LCCMR recommends $103 million to benefit Minnesota's environment

Funding is from the MN Lottery-supported Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

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SAINT PAUL, MN (08/01/2024) (readMedia)-- (St. Paul, MN, August 1, 2024) – The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) voted yesterday to recommend funding for 125 projects totaling $103,326,000 to the Minnesota Legislature. The agreement is the result of a competitive, multi-stage process for recommending spending from the Minnesota Lottery-supported Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF).

LCCMR co-chairs Nancy Gibson and Rep. Rick Hansen said of the recommendations, "Minnesota's lands, waters, flora, and fauna, and all Minnesotans who appreciate them, will benefit from this bipartisan recommendations package. If approved by the legislature and the governor, it will provide funding from the ENRTF for significant on-the-ground improvements to Minnesota's environment and natural resources, as well as critical scientific research and analysis to tackle Minnesota's most pernicious environmental issues. We feel fortunate that the ENRTF has been available to support necessary and worthy projects like these.

The LCCMR's 2025 ENRTF Request for Proposal (RFP) sought proposals that address several priority issue areas, including water resources, invasive species, renewable energy, natural resource management, habitat protection and restoration, outdoor recreation, and environmental education. The projects recommended for funding seek to address both ongoing and emergent challenges across the state. Some highlights include recommended funds for:

  • Improving and expanding Minnesota's state parks, trails, and scientific and natural areas.
  • Protecting Minnesota's aquatic native species, including walleye, mussels, and rough fish.
  • Outdoor and environmental education initiatives that provide engaging programming for a broad diversity of Minnesota's youth.
  • Reducing Minnesota's climate impacts by developing and implementing innovative technologies.
  • Research to study the impacts of contaminants like PFAS, arsenic, and nitrates on Minnesota's water resources, and to develop effective mitigation strategies.
  • Habitat preservation and restoration across Minnesota's iconic prairies, forests, and water bodies.

The LCCMR received 214 proposals requesting a total of $183,149,000 in response to the 2025 RFP. After evaluating the proposals and hearing presentations from proposers, the LCCMR voted to recommend full or partial funding to 125 projects. These recommendations will be finalized by LCCMR in bill form later this winter and presented to the 2025 Legislature for consideration during the legislative session beginning January 14, 2025. Approved projects would begin work after funds become available on July 1, 2025. For more information, visit the 2025 Proposal and Funding Process page on the LCCMR website.

The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund is a permanent dedicated fund in the Minnesota state treasury that was established by 77% voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 1988. The amendment directs forty percent of the net proceeds of the Minnesota State Lottery into the Trust Fund until the year 2025. Since 1991, approximately $1.1 billion from the ENRTF has been spent on over 1,700 projects that protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources in every county of the state.

The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources is made up of 5 state senators, 5 state representatives, and 7 citizen members. The function of the LCCMR is to make funding recommendations to the Minnesota State Legislature for special environment and natural resource projects, primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The LCCMR developed from a program initiated in 1963. Since then, approximately $1.5 billion has been appropriated to over 2,600 projects recommended to protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources.

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