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55 <br />academics. This collection of information was put into a model that estimated the likely amount <br />of land that will be protected in North Carolina with present funding levels and ratios during the <br />period of the Million Acre Initiative. Based on that estimate the authors suggest different <br />approaches for closing and funding the "gap" between existing land protection efforts and what <br />will be needed to accomplish the goals of the Million Acre Initiative. In their suggestions, they <br />stress the importance of programs like the North Carolina Conservation Tax Credit Program <br />because of its ability to leverage, "the willingness of individual property owners to receive less <br />than full market value in exchange for the permanent protection of their property." <br />Funding Constraints and Grant Applications <br />The Million Acre Initiative is facing resource constraints that limit our ability to meet the state's <br />land protection goals. While a solid set of goals and strategies is being developed, some <br />operational funds are necessary to put programs and projects in place. Grant money was sought <br />in place of state money once news of the state's budget crisis was released. Two grant <br />applications were submitted in the Winter /Spring of 2001. The first was to the Z. Smith <br />Reynolds foundation for money to promote regional open space planning across the state and to <br />fund the Million Acre coordinator's position for an additional year. This application for <br />continued funding was turned down. The second grant application was to the US EPA (Surveys, <br />Studies, Investigations, and Special Purpose Grants; CFDA 66.606) for money specifically to <br />continue the coordinator's position. This application was approved and is being used to pay the <br />coordinator's salary during fiscal year 2001. <br />Future grant applications will be submitted to help pay for education and outreach projects, to <br />help in the gathering of open space protection data across the state, and to assist local and <br />regional governments with their regional open space planning efforts. To meet some of the <br />additional staff needs, an internship has been proposed for the summer of 2002 and the <br />possibility of acquiring an Americorps volunteer is being explored. <br />14 <br />