Walpole, NH (November 1, 2022) – The Cheshire County Conservation District is excited to announce the third year of a grant program which will provide small grants up to $1,500 for wildlife habitat improvement projects. The Conservation Opportunity Fund’s mission is to provide funding for owners of small tracts of land who are interested in improving the wildlife habitat on their property. This program is an annual opportunity to support environmental stewardship and the ecological integrity of Cheshire County, NH.
Five excellent applications were accepted in 2022 and progress is underway towards completing those projects. The CCCD seeks a new round of proposals from landowners of small tracts of land, less than 25 acres total, who are interested in funding to make meaningful long-term impact on wildlife habitat and biodiversity. Eligible applicants include individuals, businesses, farmers, and/or forestland owners.
Types of projects eligible to receive funding from the Conservation Opportunity Grant include:
- Installation of native pollinator habitat
- Installation of rain gardens
- Creation/maintenance of early successional habitat
- Creation of vegetated buffers on surface waters (e.g. lakes, streams, etc)
- Conversion of lawns and/or fields to native plant gardens
The above list of project ideas is not exhaustive - if you have a project idea that is not listed above please call the CCCD office to inquire about eligibility.
Request for Proposals, informational session registration, and the 2023 Application forms, along with some resources related to eligible projects can be found on the CCCD’s website at https://www.cheshireconservation.org/cof
Completed applications are due to the CCCD no later than February 1, 2023 and can be submitted digitally or by hard copy in the mail. Applications must be postmarked or received by email by the due date. Proposals can be mailed to Conservation Opportunity Fund, Cheshire County Conservation District, 11 Industrial Park Dr. Walpole NH 03608 or emailed to amanda@cheshireconservation.org Successful grant applicants will be notified of award by March 15, 2023.
The Conservation Opportunity Fund is a grant program that is privately funded and administered by the Cheshire County Conservation District. For further information, and to discuss project proposals contact: Amanda Littleton at 603-756-2988 x4 or amanda@cheshireconservation.org
The Cheshire County Conservation District promotes the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources for the people of Cheshire County by providing technical, financial, and educational assistance. Our goal is to encourage the stewardship of healthy soils, productive ecologically sound farms, diverse wildlife, productive sustainable forests, healthy watersheds, and clean water to ensure those resources are available for future generations. Established in 1945, the Conservation District operates out of Walpole, NH where we work alongside the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other conservation partners. For more information, contact Amanda Littleton at 603-756-2988 ext.4 or email at amanda@cheshireconservation.org
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