Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) Grants - Land Acquisition Grants

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) provides grants to state and local units of government to acquire public lands for natural resources conservation and outdoor recreation. The goal of the program is to provide for natural resource protection and outdoor recreation opportunities for Michigan residents and visitors.

Eligible applicants include state and local units of government, a limited number of school districts, or recreation authorities which are legally constituted to provide recreation. To be eligible, applicants must have a DNR-approved five-year recreation plan uploaded to the MiGrants website by February 1 of the application year.

Projects are evaluated on established criteria such as natural resource access and conservation, proximity to population clusters, applicant's committed matching funds, applicant's financial need, and priority projects of the trust fund board, such as trails, regional significance, public access to lakes and rivers, wildlife habitat, and hunting access.

The application process requires submitting a grant application in the MiGrants system no later than April 1 of the year of application. Applications undergo evaluation by department staff, followed by a recommendation by the trust fund board in December. Final grant awards are dependent on the passage of an appropriations bill by the legislature and signature by the governor, generally made within 12 to 18 months after the application deadline.