NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

The Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Act (House Bill 606, 2022 Regular Session) was passed to establish a funding mechanism to encourage investment in outdoor recreation and conservation projects to state agencies with responsibilities therefor, and to expand the availability of these projects to counties, municipalities, and nongovernmental entities, as defined by the Act. The Act established the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund (MOSTF), from which the Board of Trustees may disburse monies to qualifying counties, municipalities, state agencies and nongovernmental entities. Monies from the Fund may only be used and expended for the following:

  1. Improvement of a state or municipal park, nature-based outdoor recreation features, or trails.
  2. Restoration or enhancement projects to create or improve access to public waters and lands for public outdoor recreation, conservation education, or the safe use and enjoyment of permanently protected conservation land.
  3. Restoration or enhancement on privately owned working agricultural lands and forests that support conservation of soil, water, habitat of fish and wildlife resources.
  4. Restoration or enhancement of wetlands, native forests, native grasslands and other unique habitats important for Mississippi's fish and wildlife.
  5. Restoration or enhancement of critical areas for the provision or protection of clean water, wildlife, hunting, fishing, military installation buffering or natural resource-based outdoor recreation.

Notice: The MOSTF Board of Trustees will not consider funding for land acquisition project proposals until further notice (Effective June 12, 2024).

MOSTF functions as a reimbursement grant program. Grantees must have the financial capacity to pay for project expenses prior to being reimbursed by grant funds. Once project expenses have been incurred and paid for by the Grantee, payment documentation can then be submitted for reimbursement, up to the amount of the grant award. Where required by law, intergovernmental agreement, or budget policy, etc., state agencies may be allowed funding draws, requiring approval of MDFA. All reporting responsibilities must still be adhered to throughout the entirety of the project. Expenses directly related to the project scope that are incurred after receiving contingent approval by the MOSTF Board will only be reimbursed if the project receives a Notice to Proceed. Once a project is accepted and a notice to proceed is issued by MOSTF these expenditures can be sought as part of the project for reimbursement.

MOSTF grant program has no formal matching requirement. Matching funds are the responsibility of the applicant. MOSTF does not provide matching fund sources. The MOSTF Board will consider available grant funding and may base decisions on a project's financial makeup. Matching contributions are optional but contribute significantly towards total score. The exact match for individual projects will be determined by an approved Project Budget and identified in the Project Agreement. The MOSTF webpage does offer information for potential matching fund sources that may be available.

MOSTF will retain (i.e., hold back) 10% of the total approved grant amount. Upon completion of the project and approval of all required documentation received, retainage will be released to the grantee after a final audit and inspection is conducted by MOSTF. 
Otherwise, all awarded projects must be completed within two (2) years of the notice to proceed date.

For additional information and program procedures please review the MOSTF Program Manual (The MOSTF Program Manual is subject to change without notice).
If you need assistance, please contact mostf@dfa.ms.gov