Grant priorities include projects that:

• Demonstrate interagency/inter-organizational coordination and collaboration
• Have major component(s) that substantially involve other state(s) or large entities/organizations, beyond transferring funds to a sub-recipient what is the potential for the proposed activity to substantially (in scope or scale) address vectors for AIS infiltration (i.e., prevention) into the Great Lakes
• Substantially (in scope or scale) implement/improve early detection efforts in key areas in the Great Lakes
• Substantially (in scope or scale) implement/improve rapid response efforts in the Great Lakes
• Substantially (in scope or scale) implement/improve containment efforts
• Substantially (in scope or scale) reduce the abundance of established AIS (i.e., in the water actions to eliminate an AIS that IS widely established in the Great Lakes, from a new location) in the Great Lakes
• Promote long-term societal, economic, and environmental sustainability goals

For a complete list of grant priorities and review criteria, please refer to the grant full announcement.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Proposed work must either be within the Great Lakes Basin or near enough to the basin that it contributes substantially to the prevention and/or control of AIS in the Great Lakes Basin. Activities such as outreach, boat ramp inspections, and/or law enforcement are often done outside the basin but make substantial contributions when work is done in areas where people are likely to transit (and thereby potentially transfer AIS) into the Great Lakes Basin. Early detection, rapid response, and/or control efforts outside the basin must address:

• Species with a substantial potential for interbasin transfer (e.g., hydrilla in a waterbody near the Great Lakes Basin that receives heavy boat use).
• Species of significant concern to the Great Lakes community within a Great Lakes state.
• Activities where the primary motivation is to prevent transfer of AIS into the Great Lakes Basin.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

Cost sharing or matching funds are not required to be eligible for this grant opportunity. However, cost sharing is considered in one of the grant review criteria listed under the Application Review Information section later in this grant opportunity document. With respect to that criterion, all non-federal types of cost share are eligible, e.g., in-kind contributions.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Examples of eligible activities include:

• outreach
• boat inspections
• law enforcement
• early detection
• rapid response
• control efforts

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Projects should be completed within 2 years, although projects may be completed in up to 4 years with strong justification. Please contact grant administrator using the “Contact Information” section below to discuss if your project is anticipated to extend beyond 2 years.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

All pre-proposals, including the Project Narrative and Budget Narrative, must be received no later than 11:59 pm Central Standard Time on March 31, 2024. Pre-proposals are acceptable application submissions for the project ranking phase and must contain the information described in the Project Narrative and Budget Narrative below. Pre-proposals will be ranked to determine funding levels for each at which time applicants will be contacted via email and required to submit full proposals described below. Pre-proposals should be submitted via email.

Once funding levels are established, applicants will be notified of approved funding amounts via email and must then submit each of the application materials listed below via GrantSolutions. All applicants must submit the Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance. This form is available with the announcement on Grants.gov and in GrantSolutions.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For programmatic technical assistance, please contact:
Nathan Evans, Fish and Wildlife Service
Phone: (612) 286-4212

For program administration assistance, please contact:
Mallory Mackey, Fish and Wildlife Service
Phone: (612) 713-5106

For help regarding Grants.gov, please contact:
Customer support
Phone: (800) 518-4726

For help regarding GrantSolutions, please contact:
Customer Support
Phone: (866) 577-0771

The NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) will prioritize:

• Projects that are “shovel ready” or reasonably advanced in the acquisition due diligence process
• Habitat restoration planning, engineering, and design projects that will create a pipeline of future projects
• Proposals that include on-the-ground implementation over those that include only pre-implementation activities
• Projects that include the principles of equity and inclusion in their proposals and performance of work
• Projects with benefits to tribal, indigenous, and/or underserved communities
• Projects that appropriately consider and elevate local or indigenous knowledge in project design, implementation, and evaluation
• Projects that advance the Justice40 Initiative. Established by Executive Order 14008 on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” it set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments in climate, clean energy, and other areas will flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment
• Projects that increase the geographic distribution of funds across coastal states
• The broadening of the participation of Minority Service Institutions, including historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and Asian American and Pacific Islander serving institutions that work in underserved areas. DOC/NOAA encourages applicants to include partners and contributors from any of the above groups or institutions.

To further explore this grant’s program priorities, please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Projects must be located on publicly-owned land, or land where a public entity holds a lease or easement that provides for adequate public control of the property
• Project applications should include a letter of support from the public entity who holds title or a legal interest on the project site
• Non-governmental organizations may not serve as the lead applicant for land conservation projects, as they are not eligible to hold title to lands acquired with these funds.
• Letters of Intent must be submitted by a CZM Program and each Program may submit no more than three proposals (letters of intent) for this competition.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

There is no non-Federal matching requirement for this funding.

However, applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA Federal funding with formal non-federal matching contributions or informal leveraged funds from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors to demonstrate stakeholder support, partnership, and collaboration for the proposed work. Such cost sharing is an element considered in the evaluation criteria.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible projects include:

• habitat restoration projects
• habitat restoration planning, engineering, and design projects
• land conservation projects
• a combination of categories.

Generally, allowable costs include salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, and training, as long as the costs are determined to be necessary, reasonable, and allocable to the award.

Ineligible projects include:

• activities that constitute legally required mitigation for the adverse effects of an activity regulated or otherwise governed by state or Federal law;
• activities that constitute mitigation for natural resource damages under Federal or state law
• activities that are required by a separate consent decree, court order, statute or regulation.

See also Section III.C. of the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional ineligible projects and costs.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Projects are expected to be scoped in a manner that would allow them to be completed within 3 years of the start date of the award. NOAA may extend an award for a total performance period of up to 5 years if circumstances warrant, such as unforeseen circumstances that prevent the project from being completed within the original period of performance.

It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement will have an award start date of August, 1, 2025. Applicants may submit proposals with a project period of 12 to 36 months, or, for habitat restoration projects only, applicants may request a project period of up to 48 months to allow for at least one year of post-restoration monitoring.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Letters of Intent (LOIs) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 15, 2024. If invited to submit a full proposal, applications must be received by and validated by Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern time on January 9, 2025.

The standard SF-424 application package is available online. If this is not feasible, application packages may be requested from the Office for Coastal Management via email.

All applicants must be registered in SAM before submitting its application and provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) in its application.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For questions or inquiries, please email:
The Office for Coastal Management

Each state has the flexibility to choose their own priorities and select projects. These priorities can be found in each state’s Intended Use Plan.

Short-Term Goals:

• Provide additional economic assistance in the form of principal forgiveness with the highest amounts allocated to those applicants with the greatest financial need.
• Provide additional assistance, in the form of principal forgiveness, to municipalities that qualify under the affordability criteria to help offset the cost of compliance with more protective phosphorus limits.
• Provide additional assistance, in the form of principal forgiveness, to help offset the costs of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) regionalization projects.
• Provide matching funds in the form of principal forgiveness to municipalities that are working with Focus on Energy to upgrade the energy efficiency of their WWTPs.
• Allocate a minimum of 10% of capitalization grant funds to projects or portions of projects that incorporate water or energy efficiency, are considered green infrastructure, or are environmentally innovative.
• Work with internal and external parties to identify options for funding innovative projects that enhance water quality, including nonpoint-source pilot projects for meeting phosphorus requirements through water quality trading.
• Explore avenues to support pre-apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, and youth training programs that open pathways to employment.
• Conduct public outreach and education regarding program policies, procedures, and participation.
• Evaluate the feasibility, benefit, and public opinion of incentivizing projects that target unsewered areas serving existing homes.

