The new york state office of parks, recreation, and historic preservation (NYS oprhp), acting as lead state agency, is applying for a one-time award of administrative funding of 172,000 which will…

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded a $172,000 Cooperative Agreement to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) to expand the agency's capacity to submit grant applications and support municipalities under the Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) program (CFDA 15.667). Through this one-time award, NYS OPRHP will secure assistance from the Hudson Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) to serve as the coordinator for the New York Highlands Network (NYHN), a coalition of 11 land trusts and 5 state/county/city agencies. HHLT and NYHN members will contribute staff time and, if required, hire independent contractors to significantly increase NYS OPRHP's ability to identify and manage HCA grant projects within the Highlands region. This effort aims to maximize HCA funding for land and resource conservation in the Highlands area. The award period is from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2027.

The new york state office of parks, recreation, and historic preservation (NYS oprhp), acting as lead state agency, is applying for a one-time award of administrative funding of 172,000 which will allow the agency to secure assistance from the hudson highlands land trust (HHLT) to expand our capacity maximize the number of grant applications we submit for highlands conservation act (HCA) base funding and competitive funding grant rounds and support municipalities in response to recent changes in the HCA 2022 reauthorization.NYS oprhp seeks to supplement our existing staff by securing help from an experienced regional partner, HHLT as the new york highlands network (NYHN) coordinator. This will ensure that NYS oprhp can increase its efficiency in identifying projects within the highlands region and moving them through the HCA grant NYS acquisition process to maximize our HCA grant funding. The hudson highlands land trust, INC. (HHLT) is a nationally accredited organization with a strong record of acquisitions, conservation, and stewardship over its 34-year history. HHLT also formed and manages the new york highlands network (NYHN), a coalition of 11 land trusts and five state county city agencies. With this one-time award of administrative funding, NYS oprhp will secure hhlts support, and by extension, support from NYHN members. HHLT and NYHN members will contribute staff time and, if required, HHLT will also retain independent contractors, significantly increasing NYS oprhps capacity to bring our HCA projects and grant management to its full potential.