The deadline to submit an application to receive a grant from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund is rapidly approaching.
Cities, counties, state agencies, and nonprofits looking to improve the state’s conservation and outdoor recreation efforts have until Wednesday, February 28 to acquire funding from the $10 million allocated to the program this year.
Ricky Flynt, the program’s project manager, is looking to dispel the notion that only those interested in hunting and fishing can participate in projects aimed at upgrading the state’s outdoor conservation efforts and recreational amenities.
He insists that the program is inclusive to all Mississippians who share a passion for the outdoors.
“Some folks may think that it’s only for hunters and fishermen and it absolutely is not. You don’t have to have a hunting license or a fishing license to be interested in what the outdoor stewardship trust is going to do,” Flynt said on SuperTalk Outdoors with Ricky Mathews. “Everybody spends some time outdoors doing something, and there are opportunities for this stewardship trust to impact all sorts of outdoor recreation that can affect every Mississippian out there.”
Funding will go toward:
- Improvement of state park outdoor recreation features and trails.
- Restoration or enhancement on privately owned working agricultural lands and forests that support conservation of soil, water, habitat of fish and wildlife resources.
- Acquisition and improvement of parks and trails by counties and municipalities, if such parks and trails lie within the jurisdiction of such counties and municipalities.
- Restoration or enhancement projects to create or improve access to public waters and lands for public outdoor recreation, conservation education, or the safe use and enjoyment of permanently protected conservation land.
- Restoration or enhancement of wetlands, native forests, native grasslands, and other unique habitats important for Mississippi’s fish and wildlife.
- Acquisition of critical areas for the provision or protection of clean water, wildlife, hunting, fishing, military installation buffering or natural resource-based outdoor recreation.
Flynt says all of the money allocated to the outdoor stewardship program this year will be put to use and he is anticipating to receive more funding in future years.
Applications can be submitted here.