Long-Term Goals:

• Develop strategies and mechanisms to promote regionalization as a viable alternative for small, economically challenged communities with declining populations and aging WWTPs.
• Protect the public health and environmental quality of the state of Wisconsin.
• Manage the revolving loan fund in such a way as to protect its long-term integrity and enable it to revolve in perpetuity.
• Provide economic assistance to municipalities, including those that may not have substantial credit histories, for the purposes of constructing and maintaining water quality related infrastructure.
• Identify and implement innovative programs necessary to fill funding gaps in the state for meeting water quality standards and objectives.
• Implement policy changes that encourage municipalities to make their wastewater treatment systems and stormwater systems more resilient, sustainable, and adaptive to climate change impacts.
• Continue to refine strategies, programs, and mechanisms to ensure that municipalities are able to address the highest priority water quality problems.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

The threshold for eligibility includes:

• Facility plan approval letter required for all projects – no exceptions.
• Design Life Calculation Worksheet is now required for all projects (even 20-year loan terms) unless the project consists solely of installation or replacement of pipeline.
• If requesting funding for Planning & Design costs, be certain to include the associated contract or contracts for all requested costs.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

The required 20% state match for the Base and Supplemental capitalization grant is authorized under state law and will be generated from revenue bonds. All state matching funds will be disbursed to loan recipients before the state makes the first draw of federal funds from the capitalization grant. Thereafter, all draws against the grant will be made at a cash draw ratio of 100% federal funds. No state match is required for the Emerging Contaminants capitalization grant.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs include:

• Compliance Maintenance and New/Changed Limits Projects: These projects are necessary to maintain compliance with permit requirements or implement new or changed limits required by law.
• Water Meter Projects: These projects are eligible when the municipality requesting funding does not have a public drinking water system, and only where meters will be added or replaced throughout the entire system.
• Septage Receiving Facilities: 2005 Wisconsin Act 347 was enacted in April 2006. This Act pertained to septage receiving facilities and provides a 0% interest rate on projects or portions of projects funded by the CWFP that are for the receiving, treatment, and/or disposition of septage.
• Urban Stormwater and Urban Nonpoint Source Projects: These projects must be primarily water quality related. Portions of a project solely for flood control or future growth are funded at market rate. This includes Green Infrastructure projects on public or private property. Contact Environmental Loans with questions about project eligibility.
• Unsewered Projects: These projects are only eligible for market rate financing unless 2/3 or more of the initial wastewater flow will come from homes that were in existence for at least 20 years prior to the date of the application.
• Violator Projects and those Portions of Projects that Provide Industrial and Reserve Capacity: Eligible projects or portions of projects in these categories receive market rate funds.
• Pilot Projects: Non-traditional CWFP projects (such as water quality trading) as part of the CWFP Pilot Projects Program are eligible for loans with an interest rate as low as 0%.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

The project timeline is up to 30 years or the useful life of project, whichever is less.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

The deadline to submit applications for CWFP SFY2025 funding is September 30, 2024. Applicants must have an eligible project on the SFY25 Project Priority List. Applications must include a facility plan approval letter and approvable plans and specs,.

The deadline to submit an Intent to Apply (ITA) for SFY2026 is October 31, 2024.

All CWFP applications, other than those for the Pilot Projects Program, are required to be submitted through the online application system. Information on accessing and using the online application system is available on the DNR website.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For general questions, please contact:
Lisa Bushby, Clean Water Fund Program Coordinator
Phone: (608) 358-3330

For questions on environmental loans, please contact:
Matt Marcum, Environmental Loans Section Manager
Phone: (608) 575-8825

For questions on environmental loans, please contact:
Becky Scott, Environmental Loans Section Manager
Phone: (608) 513-9351

For questions related to stormwater, please contact:
Sarah Bolitho, CWFP Storm Water Specialist
Phone: (608) 960-2927

Michigan’s short-term program goals include:

• Oversee the update of the Clean Water Needs Survey to ensure maximum participation from communities and that non-traditional project types are included.
• Apply for all 3 CWSRF federal grants and ensure requirements of the grant terms and conditions are met including American Recovery Plan Act funding.
• Assist borrowers listed on the annual PPL in meeting CWSRF requirements to successfully close on a loan.
• Develop program procedures related to the new CWSRF state legislation.
• Procure and maintain a new data system for tracking CWSRF and related state grant programs.
• Hire and train new CWSRF program staff.

Michigan’s long-term program goals include:

• Maintain the fiscal integrity of the fund to ensure it remains viable and self-perpetuating to meet the long-range water quality needs of the State. MFA utilizes a financial consultant to advise EGLE on decisions surrounding financing levels, interest rates, additional subsidization, and other financing attributes.
• Target outreach and assistance to communities that have never utilized CWSRF.
• Obtain maximum capitalization of the fund for the State while generating sufficient investment and loan interest earnings for debt service of the state match revenue bonds.
• Maintain and develop relationships with other funding and financing agencies and water quality organizations to ensure resources are directed in a holistic approach.
• Maintain and refine procedures to prevent fraud and ensure a system of checks and balances.

Green Project Reserve
As part of the FY2022 federal appropriations, WIFFS is required to provide a minimum of 10 percent (4,975,100) of the base capitalization grant for project components that meet the Green Project Reserve (GPR) requirements. This includes projects that incorporate green infrastructure, energy, water efficiency, or are environmentally innovative.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

An approvable loan application must include:

• Complete CWSRF application including Parts I-III.
• Detailed project description, cost breakdown, and schedule.
• Financial documentation demonstrating ability to repay the loan.
• Any necessary executed intermunicipal service agreements.
• An approved project plan.
• Set of approved plans and specifications including construction permit(s) if required.
• Resolution from the applicant designating a project representative and approving the project scope.
• A fiscal sustainability plan.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

The BIL General Supplemental dollars require a 10% state match.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) provides low-interest loans for projects that improve water quality and protect public health. CWSRF loans may be used for design and construction of the following:

• Wastewater treatment facilities
• Sewer rehabilitation
• Collection systems Application Process
• Combined sewer separation
• Storm water conveyance and treatment facilities
• Inflow/infiltration correction
• Sewer overflow correction
• Nonpoint source pollution control

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Up to 30 years or useful life of project, whichever is less.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Potential applicants to the CWSRF should first review the CWSRF Eligibility Guidance. Eligible applicants must submit the Intent to Apply (ITA) form below to be considered for funding and financing opportunities. All financing determinations are based on applicant eligibility, priority points, and availability of funds. Applicants should apply for a project with the expectation the program is a loan program first and foremost.

The Intent to Apply (ITA) form is accepting submissions for fiscal year 2026. The form must be submitted by November 1, 2024. You can preview the ITA form before submittal to view the information required to complete the form.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For questions and inquiries, please contact:
Kelly Green, Administrator, Water Infrastructure Funding and Financing Section
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Phone: (517) 284-5433

SRF Project Managers by District

Sign up for Email Updates

Grant priorities include:

• Building organizational capacity that supports underserved communities resilience to climate hazards including participation in municipal or regional-scale resilience planning, project planning and feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement, proposal development for future funding, and outreach and education
• Restoration project activities that enhance underserved communities resilience to climate hazards including demonstration projects, such as engineering and design, permitting, on-the-ground restoration, and pre- and post-project implementation monitoring

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

The following threshold requirements must be met to be eligible for this funding opportunity:

• NOAA does not have one tool, or a preferred method for you to use to identify and/or prove your underserved status. The applicant’s responsibility is to describe how the community has been underserved. There are a variety of resources available to identify underserved communities, such as interviews, surveys, studies or plans developed by local governments, U.S. Census Bureau Information, etc. For more information, please click here.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s matching requirements.

A non-federal match not required to apply, and non-federal match is not included in the Evaluation Criteria, and therefore not included in scores during the technical review process. Non-federal match and/or leverage funds may be optionally included within the application to demonstrate stakeholder support for the proposed work.

Stakeholder support, such as documentation demonstrating contributions of time, meeting space, funding, etc. that demonstrate the community’s commitment to the project and/or its chances of success is part of the evaluation criteria.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs:

• Through this funding, NOAA will help support community-driven habitat restoration and build the capacity of tribes and underserved communities to more fully participate in restoration activities, including nature-based solutions. Projects selected through this opportunity will span several types of activities, including capacity building, actionable science support, and restoration.

Ineligible costs:

• A proposal that is focused SOLELY on the acquisition of real property, such as land is not eligible.
• Funding for hard infrastructure ONLY for water quality improvement is not eligible.
• Basic research is not eligible under this funding opportunity.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

The recommended project period is three years. A shorter project period is acceptable, and there is potential for up to five years, if necessary and approved by NOAA.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Proposals must be received through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern time on December 19, 2023.

