23.295 Ice age trail area grants.

(1) In this section:

(a) “Ice age trail area" means the trail designated under s. 23.17 (2).

(b) “Local governmental unit" means a political subdivision of this state, a special purpose district in this state, an instrumentality or corporation of the political subdivision or special purpose district or a combination or subunit of any of the foregoing.

(2) The department shall provide one grant of $75,000 in each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 1999-2000, to a nonstock, nonprofit corporation that meets all of the following requirements:

(a) The corporation is organized in this state.

(b) The corporation is 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.

(c) The corporation has a board of directors or an advisory council or both whose members represent different geographic areas of the ice age trail area, and at least one-third of whom are current or former ice age trail volunteers.

(d) The board of directors or an advisory council of the corporation or both collectively have an interest or expertise in all of the following:

1. Recruiting and training volunteers.

2. Land conservation.

3. Trails and outdoor recreation.

4. Tourism.

5. This state's glacial geology.

6. This state's cultural history.

(e) The corporation contributes $25,000 in funds annually to be used with the grant under this section.

(3) A corporation receiving a grant under sub. (2) may use the grant for activities related to the development, maintenance, protection and promotion of the ice age trail area and shall do all of the following with the grant:

(a) Support the work of volunteers who develop, maintain and promote the ice age trail area.

(b) Build partnerships for the ice age trail area with local governmental units and nonprofit organizations.

(c) Promote the protection of a corridor for the ice age trail area by providing information about acquiring land, or an interest in land, in that corridor.

(d) Strengthen community support for the ice age trail area by recruiting and training volunteers and by coordinating the activities of interest groups.

(e) Promote tourism in the ice age trail area.

(f) For each fiscal year, prepare a report detailing the activities for which a grant under sub. (2) is expended. Copies of the report shall be submitted to the department and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, as determined by the speaker of the assembly or the president of the senate.

History: 1999 a. 9.