Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program

The Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program is a competitive state grant program administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The program began in 2014 and is available each year that the Michigan Legislature appropriates funding. More than $40 million has been awarded through the program to date, and up to $2.4 million in state general fund dollars is available for the current grant cycle. The program provides funding and technical assistance to prevent, detect, eradicate, and control terrestrial and aquatic invasive species in Michigan. The program's principal goals are to prevent new invasive species introductions, strengthen Michigan's statewide early detection and response network, and limit the dispersal of recently confirmed invasive species. Priority projects include prevention and limiting-spread strategies, research related to pathways and high-value ecosystems, early detection and response activities, surveillance, treatment, and public education and outreach. Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas may also seek Core Funding for staffing, organizational capacity, outreach, prevention, detection, and management activities and may seek competitive Survey and Treatment funding. Projects must be conducted on Michigan land or water. Routine management of a single water body or site or common treatment of widespread invasive species is generally less competitive unless the work is transferable, scalable, or relevant to a larger region or statewide need. Eligible applicants are local, state, federal, or tribal units of government, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, and universities. State agencies are directed to contact the MISGP manager before preparing an application. Project partners that receive grant funds must themselves be eligible applicant organizations and are subject to the same documentation requirements as the applicant. Other collaborators may participate as contractors and are subject to state procurement requirements. The minimum grant request is $25,000 and the maximum grant request is $250,000. No match is required, and match documentation is not accepted with the application. CISMA Core Funding provides up to $80,000 to an eligible CISMA, while CISMA Survey and Treatment funding provides up to $20,000 for eligible activities. Priority Projects may last from one to three years, while CISMA Core Funding and CISMA Survey and Treatment projects are limited to one year. Eligible costs generally include salaries and fringe benefits for direct project labor, approved graduate student tuition and fees, supplies and materials, contractual services, eligible equipment, project travel, permit application fees, certain training and workshop expenses, and indirect costs. Purchased equipment generally may not exceed $5,000 per item, although specified decontamination equipment may be eligible up to $35,000 and certain certified-firewood-production equipment may be considered separately. Total indirect costs for the applicant and partners may not exceed 10 percent of the total grant amount. Costs incurred outside the project period, salaries for people not working directly on the project, volunteer wages and lodging, drones, equipment purchases above applicable limits, and indirect costs above the program cap are among the stated ineligible costs. The program operates primarily on a reimbursement basis, although a grantee may request an advance of up to 50 percent of the approved grant amount when the request is reasonable and necessary. Applications are submitted only through the MiGrants online system. New organizations must register in MiGrants, and only an Authorized Official may initiate and submit an application. Required application content includes applicant and contact information, a project overview, project location information and map, personnel details, an itemized budget, a budget summary, required attachments, certification, and track-specific narrative or objective forms. Applicant resumes and letters of support are required, and a work plan is required, with the required format depending on the application type. Priority Project applicants must complete a Full Narrative addressing project rationale and relevance, goals, objectives and methods, deliverables, evaluation, diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice, communication and outreach, work plan, budget narrative, and additional information. CISMA applicants have additional Core Objectives and organizational forms, and qualifying Survey and Treatment requests require separate objectives. Priority Project proposals are evaluated for importance, relevance and applicability to program goals and priorities; technical and scientific merit; applicant qualifications; project costs; communication and outreach; and data management. Reviewers consider the strength and feasibility of project methods, measurable outcomes, partnerships, DEI and environmental justice considerations, regulatory requirements, applicant experience, budget reasonableness, outreach effectiveness, and data-management practices. CISMA applications are evaluated against core objectives, proposed scope, sustainability, allowable and reasonable budgets, past performance, statewide collaboration, outside funding efforts, and, where applicable, the rationale, methods, prioritization, evaluation, and cost effectiveness of proposed survey and treatment activities. The request for proposals opened in MiGrants on September 1, 2026. An informational webinar is scheduled for September 8, 2026, and a CISMA webinar for September 10, 2026. Applications are due in MiGrants by 11:59 p.m. on November 1, 2026, and late or incomplete submissions are not considered. Award announcements are expected in March 2027. Project periods begin upon execution of the grant agreement by DNR, with Priority Project work expected to commence within the first 60 days after execution. Interim progress reports are due April 30 and October 30 during the project period, and final reports are due within 60 days after the project period ends. The program is offered annually when legislative funding is appropriated. For application and administrative assistance, applicants may contact MISGP Manager Kelsey Dietz at DietzK2@Michigan.gov or 517-388-8473.

Contact the appropriate technical contact before applying; clearly align the proposal with MISGP goals and priorities; emphasize transferable, scalable, regional, or statewide value where routine site management is proposed; provide technically sound methods, measurable deliverables, evaluation, and data management; incorporate DEI and environmental justice throughout the project; provide a detailed and reasonable budget; ensure all required MiGrants pages and attachments are complete before submission