Applicants should apply through the Grants.gov website. A complete standard NOAA financial assistance application package should be submitted in accordance with the guidelines in the Notice of Funding Opportunity announcement posted to Grants.gov. Each application must include the application forms from the SF-424 form family.

Click on the “Contact Information” section below to find out about current grant cycles and to get in touch with this funding opportunity’s program officers.

For questions regarding the funding opportunity or referrals to a regional point of contact, please contact:

Julia Royster, Competition Manager
Phone: (301) 427-8686

Grant Priorities include:

Track 1: Community-driven investments for Change

• Climate resiliency and adaptation
• Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events
• Community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation
• Investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure
• Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants
• Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution

Track 2: Facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in public processes

• Support for state and federal advisory groups for environmental and climate justice
• Participation in workshops
• Engagement in environmental and related rulemakings
• Engagement in other public processes

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Applications must meet all eligibility criteria, as outlined in Section III of the NOFO.

Applications for both tracks must include:

• Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
• Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)
• EPA Key Contacts Forms 5700-54
• EPA Preaward Compliance Review Report Form 4700-4 (Useful tips)
• Project Narrative Attachment Form
• Attachments using the “Other Attachments Form” in Grants.gov including Program Budget Template, Partnership Agreement, and Indirect Cost Rate Agreement
• Compliance Plan – describes how applicants will ensure compliance with the grant’s terms and conditions and manage broader legal and compliance risks.

Additional Track 1 Requirements:

• Climate Action Strategy – applications must include at least one project aligned with at least one of EPA’s Climate Action Strategies, e.g., Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions
• Pollution Reduction Strategy – applications must include at least one project aligned with at least one of EPA’s Pollution Reduction Strategies, e.g., Clean Water Infrastructure to Reduce Pollution Exposure and Increase Overall System Resilience
• Community Engagement and Collaborative Governance Plan – details how applicants will inform, respond to, and engage community members throughout project development and implementation
• Community Strength Plan – describes how applicants’ proposed projects will enhance the overall strength and economic prosperity of the community
• Readiness Approach – describes how applicants will successfully complete the grant within the 3 year period of performance

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

No cost-sharing or matching is required.

For Michigan applicants, the State of Michigan through the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund will provide 5% match funding of the total awarded amount for eligible Community Change Grant applications awarded by the EPA to fund projects benefiting disadvantaged communities in Michigan. To be eligible for this match funding, applications for the Community Change Grant must be fully submitted to the EPA prior to August 1, 2024.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible Costs include:

• Tree planting
• Multi-benefit stormwater projects
• Targeted water infrastructure upgrades, e.g., private-side lead lines replacement
• New parks or enhancing/expanding existing parks to provide climate resilience benefits like heat island reduction and flood mitigation
• “Complete Streets” projects to improve walkability, bike-ability, and transit use
• Measurement, analysis, design, planning, and engineering work necessary to submit a competitive application for state and/or federal funding for large-scale improvements to significantly reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions and/or improve climate resilience
• Community resilience hubs that remain open during an emergency
• Workforce development programs that will help reduce Greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants to benefit disadvantaged communities

Ineligible Costs include:

• Projects for community or Tribal relocation activities. Relocation activities generally include activities intended to plan or assist the moving of an individual from their residence or a business from its place of business.

For more information on eligible project activities, please refer to Appendix C and D of the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

All projects funded by Community Change Grants must be completed within 3 years. There can be no extensions.

EPA anticipates that the first awards will be made in the late Spring of 2024 and will continue to be made on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Applications are being accepted by EPA on a rolling basis through November 21, 2024.

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated on a rolling basis as described in Section V of the Notice of Funding Opportunity to facilitate and expedite the review and award process. EPA cannot guarantee that funding will be available through the end of the NOFO 12-month application period as funding availability is dependent on the volume and quality of applications received, as well as other applicable programmatic and funding considerations.

Applicants must apply electronically through Grants.gov. If your organization has no access to the internet or access is very limited, you may request an exception from applying through Grants.gov.

Organizations applying to this funding opportunity must have an active SAM.gov registration. If you do not have a SAM.gov account, then you will need to create an account using login.gov to complete your registration. Finalizing these registrations could take a month or more so please register as soon as possible to prevent a delayed registration from affecting your ability to submit an application.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For general information or questions about this NOFO, email the program administrators.

To request TA for preparing a Community Change Grant application, please fill out the request form or call (800) 540-8123 if you have any questions or need help in filling out the form. If you need language assistance, please send an email here.

For Michigan applicants, to request help connecting with potential project partners or technical assistance providers in Michigan, email:

Office of Climate and Energy

Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate

Grant priorities include:

• Projects that increase access to the benefits of nature, reduce the impact of environmental hazards and engage local communities, particularly underserved communities, in project planning, outreach and implementation
• Applicants who represent a mixture of urban and rural communities
• Projects that advance an existing conservation plan or strategy

In addition, proposals should address at least one bullet under each of the five following bolded priorities:

• On-the-Ground Restoration: Projects must restore and/or create wetlands, coastal or riparian areas
• Environmental Outreach, Education & Training: Projects must integrate meaningful outreach, education and/or training into the proposed on-the-ground activities that advance local watershed and conservation goal
• Community Partnerships: Projects must involve five or more partners (public and private entities) including the applicant
• Measurable Results: Projects must result in specific, measurable ecological, educational and community benefits
• Sustainability: Projects must include a plan for maintenance and care of the project beyond the grant period

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Projects selected may be subject to requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act (state and federal), and National Historic Preservation Act. Documentation of compliance with these regulations must be approved prior to initiating activities that disturb or alter habitat or other features of the project site(s).
• Applicants should budget time and resources to obtain the needed approvals. As may be applicable, successful applicants may be required to comply with additional Federal, state or local requirements and obtain all necessary permits and clearances.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s matching requirements.

The ratio of matching contributions offered is considered during the review process, and projects are required to meet or exceed a 1:.75 match ratio to be competitive.

Matching contributions must be non-federal in nature and may include in-kind contributions of staff and volunteer time, work performed, materials and services donated, cash or other tangible contributions to the project objectives and outcomes.

Additionally, partner contributions can serve as matching contributions and grantees for this grant program commonly use a large amount of in-kind matching contributions to reach this threshold by utilizing their community partnerships to generate match. Applicants are highly encouraged to contact NFWF for assistance in determining what qualifies as in-kind or any other matching contribution (see “Contact Information” section below).

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible Costs include:

• On-the-Ground Restoration
• Environmental Outreach, Education & Training
• Community Partnerships
• Measurable Results in ecological, educational and community benefits
• Sustainability

Ineligible Costs include:

• Equipment
• Political advocacy
• Fundraising
• Lobbying
• Litigation
• Compliance with legal requirements, e.g., permit conditions, mitigation, and settlement agreements.

For additional details, please click here.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Grants should span 12 to 18 months with a start date in late summer/early fall 2024.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

All application materials must be submitted online through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Easygrants system by January 31, 2024, 11:59pm ET.

A Tip Sheet is available for quick reference while you are working through your application and can be downloaded here. Additional information to support the application process can be accessed on the NFWF website’s Applicantion Information page.

Click on the “Contact Information” section below to get in touch with this funding opportunity’s program officers.

For questions on regional programs, please contact:
Sarah Vest, Coordinator, Regional Programs
Phone: (202) 595-2602

For questions on community stewardship, please contact:
Kaitlyn Hill, Program Manager, Community Stewardship
Phone: (202) 595-2436

For issues or assistance with our online Easygrants system, please contact:
Easygrants Helpdesk
Voicemail: (202) 595-2497
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, Monday-Friday.
Please include: Your name, proposal ID #, e-mail address, phone number, program you are applying to, and a description of the issue.

Grant priorities include:

• Program Area 1. Mitigate Invasive Forest Insect and Disease Impacts

Projects in this category will implement targeted reforestation and forest protection actions to minimize invasive forest insect and disease impacts on watersheds. Successful applications will demonstrate how targeted restoration or protection of canopy cover benefits water quality, watershed processes, and/or priority habitats.

