The state's land conservation and historic preservation community praised legislative leaders today for their hard work, dedication and judicious compromise in creating a dedicated funding source for the popular Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP). House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to fund LCHIP at $12 million as part of their final arrangement on the state's biennial budget. Restoring LCHIP funding to $12 million -- a level not seen since 2001 -- and establishing a predicatable long-term funding source for the program were top goals for the state's conservation and preservation community this legislative session. The full House and Senate vote on the conference committee's recommendations next week.