Grants for State governments - Natural Resources

The Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program, supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and major funders like the Richard King Mellon Foundation, USDA's Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Altria Group, and Cleveland-Cliffs, aims to restore and sustain healthy forests, rivers, and streams. This initiative aligns with a broader mission to enhance natural habitats and support diverse native bird and aquatic species populations. Approximately $3.5 million is available this year, with individual grants ranging from $75,000 to $500,000, distributed over a four-year project period. The program's overall goal is to improve the quality and connectivity of forest and freshwater habitats to increase the distribution and abundance of birds, fish, and other wildlife. This will be evidenced by a suite of indicator species reflecting the health of these habitats. Target beneficiaries include a variety of bird species such as golden-winged warbler, wood thrush, and cerulean warbler, as well as aquatic species like brook trout, eastern hellbender, and freshwater mussels. The program seeks to engage public and private landowners in active stewardship through technical and financial assistance, demonstrations, education, outreach, and other innovative approaches. Key priorities include improving the voluntary management of public and private forestlands to create mixed-age forest blocks that support bird and wildlife diversity. Another critical focus is improving stream health by voluntarily removing passage barriers, restoring riparian buffers, and enhancing water quality and hydrology. These interventions are designed to bolster populations of the targeted aquatic species, contributing to healthier ecosystems across the Central Appalachia region. The expected outcomes are a measurable increase in the distribution and abundance of indicator bird and aquatic species, demonstrating improved forest and freshwater habitat conditions. The program's theory of change posits that by actively engaging landowners and implementing science-based conservation strategies, it can effectively restore critical habitats. This, in turn, will lead to a more resilient and biodiverse Central Appalachia, benefiting both wildlife and local communities. The geographic focus includes portions of Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia, ensuring a concentrated effort within this vital ecological corridor.

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) (Headquarters) Aquatic Resources Program protects and restores riparian and wetland areas, aquatic habitats, and water resources to provide functioning ecosystems for a combination of balanced and diverse uses including fish and wildlife, and for the long-term needs of future generations. BLM is requesting projects for the Aquatic Resources Program (15.244) that Build Drought Resilience in Arid Watersheds and/or restore healthy waters through Implementing and/or Increasing BLM’s Ability to Implement Riverscape and Wet Meadow Restoration. This program also supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI.

This grant provides funding to K-12 schools, healthcare facilities, and faith-based organizations in Arizona to create and maintain sustainable green spaces that improve environmental quality and community well-being.

This grant provides financial assistance to state and local governments in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania for acquiring land to protect valuable natural resources in the Highlands Region.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and local governments, Tribal organizations, educational institutions, and non-profits to improve outdoor recreation access and promote environmental stewardship in Idaho.

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) Education Grants program is designed to fund education and outreach activities that benefit the sustainable agriculture community. This grant directly aligns with SSARE's mission to promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, agricultural diversification, and best management practices. The core objective is to support projects that develop sustainable agriculture systems or move existing systems towards sustainability. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are farmers and farming communities, including those involved in indigenous agriculture producing for community food systems. Academic institutions, non-profits, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), 1890 land-grant university faculty/extension cooperators, 1862 land-grant universities, other colleges and universities, and government agencies are eligible to apply, acting as facilitators for these educational initiatives. The impact goals are centered on fostering a more sustainable, resilient, and economically viable agricultural sector through knowledge dissemination and practical application. Education Grants prioritize projects that clearly articulate what is being taught, to whom, and how the goals will be accomplished. Focus areas include experiential learning (demonstrations, on-farm tours, field days, workshops), integrative approaches (conferences, seminars, course curriculum), and reinforcement methods (fact sheets, bulletins, videos, online technologies). SSARE also encourages proposals on quality of life topics, such as heirs property, farmers’ markets, food hubs, local/regional processing, and urban agriculture systems, emphasizing the social health of farming systems. Expected outcomes include the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, enhanced farmer innovation, increased community resilience, improved business success for agricultural enterprises, and greater agricultural diversification. Projects should yield results that are realistic, acceptable to farmers, logical, and capable of leading to tangible actions and benefits described in the proposal. The grant projects are strictly focused on education and outreach, with no research component, and are paid by reimbursement of allowable expenses. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in the grant requirements, which mandate that project outcomes focus on sustainable agriculture systems and clearly demonstrate how education and outreach efforts will be implemented and evaluated. The theory of change underpinning this program is that by providing targeted education and outreach, knowledge and best practices will be transferred to farmers and communities, leading to the development and widespread adoption of sustainable agricultural methods and improved quality of life within farming systems. Project maximums are $50,000, with a duration limited to two years. Applicants from the Southern region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are eligible. Farmers involved in these projects must have farming/ranching as their primary occupation or part-time farming with at least $1,000 of documented annual income from their operation, with exceptions for indigenous agriculture.