Projects receiving additional emphasis include those that minimize non-native invasive insect and disease impacts where tree damage and mortality pose a particularly high risk to hydrologic function and ecosystem integrity in a watershed or that increase environmental justice through integrated programs for non-native invasive insect and disease resilience, equitable environmental benefits, and improved quality of life for adjacent or downstream communities.

• Program Area 2. Reduce Runoff Through Green Infrastructure

Projects in this category will capture or treat stormwater runoff by planting trees and other vegetation as an integral component of green infrastructure. Under this program area, tree planting should be the main green infrastructure strategy used for a stormwater mitigation project. Examples of green infrastructure may include:

• • Urban street tree planting
  • Concentrated plantings in parks, nature preserves, or former agricultural land
  • Riparian buffers in developed areas
  • Mixed tree and other vegetation (e.g., prairie) plantings
  • Bioswales/rain gardens

Projects receiving additional emphasis include those that increase capacity, expertise, and engagement in maintaining community trees, particularly in underserved communities.

• Program Area 3. Restore and Connect Coastal and Riparian Forest Habitats

Projects in this category will protect, restore, and connect high-quality coastal and connecting ecosystems where trees are an important component. Examples of included habitats are coastal wetlands, drowned river mouths, dune and swale habitats, forested coastal buffers, and critical connecting riparian areas. Applications should highlight any geographical, hydrological, biological, or habitat-related connections of project areas to coastal wetlands. Projects focused only on non-native invasive species management as a restoration method and outcome will not be given priority for this program area.

Projects receiving additional emphasis include projects that address climate change impacts and account for future conditions under a changing climate (e.g., using climate-adapted species, identify sites that provide key habitat to mitigate climate change effects, etc.) or that address environmental justice through equitable access to natural areas, cultural resources, environmental benefits, and/or improved quality of life for adjacent or downstream communities.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Requirements for this funding opportunity include:

• Projects must lie entirely within the Great Lakes watershed
• Projects generally must take place on nonfederal lands
• Ownership of the property where project activities will occur must be clear
• Applicants proposing projects involving insect and disease prevention, detection surveys, eradication, or suppression are required to develop applications in coordination with U.S. Forest Service and/or state agency forest health specialists
• Applicants are encouraged to work with their state forestry agency and research how their project fits into the goals and objectives of the state forest action plan
• Federal applicants are ineligible

To be successful, applications must conform to the authorities of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (as amended), specifically Sections 3. Rural Forestry Assistance; Section 5. Forest Stewardship; Section 8. Forest Health Protection; and Section 9. Urban and Community Forestry Assistance.

For a full list of minimum requirements, please refer to page 7 of the Request for Applications.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

Matching funds are not required for this program.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs include:

• Planting trees to mitigate adverse insect/disease effects
• Urban street tree planting
• Third-party detection surveys, monitoring, evaluations, prevention, and suppression of insect and disease outbreaks on federal land
• Riparian buffers in developed areas
• Protecting or restoring forested riparian buffers that provide connectivity and enhance habitat in rural or agricultural areas
• Supporting or undertaking invasive species outreach and education to increase awareness and prevent spread
• Increasing environmental justice through integrated programs for non-native invasive insect and disease resilience, equitable environmental benefits, and improved quality of life for adjacent or downstream communities
• Mixed tree and other vegetation (e.g., prairie) plantings
• Bioswales/rain gardens
• Address environmental justice through equitable access to natural areas, cultural resources, environmental benefits, and/or improved quality of life for adjacent or downstream communities

Ineligible costs include:

• Basic research
• Construction and capital improvements
• Projects that only have outreach and education as outcomes
• Projects that only have surveying or mapping as outcomes
• Cost share, reimbursement, and other types of payment provided directly to private landowners
• Projects focused on tree removal

For more complete information, please refer to page 3 of the Request for Applications.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Projects must be completed within two years of the award date. It may take up to six months from project selection for award recipients to receive funds.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Applications must be submitted by 6:00 p.m. ET on September 18, 2024.

Prior to submitting an application, applications are encouraged to consult with their appropriate state forester, tribal administrator, or forest supervisor to develop and submit the application. Applications must be submitted online through Grants.gov (Grant Opportunity Number USDA-FS-GLRI-FR24). Applicants must obtain a UEI number and SAM registration status.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For the primary contact for this grant, please contact:
Erin Barton, Eastern Region GLRI Coordinator
Phone: (612) 476-5849

For the general program staff, please email:
General Program Staff

For the IL, IN, MI, MN, and WI Field Office Staff, please contact:
Gina Jorgensen, St. Paul Field Office Representative
Phone: (651) 649-5276

For the Program Area 1 Midwest States Staff, please contact:
James Jacobs, USDA Forest Service
Phone: (651) 649-5266

For Grants.gov assistance, please contact:
Customer Support
Phone: (800) 518-4726

Grant priorities include B-WET priority areas:

• New projects that use the MWEE framework – Projects submitted under this area should address the specific activities that define MWEE Essential Elements, MWEE Supporting Practices, and Teacher MWEE Professional Development Practices.
• Systemic MWEE implementation – Projects submitted under this area should develop and implement systemic MWEEs in school districts. Systemic projects reach the entire student population in one or more grades within a school district with teacher-supported MWEEs and ensure that the teachers of these students receive high quality professional development to give them the content knowledge and pedagogical skills for outdoor learning to support all aspects of the MWEE as defined in section I.A.c.
• Capacity building for expanded statewide K-12 environmental literacy initiatives – This priority supports projects that increase opportunities for advancing the MWEE and environmental literacy at the state level. These capacity building projects will define the barriers to advancing environmental literacy at the state level and explain how the proposed work will fill a recognized gap.Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Projects must serve students and educators in the Great Lakes watershed in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Wisconsin.
• Projects must demonstrate a connection to the Great Lakes basin through the watershed system so that program participants understand how their actions can affect the Great Lakes ecosystem through their local watershed.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

No cost sharing is required under this program. Cost sharing is not considered in the evaluation criteria or selection factors.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs include:

• Student investigations of local environmental issues
• Professional development for teachers
• Support to get MWEEs implemented throughout an entire school district or school

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Awards will be made in a single allotment with an award period of up to 2 years.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Electronic applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 29, 2024 to be considered for funding. Applicants are required to apply online through Grants.gov. Use of Grants.gov requires an advanced registration process that may take a few days or several weeks.

B-WET regional funding opportunities are published at different times of the year. Please check the B-WET page periodically for updates on future opportunities.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

Sarah Waters
Great Lakes B-WET Program Coordinator; Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Phone: 989-312-3520; 989-884-6204

Grant priorities include:

• Projects in alignment with EPA Strategic Plan Goal 2
• Projects in alignment with the six priorities identified by the EPA in its Equity Action Plan
• Projects in underserved communities to promote the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes ecosystem in or near those communities

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Applicants must provide a written commitment that all Project Subrecipient activities are carried out within underserved communities in the Great Lakes geographic region.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement as a condition of eligibility under the Request for Proposals (RFA).

Although cost-sharing/matching is not required as a condition of eligibility under this competition, under Section V of the RFA will take leveraging into account when evaluating proposals.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs include:

• Projects that protect, enhance, and/or restore the Great Lakes
• Projects that protect the Great Lakes ecosystem health
• Activities that are mentioned in the GLRI Action Plan III, including habitat restoration, invasive species management, and non-point source runoff reduction.

Ineligible activities include:

• Scientific research
• Activities that EPA cannot fund under the above-described statutory authority
• Applications focused solely on improving access and recreational activities
• Applications focused solely on workforce development activities
• Applications focused solely on monitoring activities
• Applicant activities and subaward activities occurring outside the historic Great Lakes basin except as otherwise agreed on a case-by-case basis between EPA and the selected Principal Recipient(s)
• Activities related to septic system inspection, maintenance, repair, replacement, or installation.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

It is EPA’s expectation that the award, including all subawards, will have a total period of performance of up to six years (January 2024 – January 2030) with incremental funding provided on an annual basis.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Complete application package must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than September 15, 2023, 11:59 PM ET. Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov. Organizations applying to this funding opportunity must have an active SAM.gov registration. Please note that this process can take a month or more for new registrants.

