total of approximately $174 million. The amount available for appropriation from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) is approximately $79 million. This RFP process is for FY 2025 funds that become available beginning July 1, 2024.

LCCMR reviews and evaluates all proposals against their 10 adopted evaluation criteria. On June 8, members will select a subset of high-ranking proposals to invite for presentation before the LCCMR on June 22-23 & 27-30 in order to receive further consideration. On July 20, the LCCMR will meet to make final selection and funding allocation decisions. In late 2023, the commission will meet to approve appropriation bill language for these projects that will be presented to the 2024 Minnesota Legislature as the official LCCMR recommendations for spending from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

Proposals Received Summary and Process

2024 Request for Proposal (RFP)

We will update this page if any changes are made to our proposal or process. Subscribe to our email list to have updates about any changes delivered to your inbox.

DEADLINE: Closed as of Friday, March 31, 2023 at 4:30PM

The LCCMR's 2024 Request for Proposal (RFP) for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund was issued on January 18, 2023. Approximately $79 million is available from the lottery-generated fund through this RFP for projects beginning July 1, 2024.

All proposals must be submitted through the LCCMR Proposal and Grant Management System. No proposals submitted as PDFs, Word, or Excel files will be accepted. Please register for an account early to avoid any last minute issues.

2024 RFP LCCMR Proposal and Grant Management System

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who should create the proposal in the LCCMR Proposal and Grant Management System?
    While online collaboration is possible, it is critical that the person who will submit the proposal is the person who initially creates the proposal in the LCCMR Proposal and Grant Management System.

  2. Can I work with other people on my proposal?
    Yes. Once you have started your proposal within the LCCMR Proposal and Grant Management System, you can collaborate with others on your proposal by clicking the “Select Action” box and choosing the “Delegate Access” function. Collaborators must register within the system first. Collaborators may edit the proposal but do not have the ability to submit the proposal. Therefore, please make sure whomever starts the proposal is the project manager and is authorized to submit the proposal. We do not recommend that more than one user edit the proposal at the same time.

  3. How does the proposal submission system work? How will I know what to do?
    The LCCMR Proposal and Grant Management System contains instructions, drop-down menus, and help bubbles that will guide you through the submission process and answer many of your questions. Please take some time to review all the information on the proposal screens. We strongly encourage proposers get registered in the system as soon as possible.

  4. Can you provide a quick overview of proposal contents before I register for an account?
    For your planning purposes only, we are providing PDFs of sample proposals that indicate the information you will be asked to submit. Please do not use these forms for your submission. In many cases, answers must be selected from an online drop-down menu. We will only accept proposals that have been entered into the system.

  5. Can I fill out a Word document and Excel file like in previous years? Can I fill out the PDF provided on your website?
    The LCCMR will only be accepting proposals submitted through the Proposal and Grant Management System. In many cases, answers must be selected from an online drop-down menu. No proposals formatted as PDFs, Word, or Excel files will be accepted. The PDF on the website is for reference purposes only. If you need assistance, please contact staff immediately.

  6. NEW - Have the proposal requirements changed this year?
    Yes, there are a number of new requirements:
    • If you have a fiscal agent for your project, you will now be required to submit a resolution or authorization letter from the fiscal agent’s governing board acknowledging its commitment to serve as the fiscal agent.
    • If you are seeking funds for a capital construction project, non-state entities will need to include in their resolution or authorization letter a commitment to fund operations and maintenance.
    • A template must now be followed for resolutions or letters authorizing submission by non- state entities.
    • Federal agency submissions now require a resolution or letter authorizing submission.
    • University of Minnesota proposals no longer need to fill out the fiscal agent section; instead, an authorization letter from SPA must be provided. SPA can use its own form and does not need to use the LCCMR template provided.
    • Using ENRTF dollars to acquire land by eminent domain is prohibited, unless the owner requests that the owner’s property be acquired by eminent domain.

  7. Who can I contact with questions?
    If you have questions about the various fields within the LCCMR Proposal and Grant Management System, please first consult the help bubbles and any drop down options for fields within the system. If you continue to need assistance or have other questions, please email LCCMR staff with details about your inquiry. Staff have limited availability for conversations about projects. New proposers will be prioritized.

  8. Can I print my proposal?
    You can print out your draft proposal at any time from the LCCMR Proposal and Grant Management System. While viewing the proposal, click on the “Select Action” box and choose “Generate Report (Word Doc)”. You can also print the final version that you submit by following the same steps.

  9. Is there a draft proposal review process this year?
    We have done draft proposal review in the past. For various reasons, we do not have a draft review process this year. Staff have limited availability for conversations about projects. Please email LCCMR staff with details about your inquiry. New proposers will be prioritized.

2024 Proposal and Appropriation Timeline

The expected proposal and funding process timeline for the 2024 RFP is detailed below. Check the LCCMR calendar for the most up-to-date information on important process dates.

DATE RANGE ACTIVITY or EVENT
January 17, 2023 Funding priorities determined and 2024 RFP adopted.
January 18, 2023 2024 RFP issued.
March 31, 2023 Final submission deadline for proposals responding to 2024 RFP.
Early May 2023 All submitted proposals distributed to LCCMR members for review, evaluation, and ranking.
June 8, 2023 A subset of high-ranking proposals selected for further consideration and invited to give presentations before the LCCMR.
June 22-23, 2023
June 27-30, 2023
Selected proposals present before the LCCMR.
July 20, 2023
Subset of proposals selected for recommendation to the Legislature for funding.
August - November 2023 Projects recommended for funding begin submitting work plans for LCCMR staff review, and research projects recommended for funding undergo peer review.
December 7, 2023 Funding recommendations are adopted by the LCCMR in legislative bill format, as they will be presented to the Legislature.
January - May 2024

LCCMR recommendations presented to the Legislature for consideration via introduction as an appropriations bill.

Bill is considered and acted upon by the Minnesota House and Senate.

Upon passage, the bill goes before the governor to be signed into law.

June 2024 LCCMR approves work plans for projects funded.
July 2024 Minnesota DNR sends grant agreements to non-state agencies receiving ENRTF funds.
July 1, 2024 Money from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund becomes available for expenditure, and projects with an approved work plan may begin.