Next Level Conservation Trust FAQs & News

The Next Level Conservation Trust program, on behalf of the state or in collaboration with partners and local communities across Indiana, shall acquire real property, or an interest in real property, for new and existing state and local parks, archeological and historic sites, state forests, state and local nature preserves, state fish and wildlife areas, wetlands, local conservation areas, outdoor recreation areas, and river corridors.

To be eligible for NLCT funding, all projects must meet one or more of the criteria listed for PBHCT fund account project types.

NLCT funds may NOT be used for: properties that were acquired by eminent domain; trails (see Next Level Trails Program), construction or removal of structures or improvements; removal or remediation of hazardous substances; wastewater treatment; or, for the restoration, renovation, or repair of historic structures.

NLCT will be funded by:

1. Appropriations made by the General Assembly of funding from the American Rescue Plan and will carry federal restrictions on use.
2. Money transferred to the fund from other funds.

Money donated to the NLCT fund will not be added to the program fund and will not increase funding capacity of the NLCT fund but may be used as match or directed match.

Fund Account Uses:

Money in the NLCT fund account, may be used for the following general uses:

1. Cost of acquisition of real property or an interest in real property and associated acquisition costs, such as closing costs, title insurance, and other activities associated with the transfer of title to property to a maximum of 75% of supported value.
2. The costs of services and expenses related to acquisition, such as engineering, appraisal, surveying, environmental, accounting, project development, and legal services are eligible as match so long as the costs are directly related to the real estate acquisition and the total project cost does not exceed the supported value.

Money in the NLCT fund accounts may NOT be used for the costs of construction of, or removal of, structures and improvements; the costs of removal and remedial action relating to hazardous substances; or the costs of wastewater treatment.

Expenditures from the NLCT account may not exceed 75% of the supported or appraised value of the acquired real property or interest in real property, therefore NLCT is a 3:1, or 75%/25%, match program.

Matching Funds can include:

1. Property donated to or for the benefit of the approved project, including bargain sale value, to the DNR or Grantor (the “Grantor” in a real estate transaction is the seller or owner of the property from which rights are being acquired).
2. Funds from other State programs directly involving the conservation of resources, including President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust.
3. Improvements to property in an approved project which preserves the property or restores it to a more natural state.
4. The dedication of or improvements to property adjoining the proposed project that enhance the approved project’s conservation values.
5. The value of other real property held by a nonprofit corporation, the federal government, or local government that can be used for the benefit of the approved project.
6. Federal, local, nonprofit (including the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation ), or private monies given, donated or granted directly to the approved project or given through the State for an approved project.

Projects proposed for funding from the NLCT will generally come from two sources:

1. Divisions of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
2. The general public, which includes, financially capable nonprofit organizations, local units of government, corporations, etc.  The NGO’s must be organized for conservation purposes

NLCT project applications will be reviewed and scored by the DNR Land Acquisition Division, Land Bureau Deputy Director, and all DNR Land Holding Division Directors. Projects meeting minimum NLCT requirements will be forwarded to the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust Project Committee as established pursuant to Indiana Code 14-12-2

The projects recommended by the Project Committee will be forwarded to the DNR Director for approval and then forwarded by the DNR Director to the Governor for final approval.

The Director of DNR may designate an Executive Director of the NLCT to manage day to day activities of the NLCT fund.