If your organization has no access to the internet or access is very limited, you may request an exception for the remainder of this calendar year at least 15 calendar days before the application due date.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

If you have general and technical questions, please contact the following staff at the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office:
Cara Walsh

Sign up for the Great Lakes News email list to get information about funding opportunities to support Great Lakes environmental work and updates about Great Lakes environmental projects.

Projects must be located within the United States portion of the Great Lakes basin. Projects seeking to improve conditions within an inland lake of the Great Lakes basin must demonstrate benefits to local communities in the basin, beyond lakefront property owners, in order to be considered. Projects with a discernable benefit to a Great Lake are likely to be preferred during scoring of proposals.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Only areas within the United States portion of the Great Lakes basin are eligible for funding. To be considered for funding, applicants must:

• Demonstrate sufficient experience in the successful administration of similarly sized projects, including sufficient staffing
• Be cognizant that, as a reimbursement-based grant program, GLSNRP grantees must assure that sufficient funds are available to pay for activities
• Provide sufficient context to demonstrate a strategic approach to sediment and nutrient load reduction as incorporated within a government endorsed watershed plan5 and complementing existing work in the area
• Benefit the water quality of the Great Lakes basin

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

A twenty-five percent match will be required of each project , and although additional match greater than twenty-five percent is welcome, excess match does not affect scoring.

The following list provides some examples of acceptable match, but is not intended to be exhaustive:

• Technical and/or administrative assistance provided by the applicant, other entities, or persons not paid for with the grant or with federal funds.
• All or a portion of the applicant’s indirect costs not otherwise paid for with the grant or with federal funds.
• Use of local and state agency vehicles or equipment other than those of the applicant.
• Cost-share agreements from landowners.Unpaid members of local task forces, watershed councils, work groups, citizen groups, etc. are considered volunteers, and may be calculated at the prevailing national minimum wage (currently $7.25/hour) unless justification is provided for a higher rate. Skilled labor may be charged at a higher rate with additional, detailed justification.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Under this year’s program, GLSNRP will fund two types of projects aimed at reducing nonpoint source loading of nutrients and sediment to the Great Lakes: Agricultural Projects, and Streambank/Shoreline Projects.

• An Agricultural Project focuses on reducing nutrient loads from agricultural lands through systems of conservation practices that avoid, control, or trap nutrients and sediment.
• A Streambank/Shoreline project focuses on reducing nutrient and sediment loading from Great Lakes tributaries through implementation of climate resilient, natural techniques, such as floodplain reconnection, to prevent runoff and erosion.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

All work must be completed within a four-year period, inclusive of the time required to obtain all permits and approvals.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Applications are due on April 29, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Instructions, templates, and the web application form are available here.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

Nichola Zacharda, Program Manager
(734) 396-6084

Connor Roessler, Program Specialist
(734) 396-6085

WDNR’s Grant Program Guidance details LWCF funding priorities including projects that:

• Are on waterfront properties open to the public and focuses on preserving and enhancing natural wildlife and areas
• Meet the needs of urban areas
• Provide recreation opportunities for elderly, minority, disabled, and low-income populations
• Acquire land in areas with limited outdoor recreation facilities
• Provide multi-use and multi-season facilities
• Enhance or preserve natural beauty
• Are proposed by applicants which have sufficient financial resources to adequately maintain and operate the project
• Have other priority characteristics specified in law/statute/code or the LWCF Federal Financial Assistance Manual, Vol. 72

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

The following are threshold requirements that must be met to be eligible for this funding opportunity:

• LWCF projects must be specified in a local adopted and approved Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP), or otherwise known as a Parks and Open Space Plan. A CORP must be updated every five years.
• The project must also be consistent with the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) adopted by the DNR. The SCORP identifies in-county public camp sites and access to nature walks as top needs in the state.
• Applicants must also have a current signed resolution (within the past 2 years) from the applicant’s governing board approving the project. The resolution must outline the governing board’s commitment of funding to complete the project. A sample resolution meeting these requirements can be found here.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s matching requirements.

Matching funds must be equal to or greater than the amount of the grant award, i.e., a 50% match.

Grant recipients may charge reasonable user fees (e.g. state park daily entrance or camping fee) to defray operation and maintenance costs. However, any income accruing from the property should be used for purposes that support the original grant contract. Income accruing to an area receiving assistance during the project period from a source other than the intended recreational use must be used to reduce the total costs of the project.

Typically, federal grants cannot be used to provide matching funds for other federal grants. Common allowable sources of matching funds include:

• Applicant funds, e.g., general funds, fee revenues, etc.
• Financial donations from private organizations and individuals
• Municipal labor, equipment, and materials provided by the municipal applicant
• In-kind donations of labor, services, materials, and equipment from private organizations and individuals

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligible costs.

Eligible costs include:

• Pre-engineering costs for development projects
• Direct costs which are supported by time sheets, vouchers or similar documentation reflecting specific assignment to a project are eligible project costs
• Equipment rental at rates that not exceed the county machinery rates established annually by the department of transportation
• Actual fringe benefits paid as part of the direct labor costs claimed
• Engineering or planning fees necessary to complete eligible items, which may be recovered retroactively

Ineligible costs include:

• Construction costs incurred prior to the date of the grant award
• Purchase of equipment
• Income-generating facilities (e.g. concession buildings)
• Stand-alone maintenance facilities that do not specifically serve the grant property
• Facilities developed on property that was acquired via condemnation
• Donated labor, materials, land, or other activities which do not result in an actual expenditure by the sponsor and indirect costs are not allowable in the claim
• Buildings primarily devoted to operation and maintenance

An applicant’s eligible and ineligible costs will be further defined during the discussions with the regional program officer (please click on “Contact Information” section below for links).

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Projects that can be completed within 3 years receive priority.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Complete grant applications must be submitted electronically to the Regional Project Manager by 11:59pm on May 1. Applications are accepted annually.

The time between submitting a complete application and receiving a grant contract ranges from 6-18 months depending on the details of each project. An application submitted in May 1, 2025, could receive funding sometime between November 1, 2025, and November 1, 2026.

The application form for the LCWF program is available on DNR’s website here and instructions here. To apply for a LCWF grant, applicants will need a Unique Entity ID (UEI) number that can be obtained by going to SAM.gov.

Click on the next section for contact information for this funding opportunity.

Wisconsin Statewide Contact:
Pam Rood, Financial Assistance, Division of Internal Services, Facilities and Land
Phone: (608) 333-3718

Wisconsin Northeast Regional Contact:
Jessica Terrien, Regional Project Manager, Land and Water Conservation Fund
Phone: (920) 461-2680

Wisconsin Northern Regional Contact:
Pat Anderson, Regional Project Manager, Land and Water Conservation Fund
Phone: (715) 416-5020

Wisconsin South Central Regional Contact:
Mary Rothenmaier, Regional Project Manager, Land and Water Conservation Fund
Phone: (608) 720-0121

Wisconsin Southeast Regional Contact:
Jeremy Holtz, Regional Project Manager, Land and Water Conservation Fund
Phone: (920) 883-7428

Wisconsin West Central Regional Contact:
Kurt Byfield, Regional Project Manager, Land and Water Conservation Fund
Phone: (608) 501-4274

MCMP grant priorities include the development of vibrant and resilient coastal communities through the protection and restoration of Michigan’s sensitive coastal resources and biologically diverse ecosystems.

