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CONCORD – Having opened its fiscal 2023 grant round for cultural conservation projects throughout New Hampshire, the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) is now seeking letters of intent from organizations seeking co-called “Moose Plate” funding for their restoration, preservation or conservation projects.

“Moose Plate” funding refers to the percentage of funds the DNCR receives from the state’s sales of Conservation and Heritage license plates, nicknamed “Moose Plates.”

Each year, the DNCR chooses a variety of projects from the list of applicants. In addition to its three cultural conservation grant programs, the agency also uses funds to support its Division of Forests and Lands’ Natural Heritage Bureau, and its Division of Parks and Recreation’s Historic Sites Bureau.

DNCR’s Cultural Conservation grant programs are administered by its State Library, Historical Resources and Arts Council divisions. While each division’s grant program has specific requirements, all require that the property or items to be conserved or preserved are publicly owned.

Organizations seeking Moose Plate grant funding must submit a letter of intent by May 5 that provides a brief description of the project and confirms that the resource is publicly owned.

Applicants will be notified within five days of their letter of intent being received if their project fits a DNCR division’s program criteria. The organization may then choose to submit a full application, which would be due by June 23.

For more information about the Moose Plate program, including a list of 2021 projects that have now been completed, directions on how to purchase a Moose Plate, and how to apply for DNCR funding, go to mooseplate.com.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.