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

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) Land Acquisition Grants program provides funding assistance to state and local partners to acquire land for natural resources conservation and public outdoor recreation. Established in 1976 and financed through interest and earnings on revenues derived from state-owned oil, gas, and minerals, the Trust Fund is required by statute to allocate no less than 25 percent of its annual funding appropriation toward the acquisition of public lands.

Eligible applicants include the State of Michigan, local units of government, recreation authorities legally constituted to provide recreation, and a limited number of school districts. A mandatory eligibility requirement is that all applicants must have a DNR-approved five-year recreation plan submitted and approved in the MiGrants system by February 1 of the application year. Proposals are evaluated based on established criteria including natural resource access and conservation, proximity to population clusters, committed matching funds, financial need, and board priorities such as trails, regional significance, public access to lakes and rivers, wildlife habitat, and hunting access.

Eligible projects encompass the acquisition of fee title or interests in land for conservation or outdoor recreation purposes. Unlike development grants, there are no minimum or maximum dollar request limitations for land acquisition projects.

Applications must be prepared and submitted online through the MiGrants system (migrants.intelligrants.com) no later than April 1 of the application year. Applicant organizations must be registered in MiGrants through an Authorized Official prior to application submission. Submitted applications undergo review and evaluation by DNR staff, followed by funding recommendations made by the MNRTF Board at its December meeting. Final grant awards are subject to the introduction and passage of an appropriations bill by the Michigan Legislature and signing by the Governor, with awards generally executed 12 to 18 months following the application deadline.