This notice of funding opportunity is to advise the State lead agencies for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) of the availability of funds for projects to develop or update their State-wide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) or supporting elements of it, as well as for other types of recreation planning projects. The LWCF Act requires each state to develop and maintain a SCORP for overall program eligibility for LWCF grants. The LWCF State and Local Assistance program is implemented by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with designated lead agencies in each of the 50 States as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each fiscal year Congress allocates money from the LWCF for this program, which is in turn allocated to the States based on a legislative formula. To be eligible for the funding, States must have a current SCORP in place that assesses demand and need for outdoor recreation resources and sets priorities for the use of LWCF funds. Projects selected for LWCF funding should address priority needs or goals of the SCORP. The NPS must review and approve each States SCORP, which is updated at least once every 5 years. The LWCF Grant Assistance Manual establishes the eligibility, procedural, and programmatic requirements for LWCF grants. A copy of the current volume of the LWCF Financial Assistance Manual (Volume 72, October 1, 2023) can be found at FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MANUAL (nps.gov). Chapter 2 of the Manual outlines the SCORP process and requirements.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Chesapeake & Coastal Service (CCS) offers grants to support the sustainable development and use of Maryland waterways. Funded by the Waterway Improvement Fund (WIF), the program supports projects that improve and promote the recreational and commercial capabilities, conditions, and safety of Maryland’s waterways. Eligible applicants, including county, town, or city governments and state or federal agencies, can apply for projects such as constructing or maintaining public boating facilities, dredging channels, and purchasing fire/rescue vessels. Applications are due by September 18, 2024, with funding available starting July 1, 2025.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies to enhance environmental education and maintain green infrastructure at public and charter schools in Washington, D.C.

FY24 Bureau of Land Management New Mexico (NM) Cooperative Inspection Agreements with States and Tribes. Employment of Native Americans which will stimulate the Nations economy.Satisfying the BLM requirement for Oil & Gas Inspection and Enforcement requirements per FOGRMA.Training of Native American Inspectors per the National Certification Program for Oil & Gas I & E Personn. The BLM manages approximately 40,000 Federal onshore leases and well inventory of more than 94,000 across 32 States. These leases have generated in excess of $2 billion annually in bonus bids, royalties and rents in recent years of which nearly half is distributed to States in accordance with revenue sharing provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act and FOGRMA. In addition, the BLM manages operations on roughly 4,500 oil and gas leases on behalf of Native Tribes and individual Native mineral owners. The BLM seeks to ensure that the public’s oil and gas resources are developed in an environmentally responsible manner that maximizes recovery, while minimizing waste and providing a fair return for the taxpayer through accurate revenue collection. . This is accomplished through expediting leasing, streamlining well permitting, reservoir management, and the administration of operations, which includes prioritizing inspections based on risk and providing oversight of ongoing operations, as well as monitoring reclamation and abandonment activities. Another important component is the BLM’s Fiduciary Trust Responsibility to Indian Tribes, which is an obligation on the part of the United States to protect tribal treaty rights, lands, assets, and resources, as well as a duty to carry out the mandates of Federal law with respect to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and local governments, Tribal entities, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations for projects that enhance wildlife habitats, improve migration corridors, and promote climate resilience on public lands in Idaho.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations in Idaho for projects that enhance the preservation and accessibility of cultural and paleontological resources, with a focus on education, community engagement, and collaboration with tribal governments.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will support projects in the Great Lakes basin that implement the following strategic, priority actions: Mitigate Invasive Forest Insect and Disease ImpactsImplement targeted reforestation and forest protection actions to minimize invasive forest insect and disease impacts on watersheds. Reduce Runoff through Green Infrastructure Capture or treat stormwater runoff by planting trees and other vegetation as an integral component of green infrastructure. Restore and Connect Coastal and Riparian Forest Habitats Protect, restore, and enhance high-quality coastal zone and connecting riparian ecosystems where trees are an important component. The minimum and maximum Federal funding requests vary depending on program area, with an overall range of $50,000 to $300,000. Please review the funding table in the Request for Applications for the allowable ranges of each program area. An informational webinar will occur on July 23rd, 2024, at 9 am Central/10 am Eastern. The link is: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/91m9ed3hrjpkab7c1a5zly1ud025xxc5 The powerpoint can be found at: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/mffkiks7dyhmuewtir2liy7tllo06u16 The webinar recording is also posted on our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r9/workingtogether/grants/?cid=FSEPRD898819.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects that provide employment and training for young adults and veterans, helping them gain experience in environmental stewardship and resource management on public lands.

This funding opportunity is designed for research institutions and organizations within the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit to study the interactions and resource use among cattle, wildlife, and wild horses in Utah's fragile ecosystems.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and tribal governments, irrigation districts, and other water management entities in the Lower Colorado Basin and certain Pacific islands to implement projects that promote water conservation and efficient use.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for conservation projects aimed at protecting and recovering threatened and endangered species on public lands in Oregon and Washington, targeting eligible state and local governments, tribal organizations, educational institutions, and nonprofits.

This grant provides funding to state and local governments, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and educational institutions for projects that combat invasive species and noxious weeds on public lands in Alaska.

This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is the first in an anticipated series of Landowner Support for Forest Resilience NOFOs. Landowner Support for Forest Resilience is currently funded by four Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provisions (Public Law No: 117-169. Subtitle D, Sec. 23002(a) (1 ), (2), (3), and (4)), which encompass cost share and payment incentives for forestry practices and support participation of underserved landowners and small-acreage landowners (owning less than 2,500 acres) in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience. Landowner Support for Forest Resilience falls under the USDA Forest Service's existing Landscape Scale Restoration Program, as authorized under Section 13A of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109a). This program advances the Biden-Harris Administration's Justice40 Initiative. Established by Executive Order 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, the Justice40 Initiative has made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments, such as climate, clean energy, and other areas, flow to disadvantaged communities. This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) solicits proposals for two IRA provisions: Subtitle D, Sec. 23002 (a)(2) and Subtitle D, Sec. 23002 (a)(3). These provisions provide the USDA Forest Service with funding to:Support the participation of underserved forest landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience.Support the participation of forest landowners who own less than 2,500 acres of forest land in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience.

This funding opportunity is designed to support organizations in Napa County that focus on wildlife conservation, education, and habitat improvement projects, particularly those benefiting school-aged children.