The state is offering up $4.5 million to help preserve private land in Hawaii in the latest round of a competitive annual program.

The Legacy Land Conservation Program is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations and public agencies with proposals to protect land for its public-re-source value through purchases or conservation easements.

County agencies and nonprofit applicants must be able to provide at least 25 percent of a project’s total cost. State agencies also may apply.

On average, funded projects usually have about 65 percent in matching funds from federal, county or private sources, according to the Legacy Land Conservation Commission, which nominates projects for funding.

Awards are subject to budget restrictions and require approvals from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources and the governor.

The annual program, which was created in 2005,is financed by a portion of the state’s property conveyance tax.

Since 2006 the program has awarded funds to protect roughly 20,000 acres of lands having natural, cultural and agricultural resource values. For every state dollar spent, about two dollars were attracted from federal, private and county sources, according to the commission.

Forms and instructions for participating will be available Monday at dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/llcp/apply.

To be considered for funding, applicants must submit agency consultation forms by July 1. Grant applications are due by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 15.

Call 586-0921.