FY 2025 Grant Cycle
Frequently Asked Questions
For FY 2025, MEPRD is offering a total of three (3) grant opportunities. A brief description of each program is listed below. For more information about a particular program, click the link beside it to be redirected to the corresponding grant program homepage.
- FY25 Park and Trail Grant Program Learn More
- FY25 Community Planning Grant Program Learn More
- FY25 Event Sponsorship Grant Program Learn More
MEPRD grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants for eligible projects or events. Applications must be complete and meet all requirements.
Application submittal dates and deadlines are program specific. All MEPRD grant programs are accepted, processed, and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
As applications are received and reviewed for completion, our website will be updated with the status of awarded and pending grant requests. This information is available on our Grant Program Overview page, at www.meprd.org/funding, as well as on each program page.
No, applications for an Event Sponsorship Grant must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the event and no more than 9 months prior to the event.
MEPRD grant funds are paid out after the project or event is complete, the Project/Event Sponsor has submitted a reimbursement request packet, and MEPRD verifies that the project/event meets the agreed-upon requirements and is supported by financial documentation.
For FY25, applicants may receive up to 40% of the total eligible project cost, with a maximum award of $300,000 for qualifying trail projects and a maximum award of $150,000 for park projects and all other eligible project types. Actual grant reimbursement amount is dependent upon documentation of final project costs, which may be less than originally requested. In no case will the grant payout exceed the original request, even if final project costs are higher than budgeted. This is why it is important to have an accurate estimate when submitting your grant application.
Under the FY25 Park and Trail Grant Program, Standard applicants must contribute ≥ 50% of MEPRD’s grant award, and Rural/ Economically Distressed Applicants must contribute ≥ 25% of MEPRD’s grant award. Force account labor, non-public grants, non-public funds, non-public donations from others, and grants and funds from any 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or state/federal grants may be used to satisfy these matching requirements but must be properly documented. Public funds from outside sources may be used towards a project, but may not be used to satisfy the local match requirement unless it is a state or federal grant.
Download the Funding Scenarios Calculator on our website at: www.meprd.org/park-trail-grant.
Your application should estimate the expected out-of-pocket cash expenditures for the event. Your reimbursement request form should include the actual out-of-pocket cash expenditures for the event. The value of donated time, labor, materials, supplies, and equipment should not be included in the total.
It is important to keep an accurate record of all costs related to your project, to include contracts, pay requests/invoices, cancelled checks, and documentation of other grant payments. This enables us to verify all funding sources related to your project, which must be clear in order to calculate MEPRD’s reimbursement amount.
We highly recommend all newly awarded grant recipients to download the current “Grant Reimbursement Form” from our website and familiarize yourself with the documentation checklist and requirements for reimbursement, and to also download the “Project Expense Summary Record” to keep record of eligible expenses, invoices, and proof of payment documentation as the project progresses. These steps will go a long way in helping to make the reimbursement process far more simple and less time consuming for you!
Both the Grant Reimbursement Form and Project Expense Summary Record are available to download on our website at: www.meprd.org/funding.
All grant awards are conditional on the event or project being completed in accordance with the approved application. Moreover, Park and Trail Grant applicants may become ineligible for consideration of grant assistance for the next two consecutive grant programs if a project is not completed due to lack of performance, insufficient funds, or other violations of the project agreement.
This is a request for a park and trail grant that is contingent on the applicant's successful award of a single named round of a single named grant. The named grant must be an active (not presumed) state or federal grant that is available to others, competitive in nature, and awarded within one (1) year of MEPRD’s contingent award notification. If awarded the contingent grant, the applicant shall proceed with the project. If not awarded the contingent grant (or partially awarded), the applicant may choose to cancel MEPRD’s contingent award without penalty or proceed with the project. In no case shall the project scope be revised.
Refer to the FY25 Grant Application for a list of eligible projects as well as those that are ineligible. If your project idea is not listed, please contact us to discuss.
Download the application at: www.meprd.org/park-trail-grant.
Refer to the FY25 Grant Application for a list of eligible event types and related requirements or contact MEPRD staff to discuss your event further.
Virtual events are permitted for certain event types. An eligible virtual event should encourage the use of, or incorporate, public parks, trails, or outdoor facilities in Madison County, IL and/or St. Clair County, IL for event participation. Virtual event activities (such as a scavenger hunt or another location-specific activities) must be located within MEPRD’s jurisdiction. Virtual events cannot exceed 31 consecutive calendar days.
Eligible applicants may receive up to one (1) award from each of the three available grant programs, within any given fiscal year.
Yes, but one phase must be substantially complete before the next phase may begin, and each phase must have distinctly separate bid packages and dates (i.e., no two phases of the same project funded in part by MEPRD may start simultaneously). Note that no more than one application request may be submitted per site/parcel/location per round, even if submitted by different Project Sponsors.
Applicants receiving a Park and Trail Grant complete their projects in accordance with the approved application and project agreement. Scope changes are highly discouraged and must be approved by MEPRD in writing. Unauthorized scope changes will not be reimbursed.