The DuPage River Coalition has been participating in the Ecosystem Partnership Program since 1998. Benefits of participating in this program include both financial and technical assistance through the Conservation 2000 grant program. One of the unique features of the C2000 program is the opportunity for partnerships to provide input in the grant selection process. Each partnership reviews and ranks all of the grant applications submitted for their partnership area. Our input makes up 25% of the score for each application. This review process is completed through the C2000 Grant Review Committee, made up of partnership representatives.

The C2000 program funds a variety of ecosystem restoration and education projects, as well as land acquisition.  Guidelines for applications can be found at the Illinois DNR website. The deadline for on-line applications is generally the last day of February each year; please check the website for the exact date.   Although there is no specific amount of match required for the grant program, applicants should aim for 50% match if possible.   Because these are state funds, these grants can be used to match federal grant programs like the Section 319 grants through Illinois EPA.

Applicants should contact Andrea Cline at The Conservation Foundation by email or phone at (630) 428-4500 x23 for more information on grant review schedule or if you are interested in participating on the C2000 Grant Review Committee.

As of May 2007, 16 projects have been funded through the Conservation 2000 program with over $813, 600. Local matching funds have further leveraged the C2000 funding with an additional $2.2 million for a grand total of more than $3 million worth of restoration and education projects. Details about all of the funded projects can be found at the Illinois DNR website, just pick the DuPage River Coalition in the Partnership field to search for all DRC projects.

Effective January 1, 2008, the C2000 Program was extended to 2021 and renamed as Partners for Conservation (PFC).  Partners for Conservation will be joint funded by IDNR, the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. New administrative rules for how the Ecosystem Partnerships are to operate under Partners for Conservation are expected to be issued in 2009-2010.

**IDNR recently announced that they will not be accepting CFP applications for FY 2010.  For additional questions, please contact Lynn Boerman, Ecosystems Adminstrator, at Lynn.Boerman@Illinois.gov or Tammy Watson, Program Manager at Tammy.L.Watson@Illinois.gov.**