Grant Focus Areas:

• Coastal Water Dependent Uses and Community Development – plan and manage future growth and development on lands adjacent to the coast, while protecting coastal natural resources, maritime heritage resources, water-dependent livelihoods, outdoor recreation, and other assets and activities that contribute to the community’s sense of place
• Coastal Waters – protect and manage coastal waters, including planning and installing nature-based solutions like vegetated buffers, raingardens, and living shorelines to manage and slow the flow of stormwater and coastal flooding
• Coastal Hazards – increase coastal communities’ understanding of the risks associated with living on the coast from coastal erosion, flooding, stormwater, and urban heat to build upon the ability to absorb, respond, and adapt to impacts from coastal storms and Great Lakes water level variabilities
• Coastal Habitat – protect, preserve, and restore healthy coastal wetlands, beaches, and dunes
• Public Access – protect, restore, create, and enhance public access to the Great Lakes using approaches that support coastal communities; foster appreciation of our natural, cultural, and historic resources; and create coastal tourism opportunities

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Site-specific, low-cost construction projects, and land acquisitions must be located entirely within the approved MCMP coastal boundary. Coastal zone boundary maps are available through the MCMP’s website.

Please contact the grant administrators using the links in the “Contact Information” section below for the most up-to-date information on eligibility requirements.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

All applicants must demonstrate the ability to provide a 1-to-1, non-federal match and provide documentation of committed funds and the source of such funds. Match may be in the form of cash, in-kind services, or donations.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs include:

• Planning – includes a variety of proposed actions that meet the needs of coastal communities and typically result in the development of a Master Plan, conservation, or recreational plan, or plans that expand upon coastal values and characteristics.
• Feasibility, Engineering, and Design – includes site specific investigations such as feasibility studies, creation of conceptual designs, and/or final engineering plans that lead to a low-cost construction, habitat restoration, or other on-the-ground implementation work.
• Low-Cost Construction – includes projects that physically alter publicly owned property for site specific enhanced public access, habitat restoration, installation of bioengineering and green infrastructure practices, and installation of signage.
• Land Conservation Through Acquisition – includes projects that propose land acquisition, purchase of easements, and purchase of development rights. Note: Only units of government or public entities are eligible for this funding and all purchases must demonstrate significant ecological value, need for protection, and must be managed in perpetuity.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

The period of performance for MCMP grants are 12-15 months.

Grant Funding Opportunities are released in October of each year. Grant awards announcement are typically released the following Summer with awards beginning October 1.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

The Grant Funding Opportunity (GFO) is released annually in the fall with applications due mid-December.

If you are interested in funding through the MCMP, complete and submit its Project Interest Form and one of the MCMP Focus Area Coordinators will follow up with you.

Please contact grant administrators for the most up-to-date information related to application deadlines and forms.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For questions or inquiries, please contact:

Ronda Wuycheck, Program Manager
Phone: (517) 420-5921

Adam Arend, Community Development Coordinator
Phone: (517) 231-2793

Emily Kirkpatrick, Coastal Hazards Coordinator
Phone: (517) 290-5476

Dave Schuberg, Coastal Habitat Coordinator
Phone: (517) 331-1792

Melissa Letosky, Coastal Waters Coordinator
Phone: (517) 416-7001

Grant priorities include:

• proposals that seek to advance previously funded NCRF projects to the next category in the project pipeline (i.e., “pipeline projects”)
• restoration-implementation projects that can begin construction within one year of the award date

Award decisions will be made based on regional circumstances and needs, but all proposals must address the following priorities:

• Nature-Based Solutions: Projects must focus on identifying or implementing natural, nature-based or hybrid solutions, such as restoring coastal marshes, reconnecting floodplains, rebuilding dunes or other natural buffers, or installing living shorelines.
• Community Resilience Benefit:Projects must show clear benefits in terms of reducing current and projected threats to communities from natural coastal hazards, including, but not limited to sea-level rise, lake-level change, coastal erosion, increased frequency and intensity of storms, and impacts from other chronic or episodic factors.
• Fish and Wildlife Benefit: Projects must help to improve habitats for fish and wildlife species.
• Community Impact and Engagement: Projects will be prioritized that provide risk reduction or job creation benefits to underserved or tribal communities (both federally recognized tribes and those tribes that are not federally recognized) and that directly engage community members in project design and implementation. NFWF encourages projects that are informed by Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, that promote tribal co-stewardship, that protect or enhance habitat for subsistence species, and/or that contribute to tribal food security. Projects should engage community-level partners to help design, implement, and maintain projects; secure maximum benefits for communities; and ensure sustainability and long-term maintenance.
• Transferability and Sustainability: NFWF encourages projects that seek to re-shape our thinking on what constitutes coastal community resilience to climate impacts as experienced across different landscapes. This may include developing solutions that are scalable and transferable to other communities or that can catalyze further action toward resilience.

NFWF’s regional coastal resilience assessments identify areas, called Resilience Hubs, where natural resource restoration efforts will have the greatest impact for human community resilience and fish and wildlife. Projects do not need to be located in an area identified by NFWF as a Resilience Hub to be eligible, but applicants may find this tool useful to assess projects based on the dual benefits to habitats and human communities.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Projects must be located within the coastal areas of U.S. coastal states, including the Great Lakes states, and U.S. territories and tribal lands. For the purpose of this funding opportunity, the eligible project area is defined as all coastal Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 8 watersheds that drain to the sea and any adjacent HUC 8 watersheds that are particularly low-lying or tidally influenced (“coastal areas”); a map of the NCRF geographic footprint can be found here.
• All projects under this program must demonstrate dual benefits to both coastal communities and habitats. The NCRF supports projects that will result in the creation and/or restoration of natural systems to increase the resilience of communities from coastal hazards and improve habitats for fish and wildlife species.
• Applicants must apply under one category that best describes the purpose and activities that will be implemented during the project. NFWF will not fund projects across combined categories, i.e., proposals seeking funding to both design and construct a restoration project.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

Non-federal match is not required but is encouraged to demonstrate broad support for the project. Match can be any combination of in cash and/or in-kind goods and services, e.g., external/partner services, volunteers or grantee in-kind, etc., and there is no priority given to higher cash percentages. The ratio of matching contributions offered to grant funding requested is only one criterion considered during the review process. More information about how to document non-federal match, including a description of acceptable sources of matching funds, is available here.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs fall under the following four categories:

• Community Capacity Building and Planning
• Site Assessment and Preliminary Design
• Final Design and Permitting
• Restoration Implementation

Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds:

• Equipment: Applicants are encouraged to rent equipment where possible and cost-effective or use matching funds to make those purchases. Please contact program administrators if your project can only be completed using NFWF funds to procure equipment and they will consider applications for funding essential equipment on a case-by-case basis.
• Federal funds and matching contributions may not be used to procure or obtain equipment, services, or systems that uses telecommunications equipment or services produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation as a substantial or essential component or as critical technology of any system.
• NFWF funds and matching contributions may not be used to support political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.
• NFWF funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements. However, grant funds may be used to support projects that enhance or improve upon existing baseline compliance efforts.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

For this funding opportunity, a project cannot have a start date prior to June 1, 2024 or an end date after December 31, 2028. Any expenses incurred prior to an official award letter and signed contract are taken solely at the risk of the applicant. Restoration Implementation projects must include 1 year post monitoring after expected construction completion in their period of performance.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Pre-Proposals are due by 11:59 pm ET on April 10, 2024.
Full Proposals by invite only are due by 11:59 pm ET on July 2, 2024.

All application materials must be submitted online through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Easygrants system. A Tip Sheet is available for quick reference while you are working through your application. The Tip Sheet can be downloaded here. Grant awards are announced in late November to early December 2024.

Additional information to support the application process can be accessed on the NFWF website’s Applicant Information page.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For general questions, email:

NCRF Program Team

For questions related to project Ideas in the Great Lakes, email:

Aislinn Gauchay, Program Director – Great Lakes, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

For assistance with online Easygrants system, contact:

Easygrants Helpdesk

Voicemail: (202) 595-2497

Please include your name, proposal ID #, email address, phone number, program you are applying to, and a description of the issue.

Grant priorities include projects that:

• support the goals of the National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan
• provide long-term conservation
• conserve maritime forest on coastal barrier islands
• benefit threatened and endangered species
• encourage public-private partnerships
• complement other conservation projects.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

All projects must ensure long‐term conservation (at least 20 years) of coastal wetland resources

For more information about the eligibility requirements for this funding opportunity, please contact the program officers using the “Contact Information” section below.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s matching requirements.

States provide 50% of the project cost or 25% if the state has a land conservation program. Match can be provided by the state or partners and may include the value of previously conserved land and in-kind contributions.

