Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today announced $227,125,000 will be distributed from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to all 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia for specified park and outdoor recreation and conservation projects. This represents an increase of $57 million over last year’s LWCF allocation, which is due to President Trump’s energy agenda that has resulted in an increase in revenues from qualified leases on the Outer Continental Shelf.

“This is significant, as the LWCF leverages additional public and private dollars to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for the American people and invest in conservation projects across the country,” said Secretary Bernhardt.

"This is a state-federal partnership that demonstrates how we can work together to improve and expand access to public outdoor recreation opportunities," said Deputy Director David Vela. "These funds are used to permanently conserve outdoor recreation areas for public use and enjoyment.”

These funds are awarded through federal matching grants that leverage public and private investment in America’s state and local public parks. The LWCF was established by Congress in 1964 to ensure access to outdoor recreation resources for present and future generations, and to provide money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land, water and wetlands for the benefit of all Americans. Funds are also used to permanently conserve outdoor recreation areas for public use and enjoyment. The funds enable state and local governments to improve park and other recreation areas in their communities by rehabilitating and upgrading existing parks, creating brand new parks in places that have none and developing and expanding trail systems that link communities to each other and to additional recreation opportunities.

Since the inception of the LWCF, more than $4.4 billion has been made available to state and local governments to fund more than 44,000 projects throughout the nation. The allocation for the State and Local Assistance Grant (state-side) Program is determined based on a formula set in the LWCF Act, and includes funds appropriated from the LWCF by Congress as well as revenue derived from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.

Fiscal Year 2020 Total Apportionments by State/Territory Alabama $3,424,130 Alaska $1,903,426 American Samoa $1,634,414 Arizona $4,562,192 Arkansas $2,698,918 California $19,272,983 Colorado $3,885,801 Connecticut $3,248,641 Delaware $2,019,540 District of Columbia $1,915,601 Florida $10,338,170 Georgia $5,692,893 Guam $1,657,032 Hawaii $2,255,729 Idaho $2,262,024 Illinois $7,477,769 Indiana $4,300,853 Iowa $2,811,620 Kansas $2,814,472 Kentucky $3,250,446 Louisiana $3,504,185 Maine $2,050,099 Maryland $4,237,066 Massachusetts $4,671,930 Michigan $5,761,949 Minnesota $3,825,283 Mississippi $2,663,371 Missouri $4,064,004 Montana $1,986,914 Nebraska $2,380,206 Nevada $2,896,311 New Hampshire $2,123,082 New Jersey $5,781,386 New Mexico $2,500,656 New York $10,433,678 North Carolina $5,398,142 North Dakota $1,877,429 Northern Marianas $1,634,057 Ohio $6,558,624 Oklahoma $3,109,345 Oregon $3,293,680 Pennsylvania $7,082,583 Puerto Rico $3,371,423 Rhode Island $2,109,052 South Carolina $3,456,826 South Dakota $1,924,007 Tennessee $4,140,419 Texas $12,841,022 Utah $2,899,268 Vermont $1,824,229 Virginia $4,992,569 Virgin Islands $1,645,498 Washington $4,610,683 West Virginia $2,269,313 Wisconsin $3,936,574 Wyoming $1,843,483 Total $227,125,000

For more information, please visit the National Park Service.

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