Natural Resources Grants

Recreational boating is a popular activity; there are approximately 11 million registered motorized recreational vessels in the United States. Of this total, an estimated 596,000 are at least 26 feet long. The Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178) established the Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Program (16 U.S.C. 777g-1) to provide funding to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (States) for the construction, renovation and maintenance of boating infrastructure facilities for transient recreational vessels at least 26 feet long that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered primarily for pleasure. The Act amended the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777). Subsequent reauthorizations of the Act allow expenditures from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and the continuation of the BIG Program. Boating infrastructure means the structures, equipment, accessories, and services that are necessary or desirable for a facility to accommodate eligible vessels. Transient vessels are those passing through or by a place, staying up to 15 days. Projects completed using BIG funds must provide public access, but may be publicly or privately owned. This package is the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 BIG Tier 1 grants.

This funding opportunity is designed to support projects that enhance climate resilience, protect wildlife habitats, and improve water management in California's communities.

Recreational boating is a popular activity; there are approximately 11 million registered motorized recreational vessels in the United States. Of this total, an estimated 596,000 are at least 26 feet long. The Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178) established the Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Program (16 U.S.C. 777g-1) to provide funding to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (States) for the construction, renovation and maintenance of boating infrastructure facilities for transient recreational vessels at least 26 feet long that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered primarily for pleasure. The Act amended the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777). Subsequent reauthorizations of the Act allow expenditures from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and the continuation of the BIG Program. Boating infrastructure means the structures, equipment, accessories, and services that are necessary or desirable for a facility to accommodate eligible vessels. Transient vessels are those passing through or by a place, staying up to 15 days. Projects completed using BIG funds must provide public access, but may be publicly or privately owned. This package is the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 BIG Tier 2 applications.

The Outreach and Restoration Grant Program is a collaborative effort between the Chesapeake Bay Trust and various partners including BGE, Charles County, the City of Baltimore Department of Public Works, and others. This program is designed to foster community engagement, raise awareness, and facilitate on-the-ground restoration projects. Its core mission aligns with increasing knowledge, changing behaviors, and accelerating the stewardship of natural resources within Maryland. The Trust encourages projects that recognize the interconnectedness of environmental and human health, aiming for co-benefits such as improved air quality, access to green spaces, and reduced flooding, alongside direct natural resource improvements. The program targets a diverse range of organizations, encompassing both community-related and environmental-focused missions. Eligible applicants include 501(c)3 private nonprofits, faith-based organizations, community and homeowners associations, public agencies, and educational institutions. The overarching impact goals are to increase public understanding of environmental challenges and solutions, address community environmental health disparities, implement demonstration-scale community-inspired restoration projects, and expand the base of public support for the restoration and protection of Maryland's natural resources. Projects funded through this grant program must meet one or both of two primary goals: engaging specific audiences in community sustainability and environmental health issues through knowledge-building or behavior-change efforts, and accomplishing on-the-ground restoration that enhances the health of Maryland's natural resources, specifically through water quality improvement or habitat enhancement. These priorities are further broken down into four distinct funding tracks: Outreach/Knowledge Building (up to $50,000), Behavior Change (up to $75,000), Restoration (up to $100,000), and Outreach and Restoration (up to $125,000), allowing applicants to focus on their specific expertise and project scope. Expected outcomes and measurable results include increased knowledge and altered behaviors among community members regarding environmental stewardship. On-the-ground restoration projects are expected to yield tangible improvements in water quality and habitat health. The program seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness of community-led stewardship efforts and address local environmental health disparities. By engaging a broad spectrum of organizations and communities, the Chesapeake Bay Trust and its partners aim to build a stronger, more informed base of support for long-term environmental protection and restoration across the state of Maryland.

The overarching goal of the Risk MAP Program is to enhance flood-resilient communities, including underserved communities. The CTP Program supports this goal by establishing, maintaining, and improving collaborative working relationships; ensuring timely and accurate delivery of data to communities to support flood risk reduction and mitigation; and program ownership. Additionally, CTP supports Risk MAPs goal of ensuring the long-term flood resiliency of communities, including underserved communities. The objectives of the CTP program are primarily to support the mission and objectives of the NFIPs Flood Hazard Mapping Program through FEMAs flood hazard identification and risk assessment programs, including the Risk MAP program. Objectives include: Ensure extensive stakeholder engagement throughout the lifecycle of a project so that stakeholders have access to flood hazard data and risk information to validate and use for community resiliency. Stakeholders in CTP projects typically include community and tribal leaders; business and property owners; regional, tribal, and state partners; and local elected officials. Enhance communities ability to make informed decisions on development using updated information by ensuring it is delivered to communities in a timely manner and on budget. Improve acceptance and use of the flood hazard data and risk information, through delivery of high-quality products to communities. Increase understanding of flood hazard and risk elements, leading to quality partnerships between CTPs and their communities, and between FEMA and CTPs, by providing training and engagement throughout the project.Applicants can submit applications for this funding opportunity through FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO). Access the system at https://go.fema.gov/

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is offering a grant ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to municipalities in New York for the adoption of zero-emission vehicles and installation of electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fuel filling stations, with a total of $750,000 available in the seventh round of the Municipal ZEV Rebate Program.

