The Utah Quality Growth Commission is now accepting applications for money from the LeRay McAllister Critical Land Conservation Fund. The fund was created in 1999 to help preserve or restore critical open space in Utah.

About $1.4 million is available this year to give to land conservation or restoration projects, according to John Bennett, project manager for the fund. Eligible applicants are counties, cities, towns, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, and nonprofit groups.

Applications will be accepted until June 14. Later this fall, the state's Quality Growth Commission will choose projects to receive money.

"We're looking for projects that have multiple benefits to the citizens," said Bennett. "We're looking for parcels, particularly in the acquisition area, that have multiple benefits, which are unique and irreplaceable."

Last year, the commission received about $18 million in application requests to the fund. Only $3.3 million was available to distribute.

Additional information and application forms are available at www.qualitygrowth.utah.gov.