RBC I The 2015 Shooting Range Small Grant Program at 6060 Broadway in Denver is accepting applications through 5 p.m. on Aug. 31.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Hunter Education program offers shooting range maintenance and improvement grants for selected facilities around the state of Colorado.
“Facilities where folks can safely practice shooting skills is an important part of enjoying the outdoors,” said Todd Schmidt, CPW’s Hunter Education program coordinator. “These funds ensure upkeep and access can continue in a variety of ways.”
Approximately five projects are selected annually, with a total of $20,000 available for grants. Grant requests should be not less than $500 and not more than $5,000.
Public and private shooting range facilities that allow hunter education classes and public sight-in days are encouraged to apply. Recipients must match the award at least 25 percent with non-federal cash or in-kind services in donated labor and/or supplies and equipment use.
Past funded projects have included an improved parking lot, shooting benches, target stands, a shade shelter and a new concrete walkway.
A project proposal is ranked primarily in terms of new and/or improved shooting range opportunities for hunter education, hunter sight-in and practice, and youth participation in shooting sports.
Proposed improvements at shooting ranges that are readily available for public use is preferred, but some private use is also permitted.
Funding for the Hunter Education Shooting Range Small Grant Program is generated by federal excise taxes collected on the purchase of firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment.
The program is managed as a federal grant program to the states (“Section 10—Hunter Education”) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a “User Pays–User Benefits” involving local community and business partnerships with CPW and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Learn more at cpw.state. co.us/thingstodo/Pages/RangeMaintenanceGrants.aspx or download the 2015 Shooting Range Grant Application (.doc).
