Commission Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter: Nancy Herron

Action
Target Range Grant
January 23, 2014

I.       Executive Summary:  With support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Federal Assistance, the department administers a target range grant program using the Hunter Education apportionment from the Wildlife Restoration Act. The federal grant reimburses expenditures by the department and pass-through grants for target range construction or improvement. The hunter safety apportionment provides seventy-five percent (75%) reimbursement of the total cost of the project, and successful applicants provide twenty-five percent (25%). The funds are available to qualifying applicants from both private and public sectors who provide public use of their facilities including hunter education programs and services.

II.     Recommendation:  The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to execute contracts funding the projects at Exhibits A and B, pending availability of funds and federal approval to proceed."

Attachments – 2

  1. Exhibit A – Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds
  2. Exhibit B – Mission Skeet and Trap

Commission Agenda Item No. 2
Exhibit A

Project Sponsor: Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds, LLC.

Project: Expansion to accommodate hunter education and youth programs.

LOCATION:  Wise County

TYPE: Existing Target Range – Range Improvement Project

DISCUSSION: Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds request federal assistance for the construction of a hunter education classroom and improvements of their parking facilities to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards at the established facility in Wise County. This is a Phase 1 grant request from this applicant. Applicant has expressed interest in applying for additional target range grants for a Phase 2 roads and improvement of a Skeet/Trap field pending available funds. Approval of for Phase 1 funding does not construe approval for Phase 2. Total project cost for Phase 1 is $120,000, with $90,000 requested and $30,000 provided by the applicant as the 25% match.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve department funding of $90,000 in FY14 for this project pending availability of federal Wildlife Restoration funds (Hunter Safety Apportionment).


Commission Agenda Item No. 2
Exhibit B

PROJECT SPONSOR: Mission Skeet and Trap Club, INC.

PROJECT: Archery range improvements – Target backstops installation.

LOCATION: Hidalgo County    

TYPE: EXISTING TARGET RANGE – Archery range improvements.

DISCUSSION: Mission Skeet and Trap Club, INC. request federal assistance for safety improvements of the existing archery range. This range is seeking funds to upgrade safety backstops and install new backstops for new 3 – D lanes. This range hosts a variety of events for citizens interested in archery. The total cost for the project is $21,313 with $15,813 requested and $5,500 provided by the applicant as the 25% match.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve department funding of $15,813 in FY14 for this project pending availability of federal Wildlife Restoration funds (Hunter Safety Apportionment).