The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) FY2027 Metro program provides competitive reimbursement grants to eligible nonprofit organizations and government entities for restoration, protection, enhancement, and qualifying land acquisition projects that benefit prairies, wetlands, forests, and fish or wildlife habitat.
Application status: UPCOMING AND CONDITIONAL, NOT CURRENTLY OPEN. The first Metro round closed in September 2026. The controlling FY2027 Request for Proposals says a second Metro round will open January 1, 2027 ONLY IF more than $1,000,000 remains after Round 1. If opened, applications will close February 16, 2027 at 4:00 p.m. CST, as stated by the RFP. Applicants must verify DNR has formally opened this contingent round before attempting to submit. The $11,100,000 Metro allocation is the aggregate grant pool, not an award to an individual applicant.
Individual awards: $5,000 to $500,000. A non-state cash or in-kind match equal to 10% of the grant request is required. Total project costs cannot exceed $1,000,000. Grants are reimbursement based and funded work cannot begin before the grant contract is fully executed. Eligible sites must lie in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington County, or within the city limits of Duluth, Rochester or St. Cloud. Restoration or enhancement work must occur on publicly owned lands or waters or lands protected by permanent conservation easements.
Eligible applicants include registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, eligible local and Tribal governments, school districts, colleges and universities, conservation districts, and other units of government. Private individuals and for-profit entities cannot apply. Applications are submitted in the DNR CPL online application system. A signed Land Manager Review and Approval Form, completed natural heritage review, mapped project sites, documented matching resources, and a Public Waters Project Form when applicable are required. Nongovernmental applicants requesting over $25,000 must submit financial documentation based on organizational income.
Permitted project costs include eligible restoration, protection, acquisition, approved project personnel, materials, and directly necessary project expenses. General indirect overhead, ordinary facility development such as parking lots and roads, biological surveys charged to the grant, and engineering or design charged to the grant are ineligible. Some preparatory costs may be usable as match only under the RFP restrictions. The project award period can extend no later than June 30, 2030.
Source verification: Minnesota DNR FY2027 CPL Request for Proposals, sections on funding cycles, eligibility, match, application requirements, ineligible expenses, and conditional Metro Round 2; reviewed October 31, 2026. Check the official DNR Metro grant cycle webpage and the controlling RFP for formal Round 2 activation and any amendments before applying.