2023 Vibrant Recreation and Tourism Directed Grant Program

Purpose

This program aims to support innovative, collaborative efforts to enhance, promote, and develop sustainable recreation and tourism opportunities and increase access to public lands in the Sierra Nevada Region.

Description

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy recognizes the fundamental connection between vibrant recreation and tourism across the Region, the health and resilience of Sierra Nevada communities, the opportunity to increase access for people to nature and the outdoors, and the ecological health of California’s watersheds and forests. Working with partners to strategically implement activities supporting recreation and tourism will protect these benefits and the resources that are unique to the Sierra Nevada Region. Projects funded through this program should accomplish one or more of the following from the list below: Assess conditions, existing resources, needs, and opportunities to improve recreation and tourism throughout the Region and identify highest priority activities. Identify, create, and participate in partnerships to support the development of vibrant recreation and tourism throughout the Region. Create or improve new and existing recreation amenities or infrastructure that provide multi-benefits to the Region. Eliminate or reduce the impact of overuse on natural or cultural resources. Provide improved access for all Californians to nature and recreational opportunities in the Region. To be eligible to receive a grant award from the SNC under this program, projects must meet all the following criteria: Be located within the Sierra Nevada Region. Be consistent with the SNC mission and program areas as defined in the SNC Strategic Plan and the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program (WIP). Result in a clear, demonstrable, and enduring public benefit. Meet all California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, as applicable. The Vibrant Recreation and Tourism Grant Program supports planning projects and implementation projects. Each project proposal must identify whether it is a planning or implementation project; the project types may not be combined. The current grant cycle will be administered as an expedited cycle, modified from the process outlined in the current Grant Guidelines. These modifications are: Allowing the applicant to submit one proposal rather than a concept proposal and full proposal, site visits for implementation projects would not be required but still may take place if necessary to validate the project. To be eligible to receive a grant award from the SNC under this program, projects must meet all the following criteria: Be located within the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Region. Be consistent with the SNC mission and program areas as defined in the SNC Strategic Plan and the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program (WIP). Result in a clear, demonstrable, and enduring public benefit. Engage willing sellers only. Be consistent with applicable city or county General Plan. Application Process: Projects must be developed in collaboration with SNC. Contact your SNC Area Representative to discuss project ideas. Applicants will submit a Project Proposal by March 20, 2023. The first expected grant award will be in June 2023. To apply, please review the grant program guidelines.