Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program is a federal funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service under its State, Private, and Tribal Forestry mission area. The Forest Service, which manages extensive public lands and provides assistance to nonfederal lands, operates this program in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The initiative focuses on addressing critical environmental challenges across the Great Lakes Basin, with this specific program targeting forest conservation and habitat connectivity within designated regions of Wisconsin and Michigan. The primary purpose of the program is to support the acquisition and permanent conservation of private forest lands to establish community forests that provide long-term public benefits. These benefits include public access, environmental protection, economic opportunities, and educational programming. A central goal is to prevent conversion of forest land to nonforest uses while enhancing ecological resilience, particularly through improved habitat connectivity for native species. Projects must align with the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan IV, specifically the objective of protecting and enhancing habitats critical to sustaining aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Funding is provided for fee simple land acquisition and associated transactional costs. Allowable uses include expenses such as appraisals, land surveys, legal and closing costs, title examination, and development of a Community Forest Plan. However, the program prohibits the use of funds for long-term maintenance, construction, research, indirect costs, or pre-application preparation expenses. Each award can provide up to one million dollars in federal funding, with total program funding estimated at three million five hundred thousand dollars. A mandatory cost share of fifty percent of the total project cost is required, which may be met through nonfederal cash, in-kind contributions, or donations. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian Tribes, local government entities, and nonprofit organizations that are qualified to acquire and manage land. Projects must involve private forest land that meets strict eligibility criteria, including minimum acreage, forest coverage thresholds, location within the designated pilot area, and demonstrated risk of conversion to nonforest use. Public access to the acquired land is required, and applicants must demonstrate meaningful community engagement in both planning and long-term management. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov under the specified funding opportunity number. Required components include a cover page, an application narrative limited to eight pages, detailed property descriptions, documentation of community benefits, maps, eligibility verification, and a proposed budget. Applicants must also provide evidence of cost share commitments, due diligence status, and a clear acquisition timeline. Engagement with Forest Service staff prior to submission is encouraged but not mandatory. Applications are evaluated based on a competitive scoring system that prioritizes community benefits, community engagement, strategic landscape contributions, and the level of threat to the land. Additional consideration is given to projects that enhance habitat connectivity and align with broader conservation initiatives. The anticipated award timeline includes a review period of approximately two to four months, with awards expected in spring 2027. The grant period typically lasts two years, during which land acquisition must be completed, although extensions may be granted under certain circumstances. The program is issued as an annual funding opportunity, with recurring announcements expected. The current application deadline is December 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applicants are required to maintain active registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov and must comply with federal administrative and reporting requirements upon award. Contact for program inquiries is provided through a designated Forest Service regional program manager.

Emphasize measurable community benefits and strong habitat connectivity outcomes; demonstrate clear threat of land conversion; provide evidence of community engagement and readiness for acquisition