Wetland Mitigation Banking Program Fiscal Year (FY) 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service is offering the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program as a competitive Federal grant opportunity under Assistance Listing 10.933. The program supports the development and establishment of wetland mitigation banks and banking opportunities solely for agricultural producers with wetlands subject to the wetland conservation compliance provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. NRCS is making approximately $3 million available and expects to make seven awards ranging from $100,000 to $1 million each. Projects may run from one to four years and should be planned around an estimated December 2026 project start. In general, the work necessary for a bank to offer mitigation credits to agricultural producers should be completed and credits made available within 24 months. WMBP funds may support development of mitigation banking instruments, identification of suitable mitigation sites and functional assessments, determination of available credits and credit release schedules, market research, contracting for mitigation activities, land surveys, permitting, title searches, mitigation plan design, wetland restoration, enhancement or creation in accordance with NRCS conservation practice standards, wetland mitigation data management, direct administrative costs, and allowable indirect costs. Unmanned aircraft systems are specifically identified as an unallowable expense for this funding opportunity. Indirect costs are allowable and generally should be limited to the 15 percent de minimis rate unless the applicant has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. A required 20 percent of total project costs, including Federal and non-Federal funds, must come from non-Federal funding. Cost share may include cash, services, materials, equipment, third-party in-kind contributions, unrecovered indirect costs, and, when specifically authorized by the applicable Federal statute, funds from another Federal source. Eligible applicants include city or township governments, county governments, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, public and State-controlled institutions of higher education, small businesses, special district governments, and State governments. Foreign organizations, foreign public entities, individuals, partnerships, and similar groupings are ineligible. An application must be submitted by a single entity, although a partner may serve as a subrecipient. Applicants may submit no more than one application. Award recipients must have an active System for Award Management registration, must not be debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from Federal awards, and must satisfy the required risk review. Projects may be performed in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Priority consideration is identified for banks in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and received by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 8, 2026. The NOFO does not require a pre-application or letter of intent and specifically directs applicants not to submit either. Required application materials include the Application for Federal Assistance SF-424, Project Narrative Attachment Form, Project Abstract, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs SF-424A, Budget Narrative Attachment Form, Current and Pending Support, GADSUM9 Applicant Contact Information, a NICRA when applicable, subaward information when applicable, conflict-of-interest disclosure when applicable, the Grants.gov Lobbying Form, and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities SF-LLL. Letters of support should not be submitted. The project narrative may not exceed 10 pages and must address project objectives and deliverables, project timeline, project management, project marketing, project evaluation, and assessment of environmental impact. Competitive applications are evaluated on Geographic Scope and Project Goals for 30 points, Project Management for 30 points, and Bank Development and Operation for 40 points. Reviewers consider clear and measurable goals, proposed wetland acres and bank credits, geographic priority, experience establishing and operating mitigation banks, marketing to USDA program participants, efficient use of resources, administrative overhead, cost share above the minimum, site identification and security, suitability of land for mitigation, accelerated development capable of making credits available within 24 months, use of NRCS conservation practice standards when applicable, and the likelihood of successfully establishing and operating a bank for agricultural producers. Proposals with an already secured mitigation site receive priority consideration. NRCS also conducts administrative and risk review, including SAM status, financial stability, financial management capability, Federal award performance history, and whether proposed costs are allowable, allocable, and necessary. A WMBP applicant webinar was scheduled for July 30, 2026 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time, with webinar questions directed to WMBP@usda.gov. Grants.gov technical issues should be directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Other questions concerning this opportunity should be directed to Tessa Garcia, Grants Management Specialist with the FPAC Business Center Grants and Agreements Division, at tessa.garcia@usda.gov, using USDA-NRCS-NHQ-WMBP-NOFO0001458 as the email subject line. Applicants must not contact agency program staff with questions during the competitive process. Successful applicants will receive selection notification before the Federal award is issued, but that notification does not authorize performance. The Notice of Grant and Agreement Award is the authorizing award document. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email after successful applications have been processed.

Quantify the wetland acres to be restored, enhanced, or created and estimate bank credits; emphasize experience establishing and operating wetland mitigation banks; provide a sound marketing plan for USDA program participants; demonstrate efficient and cost-effective use of funds with minimal administrative overhead; consider cost share above the 20% minimum; provide a specific site acquisition and development plan; secured mitigation sites receive priority consideration; demonstrate how credits can become available within 24 months; address NRCS conservation practice standards when applicable; priority consideration is given to projects in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.