Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity Grant Program

The Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program is administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) through the Division of Conservation Services. The program supports municipal efforts to permanently protect land for conservation and passive outdoor recreation purposes. The FY27 LAND grant round was released on March 10, 2026 under BID #BD-26-1042-ENV-ENV01-126325. The program advances the Commonwealth's priorities related to open space protection, climate resiliency, biodiversity conservation, outdoor recreation access, and implementation of Executive Order 569 concerning climate adaptation and resilience planning. The LAND program also aligns with the Healey-Driscoll Administration's statewide environmental and recreation objectives by helping municipalities preserve undeveloped land and increase public access to natural resources. Eligible applicants are municipal conservation commissions and agricultural commissions located within Massachusetts communities that maintain an approved Open Space and Recreation Plan or submit a qualifying draft plan by the application deadline. Applicants must also demonstrate compliance with Article 97 requirements, municipal authorization to acquire and manage the property, and compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. Eligible projects include acquisition of land in fee simple and acquisition of conservation restrictions that provide permanent conservation protections and public passive recreation access. Eligible passive recreational uses include hiking, biking, swimming in natural water bodies, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, environmental education, wildlife observation, and compatible forestry or agricultural activities. Active recreation facilities such as athletic fields, golf courses, swimming pools, and off-road vehicle facilities are not eligible. The LAND Grant Program operates as a reimbursement program with reimbursement rates ranging from 52 percent to 70 percent of eligible project costs based on municipal equalized valuation rankings. The maximum grant award for FY27 is $425,000 per municipality unless increased at the discretion of the Secretary of EEA. Eligible reimbursable costs include land acquisition, recording fees, title searches and certifications, surveys, baseline documentation reports, land management plans, stewardship activities such as signage and trailhead installation, and approved consultant services related to the transaction. Ineligible costs include staff salaries, appraisals, application preparation costs, equipment purchases, and environmental compliance fees incurred outside the contract period. Municipalities must initially appropriate or borrow the full project cost before reimbursement is issued. Applications must be submitted electronically through the EEA Grant Management System no later than July 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. A complete application package includes the application form, appraisal reports, project narrative, municipal authorization documents, maps, conservation restriction drafts if applicable, environmental justice outreach documentation, comments from the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and Massachusetts Historical Commission, and evidence of municipal stewardship capacity. Appraisal requirements vary depending on project value thresholds. The program strongly emphasizes project quality, biodiversity protection, climate resiliency, recreation access, water resource protection, and consistency with municipal Open Space and Recreation Plans. Applications are evaluated through a 100-point rating system that allocates 40 percent of points to demographic and socioeconomic criteria and 60 percent to project quality and conservation impact. EEA staff conduct application reviews and site visits before making funding recommendations. Additional bonus points may be awarded to Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness communities that incorporate land conservation or floodplain protection priorities into their MVP implementation plans. Following award announcements, municipalities execute grant agreements and complete acquisition due diligence requirements such as title certification, surveys, conservation restriction review, and procurement compliance. Acquired properties become permanently protected under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution and must remain open for passive recreational use. Municipalities are also required to install signage acknowledging LAND grant funding and submit land management documentation before reimbursement can occur. The FY27 grant cycle opened on March 10, 2026 and remains active through July 9, 2026. Questions regarding the grant are accepted through June 25, 2026. Information sessions are scheduled for May 6 and May 7, 2026. Award announcements are expected approximately 120 days after the application deadline, subject to budget finalization, with contract negotiations beginning shortly afterward. The grant is recurring and historically operates on an annual cycle. Contracts for FY27 awards generally reimburse costs incurred through June 30, 2027 unless extended by EEA. Primary program contact information is Vanessa Farny, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 100 Cambridge Street Suite 900, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, telephone (857) 330-1978, email vanessa.farny@mass.gov.

Emphasize consistency with the municipality Open Space and Recreation Plan, demonstrate climate resiliency and biodiversity benefits, show adjacency to existing protected lands, document strong stewardship capacity, and highlight meaningful passive recreation access including accessible trails.