Section 23.0957. Annual grants to a nonstock, nonprofit corporation; urban land conservation.

 

(1)  In this section:

(a) “Local governmental unit" has the meaning given in s. 23.09 (19) (a) 2.

(b) “Interested group" means a community group, nonprofit organization or local governmental unit that is interested in acquiring urban land for urban forestry protection, water resource management, conservation, recreation or other urban open space purposes.

(2)   Recipient requirements. The department shall provide one grant of $75,000 in each fiscal year, 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 with members who represent one or more urban or urbanizing areas and who collectively have an interest or expertise in all of the following:

1. Nonprofit organizations.

2. Business.

3. Social services.

4. Land development.

5. Architecture.

6. Landscape architecture.

7. Conservation.

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

(3)  A corporation receiving a grant under sub. (2) may use the grant for urban forest protection, water resource enhancement or other urban open space objectives and shall do all of the following with the grant:

(a) Provide to interested groups technical assistance, especially in the areas of urban open space real estate transactions, reclaiming and restoring the natural values of urban parks, urban forests and open space areas, designing and constructing amenities in open space areas, cultivating citizen participation in acquiring, developing and maintaining open space areas and securing public financing for open space areas.

(b) Conduct conferences on the topics listed in par. (a) .

(c) Assist community groups, nonprofit organizations and local governmental units in acquiring urban property for open space purposes and in restoring urban property acquired for conservation, recreation and other open space purposes.

(d) 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 and the president of the senate.

(4)  A corporation receiving a grant under sub. (2) may acquire urban property for conservation, recreation and other open space purposes.

1999 a. 9 ; 2001 a. 16 .