For more information about matching requirements, please reference the Notice of Funding Opportunity here.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

The NCWCG Program provides eligible State agencies with grants for projects that protect and restore valuable coastal wetland resources. Eligible costs include:

• Acquisition of a real property interest (e.g., conservation easement or fee title) in coastal lands or waters (coastal wetlands ecosystems) from willing sellers or partners for long‐term conservation
• Restoration, enhancement, or management of coastal wetlands ecosystems
• A combination of acquisition, restoration, enhancement, and management.

Ineligible Costs include:

• Projects that are not eligible for NCWCG Program funding include:1. Projects to create wetlands where wetlands did not previously exist are ineligible
• Projects to acquire and/or restore upper portions of watersheds where benefits to the coastal wetlands ecosystem are not significant and direct.

For more information on eligible and ineligible costs, please click here.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

The period of performance for this funding opportunity appears to be flexible but typically within 12 months.

Please click the Notice of Funding Opportunity here for details, and reference the “Contact Information” section below to get in touch with program officers.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Grant application packages must be submitted in GrantSolutions.gov or Grants.gov no later than Friday, June 21, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The grant opportunity can be found here.

Tribes, local governments, conservation organizations, and private landowners are encouraged to work with state agencies to develop a project and submit an application.

We strongly encourage you to email a draft of your application to your WSFR Regional Office and/or Coastal Program contact (see “Contact Information” section below) at least four weeks prior to the due date (i.e., by May 24, 2024) for pre-deadline review.

For technical questions regarding the grant application, please contact:
Nick Popoff

Midwest Region 3 (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin) may contact the regional grant contacts by completing the online messaging forms linked below for:
Mandy Kamps, USWS Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Office of Conservation Investment

Jessico Collier, USWS Great Lakes Coastal Restoration and Partnerships Coordinator, Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Coastal Program
Phone: (920) 866-1728

Elizabeth Berg, USWS Coastal Program Biologist, Midwest Region Headquarters Ecological Services Coastal Program
Phone: (612) 713-5138

Christie Deloria-Sheffield, USWS Great Lakes Coastal Program Coordinator, Midwest Region Headquarters Coastal Program

Grant priorities include:

• Projects that expand Green Stormwater Infrastructure and Enhancing Public Space
• Projects that improve Habitat Quality and Connectivity and Enhancing Public Space
• Projects that directly benefit and engage low-income communities and communities of color
• Projects that meaningfully and directly engage communities in their ideation, design, implementation, and/or long-term maintenance and sustainability

Click on the section below to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

The following threshold requirements must be met to be eligible for this funding opportunity:

• Projects must be located in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan, including St. Clair, Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw, Livingston, and Monroe counties.
• Grantees are required to present or develop plans that clearly address the project site’s operation and management for at least five (5) years after project completion. If applicable, the plan should also describe long-term invasive species management and early detection rapid response (EDRR) protocol. Types of relevant plans or strategies may include, but are not limited to:
  • watershed plans
  • municipal or regional domestic action plans
  • climate action plans
  • sustainability plans
  • green stormwater infrastructure strategies, such as the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments Green Infrastructure Vision for Southeast Michigan
  • the Michigan Environmental Justice Plan
  • state wildlife action plans
  • federal or regional wildlife or natural resource strategies, such as Lakewide Action and Management Plans
  • Michigan’s Forest Action Plan
  • Joint Venture plans
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region Coastal Program Strategic Work Plan
  • Great Lakes Business Plan
  • other existing local strategies

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s matching requirements.

Match for this grant is not required; however, the ratio of matching contributions offered to grant funding requested is one criterion considered during the review process. Providing some match (non-federal and federal) is encouraged to demonstrate broad support for the project and overall impact of the work.

Match can be any combination of in cash and/or in-kind goods and services (for example external/partner services, volunteers or grantee in-kind, materials and services donated, etc.) or other tangible contributions to the project objectives and outcomes.

No priority will be given to higher cash percentages versus other sources of match. In addition, eligible indirect costs (that would not be paid with requested grant funding) may be applied as match. More information about using indirect costs as match can be found by clicking here. Full information on how to document match, including a description of acceptable sources of match, is available here.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible Costs include:

• Expanding green stormwater infrastructure while enhancing the quality of, access to, and/or use of community green space or natural areas
• Habitat restoration projects that improve the quality and connectivity of habitats

Ineligible Costs include:

• Equipment
• Political advocacy
• Fundraising
• Lobbying
• Litigation
• Compliance with legal requirements, e.g., permit conditions, mitigation, and settlement agreements.

For additional details, please click here.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Anticipated completion time for funded projects will typically be two years following finalization of a grant agreement. The standard grant period may include a third year in cases with a demonstrated need for additional time to complete critical project activities including but not limited to, final design or engineering, project establishment or maintenance, community engagement/outreach, or monitoring.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Full proposals must be submitted online on EasyGrants by September 28, 2023, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

A Tip Sheet is available for quick reference while you are working through your application.

Click on the “Contact Information” section below to get in touch with the program officers for this funding opportunity.

Aislinn Gauchay, Program Director, Great Lakes
Phone: (612) 564-7284

Traci Giefer, Senior Program Manager, Great Lakes
Phone: (612) 564-7296

Naomi Attaway, Coordinator, Regional Programs
Phone: (202) 595-2657

Funding priorities vary depending on the grant type. In general, strong projects will be specific, well-thought out, and include specific details. Applicants should strive to describe their projects richly, but concisely.

The ranking sheets in Appendix A of the DNR Surface Water Grant Applicant Guide present the criteria ranking teams will use to assign funding priority to the applications submitted for consideration for a Surface Water Grant.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

As a baseline threshold for eligibility, applicants must:

• Be an eligible organization
• Submit their pre-application by September 15, applications are due November 15
• Request a determination of project eligibility by September 15

Additional prerequisites vary depending on the grant type. For more information, please see the DNR Surface Water Grant Applicant Guide.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

The minimum percentage of the total project costs required as grantee match is determined by the grant category. All planning grants provide a 67% cost share, while all management grants are shared at a rate of 75%. In other words, for the following grant categories, the minimum grantee match requirements are:

• Education & Planning 33%
• Management 25%

SWE Grants have a 33% grantee match requirement. To be eligible to receive a $5,000 SWE Grant award, the total project costs must be $7,462.69 (=$5,000/33%). The state share is the $5,000 grant and the local share is $2,462.69 (=$7,462.69-$5,000) as grantee match.

All sources of grantee match, including donations, must be identified in the grant application. Eligible grantee match may include:

• Eligible costs paid with funds generated by local, non-DNR state or federal agencies, foundations, businesses, private individuals, or nonprofit organizations.
• Donated eligible costs (e.g., donated equipment, volunteer labor, supplies or construction materials, professional labor, etc.).

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Funds can be used for a wide variety of projects related to surface water, under one of two general categories:

• Education and Planning – these projects help communities understand surface water conditions, determine management goals, and develop strategic management plans
• Management – these projects protect and improve water quality and aquatic habitat and prevent and control aquatic invasive species. Some projects require an approved recommendation in a management plan to be eligible for funding.

Ineligible costs:

• Costs not directly associated with or necessary for the implementation of the project, as determined by the department

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Projects must be completed within a year of the grant award.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

By May 1 of each year, the applicant should establish their eligibility for grant funding by submitting Grant Eligibility Application Form 8700-380* and supporting documentation to their regional environmental grant specialist. The environmental grant specialist has the right to review an organization’s eligibility at any time, and it is best to confirm your eligibility before you apply for a grant. If you are thinking about applying for a grant, contact your local lake, streams or AIS biologist as early as possible.

Every applicant must submit a project pre-application via email by September 15. The pre-application is essentially a draft of the surface water grant application (Form 8700-284)*.

Between September and October, the regional biologist will work with you to refine and finalize your application. During this period, the complete application and all supporting documentation, e.g., authorizing resolution, project maps, letters of support, lab forms, etc., must be submitted. Your local biologist will review your pre-application; you may be required to attend a pre-application scoping meeting prior to the final application deadline by 11:59 p.m. on November 15.

