Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District

The Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District (“FML District”) is an independent public body charged by the state legislature with distributing financial resources it receives from the development of natural resources on federal lands within Mesa County to communities impacted by these activities. The FML District is also authorized by law to provide services to those communities.

The FML District serves a mission to enhance positive social and economic impact in Mesa County from the development, processing and energy conversion of fuels and minerals leased under the Federal “Mineral Lands Leasing Act” through strategic grants, partnerships and leadership.

Our goal is to provide the greatest use of the financial resources we receive for the benefit of the community, and to do so in a fair and forward-thinking manner using sound financial principles. We do not have the power to levy or collect taxes, nor do we have the power of eminent domain.

The FML District enters into two annual grant cycles, one in the spring and one in the fall, depending on fund availability.   In the Spring Cycle, applications will be accepted in February, reviewed in March, and awards made in April. In the Fall Cycle, applications will be accepted in August, reviewed in September, and awards made in October. Overall funding levels will be determined by the amount of Federal Mineral Lease revenue Mesa County receives, which is determined by the level of natural extraction activity on our public lands. The FML District plans allocate 50% or more of the funding received each year to the follow year’s grant cycles and up to 50% to the permanent fund.

Federal law limits how lease payments distributed to the Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District can be used. The distribution may only be used by the state, or its political subdivisions, for (1) planning, (2) construction and maintenance of public facilities, or (3) provision of public services. See 30 U.S.C. §191. All grant requests must fit within one of those three categories, or the grant application will not be considered by the FML District. Distributions, therefore, cannot be made to corporations including non-profit corporations under section 501(c)(3) of the I.R.S. Code.  (Please note, that this is a policy revision of September 2012.)