Prairie Land Conservancy has received grant funding in recent years to purchase a variety of equipment. Much of it is kept outside or with volunteers, but the nonprofit land trust hopes to change that by purchasing a building for storage.
“With grant uncertainty, we don’t know if replacement funds would be available for things like UTVs or burn equipment. So, we want to be good stewards of the equipment we’ve been able to get so far,” said Executive Director Victoria Livingston.
She said PLC has looked at a few buildings around Macomb, but has not found a good fit.
The organization is holding a fundraising campaign for either acquiring or constructing what they’re calling a stewardship building for storing and maintaining equipment. Livingston said there are not many grants available for such purchases.
She said they hope to raise $250,000. They’ve raised $113,000 during the past two-plus years, mostly through donors.
In addition, a donor will match up to $30,000 of contributions through the beginning of June. PLC has brought in around $13,000 of the match so far.
Contributions can be made on the Prairie Land Conservancy website. They can also be dropped off at or mailed to PLC’s offices at 321 West University Drive in Macomb, 61455.
“The work that we do is really important for managing and maintaining natural habitat and green spaces for humans to enjoy,” Livingston said.
“And given the benefits to being exposed to nature as children all the way up through adulthood, monitoring these locations and keeping them in native species and in good health is really important for everybody.”
She would like to have the building in place at some point next year.
Tri States Public Radio produced this story. TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.
