23.098 Grants for property development on properties owned by the department.

(1) In this section:

(ag) “Department property" means an area of real property that is owned by the state, that is under the jurisdiction of the department and that is used for one of the purposes specified in s. 23.09 (2) (d).

(b) “Friends group" means a nonstock, nonprofit corporation described under section 501 (c) (3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code that is organized to raise funds for a department property.

(c) “Nonprofit conservation organization" has the meaning given in s. 23.0955 (1).

(2) The department shall establish a program to make grants from the appropriations under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) and (tz) to friends groups and nonprofit conservation organizations for projects for property development activities on department properties. The department may not encumber more than $250,000 in each fiscal year for these grants.

(3) The department shall promulgate rules to establish criteria to be used in determining which property development activities are eligible for these grants.

(4)

(a) The department shall periodically prepare a list of projects on department properties that are eligible for grants under this section and shall include in the list the estimated cost of each project.

(am) In awarding grants under this section for eligible projects, the department shall establish a system under which the grants are offered to eligible friends groups before being offered to eligible nonprofit conservation organizations.

(b) The department may not encumber more than $20,000 for grants under this section for a department property in each fiscal year.

(5) Each friends group and nonprofit conservation organization receiving a grant under this section shall provide matching funds that are equal to at least 50 percent of the cost of the project for which a grant is being provided.

(6) For purposes of s. 23.0915 (1), moneys encumbered or expended for grants under this section shall be treated as moneys encumbered or expended for general property development.

History: 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 461; 1997 a. 313; 1999 a. 9.