News Release

Secretary Zinke Announces over $61 Million for States to Support Parks and Outdoor Recreation

Date: June 11, 2018
Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov

(Press release originally distributed by the Department of the Interior Press Office)

Federal grants invest in state and local parks using earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing 

WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today announced that $61.6 million in revenues available through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) will be distributed to the 50 states, the Territories, and the District of Columbia for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants that support outdoor recreation and conservation projects. These funds, which are made up of non-taxpayer dollars from Outer Continental Shelf lease revenues, are awarded through federal matching grants that leverage public and private investment in America’s state and local public parks.

"The Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program demonstrates how we can work together to improve and expand access to public outdoor recreation opportunities, modernize our country’s park and recreation infrastructure, and support state and local communities with new jobs and other economic benefits," said Secretary Zinke.

This year’s distribution of GOMESA revenues is a significant increase from past years with this level of funding expected to continue into the future. Moving forward, Interior will distribute these funds ahead of the traditional annual LWCF Appropriations.

"This is a great state-federal partnership that benefits all citizens," said Secretary Zinke. "Making this change in distribution gets these funds to states so they can start creating public outdoor recreation opportunities earlier."

After this year, states will receive GOMESA revenues during the winter and traditional LWCF Appropriations during the spring months.

The LWCF was established by Congress in 1965 to ensure access to outdoor recreation resources for present and future generations, and to provide money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land and water for the benefit of all Americans. Using zero taxpayer dollars, the LWCF also invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to permanently conserve outdoor recreation areas for public use and enjoyment. The funds enable state and local governments to improve park and other recreation areas in their communities by rehabilitating and upgrading existing parks, creating brand new parks in places that have none, and developing and expanding trail systems that link communities to each other and to additional outdoor recreation opportunities.

The GOMESA was enacted by Congress in 2006 and directed certain Outer Continental Shelf revenues to be disbursed to the States through grants under the LWCF State and Local Assistance Program administered by the Department of the Interior and National Park Service.


Since the inception of the LWCF, over $4.2 billion has been made available to state and local governments to fund more than 42,000 projects throughout the nation. The allocation for the State and Local Assistance Program is determined by a formula set in the LWCF Act. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/lwcf.

Fiscal Year 2018 Total LWCF-GOMESA Apportionments by State:

State Total
Alabama  $970,772
Alaska  $558,959
Arizona  $1,278,782
Arkansas  $774,392
California  $5,261,442
Colorado  $1,095,669
Connecticut  $923,155
Delaware  $590,388
Florida  $2,842,553
Georgia  $1,585,015
Hawaii  $654,327
Idaho  $656,056
Illinois  $2,068,159
Indiana  $1,208,111
Iowa  $804,890
Kansas  $805,637
Kentucky  $923,741
Louisiana  $992,393
Maine  $598,708
Maryland  $1,190,768
Massachusetts  $1,308,481
Michigan  $1,603,717
Minnesota  $1,079,336
Mississippi  $764,784
Missouri  $1,143,989
Montana  $581,575
Nebraska  $688,053
Nevada  $827,752
New Hampshire  $618,445
New Jersey  $1,608,835
New Mexico  $720,660
New York  $2,868,458
North Carolina  $1,505,276
North Dakota  $551,923
Ohio  $1,819,399
Oklahoma  $885,503
Oregon  $935,369
Pennsylvania  $1,961,259
Rhode Island  $614,617
South Carolina  $979,596
South Dakota  $564,539
Tennessee  $1,164,702
Texas  $3,520,292
Utah  $828,559
Vermont  $537,528
Virginia  $1,395,388
Washington  $1,291,939
West Virginia  $658,064
Wisconsin  $1,109,485
Wyoming  $542,728
District of Columbia  $141,431
Puerto Rico  $855,671
Virgin Islands  $25,000
Guam  $25,837
American Samoa  $25,000
Northern Marianas  $25,000

 

www.nps.gov

 
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.

 



Last updated: June 11, 2018