*One method to resolve PDF problems such as the [Please wait…] error is to use IE mode in Microsoft Edge Chromium. Another option is to save a copy of the file to your device for offline use, then open the file with Adobe Reader. For more PDF troubleshooting tips, please click here.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

If you would like to confirm your organization’s eligibility for grant funding, contact:
your regional environmental grant specialist

For technical assistance in developing a project, contact:
your regional Lake, Streams or AIS biologist

For information on the surface water grant program, email:
DNR Surface Water Grant Program

For general information on DNR grant programs, contact:
CFA Bureau staff

Grant priorities include :

• Sustaining productive fisheries and strengthening ecosystem resilience
• Endangered Species Act: Listed Species
• Magnuson-Stevens Act: Managed Species
• Saltwater Recreational Fisheries
• Great Lakes: Native Species
• Enhancing community resilience to climate hazards and providing other co-benefits
• Fostering regionally important habitat restoration
• Providing benefit to Tribal, Indigenous, and/or Underserved Communities, including through partnerships

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Applicants for this funding opportunity must meet the following eligibility thresholds:

• The project location must be coastal, marine, or estuarine areas that benefit species or fisheries that are outlined within the program priorities
• Standard Federal (SF)-424 forms
• Proposal content:- Project Summary and Project Narrative- Budget Narrative- Supplemental Materials and Project Designs

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

There are no cost share requirements. Cost share is encouraged, however, and is an element within the evaluation criteria. Cost share may include formal, non-federal match funds, and/or informal leverage from a broad range of sources.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs are projects that have the greatest potential to provide holistic benefits through habitat-based approaches that strengthen both the ecosystem and community resilience.

Projects can include:

• restoring marine, estuarine, coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems
• rebuilding sustainable fisheries and contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species
• protecting the safety and well-being of coastal communities by using natural infrastructure to reduce damage from flooding and storms
• supporting benefits that healthy habitats provide, such as clean drinking water and industries like boating, fishing, and tourism.

Ineligible costs include projects that focus solely on:

• marine debris prevention and removal
• acquisition of real property
• beach renourishment for recreation.

Additional ineligible activities include:

• hard infrastructure for water quality
• consent decree, court order, statutes
• effectiveness monitoring and research

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Period of performance for projects funded through this grant is approximately three years.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Proposals must be received through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern time on November 17, 2023. Please check back for updates on new grant cycles.

Applicants should apply through the Grants.gov website. A complete standard NOAA financial assistance application package should be submitted in accordance with the guidelines in the Notice of Funding Opportunity announcement. Each application must include the application forms from the SF-424 form family.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For general questions and inquiries regarding this funding opportunity, email:

Natalie McLenaghan, Competition Manager

For questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission:

Grants.gov Support
(800) 518-4726
Website

Grant priorities include:

• Project evaluation will give the greatest weight to impact on coastal resources, followed by methodology, project budget, and timetable
• A bonus point system encourages applicants to develop creative proposals that:
  • • • • build partnership alliances with other organizations or agencies
        • develop exceptional marketing, outreach, or education strategies
        • encourage coast-wide projects
        • engage underrepresented communities
• Preference for Public Access and Historic Preservation projects includes those that incorporate sustainable building practices and green infrastructure that reduce stormwater runoff

Click on the next section to learn about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

The following threshold requirements must be met to be eligible for this funding opportunity:

• Projects must be located in one or more Wisconsin counties adjacent to Lake Superior or Lake Michigan.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s matching requirements.

WCMP Grant projects totaling $60,000 or less require a 50% match. Projects with a total budget larger than $60,000 require a 60% match.

Match may be in-kind, cash, or a combination of the two. Applicants must certify that they can supply the required match. Match cannot be federal funds except for tribal “self-sufficiency” grants. Local money spent before the grant is awarded cannot be considered as match, including expenses incurred in preparing this application, preliminary engineering reports, etc. All matching funds, including in-kind expenses, must be spent during the grant period (no prior match is allowed). In-kind match includes the use of equipment, supplies, land, or other commodity already owned by the applicant or the use of items or staff time donated by a third party.

Partnerships that include meaningful private contributions as part of the match are encouraged. Gifts and property donations are acceptable, but only if they are made during the grant period. Financial donations collected before the grant period may be included in the match calculation only if the money is expended after the grant period begins.

Volunteer time used as an in-kind match must be charged at the rate paid for the type of work being done. For example, the time an 2024-25 WCMP Grant Program Grant Application Instructions attorney spends doing data entry work for a project is charged at the rate paid to data entry operators. If the attorney volunteers to do legal work for the project, the attorney’s volunteer time is charged at the rate paid to an attorney.

Applicants must certify that they can supply the required match. Match cannot be federal funds except for tribal “self-sufficiency” grants. Local money spent before the grant is awarded cannot be considered as match, including expenses incurred in preparing this application, preliminary engineering reports, etc. If match funding is not available at the time of application, please describe what funding resources are being explored and when the funding decisions will be made. Commitment and security of match funding are included in the application evaluation criteria.

Click on the next section to learn about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs include:

• Coastal wetland protection and habitat restoration
• Nonpoint source pollution control
• Coastal resource and community planning
• Great Lakes education
• Public access and historic preservation projects

Ineligible costs include:

• Activities to fulfill requirements of a permit
• Pass-through/small grants competitions
• Honoraria/awards
• Lobbying

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

WCMP grant funded projects must be completed within one year.

2024-25 WCMP Grant Program Example:

• Application Deadline: November 3, 2023
• Project Review Committee: January 2024
• WCMC Meeting: February 2024
• Projects Selected: March 2024
• Projects Begin: July 1, 2024*
• Project Completion: June 30, 2025

*Subject to release of federal funding and, for habitat restoration, acquisition projects, and other projects with a ground-moving component, approval of technical documentation.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Applications are due via email by November 3, 2023.​ Applicants are highly encouraged to discuss proposals with staff prior to the due date, and applicants requesting $100,000 or more are required to contact WCMP staff before submittal.

For information on current grant cycles, please contact the grant administrators listed in the “Contact Information” section below.

WCMP staff welcome questions and discussion of project ideas. Please contact WCMP staff at:

Mike Friis, Bureau Director
Phone: (608) 267-7982

Kate Angel, Coastal Resources and Community Planning
Phone: (608) 267-7988

Todd Breiby, Wetland Protection/Habitat Restoration
Phone: (608) 261-6349

Lauren Leckwee, Public Access & Historic Preservation, Environmental Review
Phone: (608) 267-2125

Lydia Salus, Great Lakes Education, BIL Opportunities
Phone: (608) 266-3687

Or WCMP staff generally via email.

Grant priorities for this funding opportunity include:

• Habitat connectivity and functionality
• Partnerships in the Wisconsin Lake Superior Basin
• Locally led conservation through partnerships
• Healthy habitats and biodiversity
• Water quality and hydrologic integrity
• Climate resiliency
• Inclusive community engagement

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

Funding for projects will be considered that are developed or endorsed by multi-partner, collaborative teams which may include the Lake Superior Collaborative. Projects should address one or more of the following six conservation and social priorities identified by partners and fall within the Wisconsin, Lake Superior basin geography. Please contact the program administrators in the “Contact Information” below for the most up-to-date information on eligibility.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

Cost sharing is not required, although it is highly encouraged. Cost share may be monetary or in-kind contributions and will vary from project to project.

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Eligible costs include:

• Habitat Connectivity and Functionality
• Healthy Habitats and Biodiversity
• Water Quality and Hydrologic Integrity
• Climate Resiliency
• Inclusive Community Engagement and Prepare for and Address Current and emerging Threats or other GLRI priorities identified in the most recent GLRI Action Plan

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

For awards with periods of performance longer than 12 months, recipients are required to submit interim performance reports on the frequency established in the Notice of Award.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

Applications are due September 30, 2024. Applications must be submitted through Grant Solutions. Applications submitted through Grants.gov will not be evaluated.

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

For programmatic technical and programmatic assistance, contact:

Mitchell Baalman
(715) 413-2281