The overarching goal of the Risk MAP Program is to enhance flood-resilient communities, including underserved communities. The CTP Program supports this goal by establishing, maintaining, and improving collaborative working relationships; ensuring timely and accurate delivery of data to communities to support flood risk reduction and mitigation; and program ownership. Additionally, CTP supports Risk MAPs goal of ensuring the long-term flood resiliency of communities, including underserved communities. The objectives of the CTP program are primarily to support the mission and objectives of the NFIPs Flood Hazard Mapping Program through FEMAs flood hazard identification and risk assessment programs, including the Risk MAP program. Objectives include: Ensure extensive stakeholder engagement throughout the lifecycle of a project so that stakeholders have access to flood hazard data and risk information to validate and use for community resiliency. Stakeholders in CTP projects typically include community and tribal leaders; business and property owners; regional, tribal, and state partners; and local elected officials. Enhance communities ability to make informed decisions on development using updated information by ensuring it is delivered to communities in a timely manner and on budget. Improve acceptance and use of the flood hazard data and risk information, through delivery of high-quality products to communities. Increase understanding of flood hazard and risk elements, leading to quality partnerships between CTPs and their communities, and between FEMA and CTPs, by providing training and engagement throughout the project.Applicants can submit applications for this funding opportunity through FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO). Access the system at https://go.fema.gov/

The Anderson Water Council is currently accepting applications for grants focused on the protection and remediation of water resources within Anderson County, specifically within Georgia and South Carolina. This grant program is designed to align with the Anderson Water Council's mission to assist Savannah Riverkeeper and Upstate Forever in identifying, prioritizing, and funding projects that empower citizens to address existing and emerging threats to water resources. The core objective is to restore water quality in the impacted areas of the Savannah River watershed. The target beneficiaries for this grant funding include not-for-profit charitable corporations or trusts authorized to operate in South Carolina or Georgia with a mission aligned with the Water Council's goals. Additionally, the Georgia and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Commissions, and Departments of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism are eligible. Educators, municipalities, school systems, and any agency, commission, or instrumentality of such a municipality in the impacted areas are also encouraged to apply. The impact goals are centered on empowering local communities to take action and collect and publicly share water quality data, ultimately leading to improved water quality. The program prioritizes projects that empower local communities to actively participate in water resource management, particularly those focused on data collection and public sharing of water quality information. Funding is also available for water restoration projects. The Water Council is particularly interested in initiatives that foster citizen engagement and education around water resource issues. The expected outcomes include a more engaged citizenry, increased awareness of water quality threats, and the implementation of effective water restoration efforts. Measurable results for citizen empowerment and education projects typically see average individual grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, while water restoration projects can receive up to $100,000. Grants may also include multi-year awards, not exceeding three years. The Anderson Water Council's strategic priority is to support initiatives that contribute directly to the restoration and protection of the Savannah River watershed, with a strong emphasis on community-led solutions and data-driven approaches. Their theory of change suggests that by empowering local communities with funding and support for data collection and restoration, significant improvements in water quality and resource protection can be achieved.

Private entities must be authorized to conduct business in the State of California, by either being registered with the California Secretary of State as a business located in California, being registered as a foreign (out–of–state or out–of–country) business or processing a business license issued by a California city, county, or city and county. Private, non-profit entities, in addition to being registered with the California Secretary of State, must also be registered with the California Department of Justice, and appear on their Registry of Charitable Trusts. If a non-profit entity is excluded from registering with the Department of Justice, proof must be provided with the application. Eligible applicants include: Collection Programs (CP) that are building workforce development for innovative redemption models. The Collection Program must be certified and in good standing with CalRecycle. Workforce Development innovative recycling redemption models include:• Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) • Bag Drop Projects Available Funds• $ 5,000,000 is available for this grant cycle, fiscal year 2022–23, subject to funding availability. • $ 750,000 is the minimum available for individual grant awards.• $ 2,500,000 is the maximum available for individual grant awards.

The "F25AS00014 Sea Duck Joint Venture FY25 Competitive Grants" is a funding opportunity aimed at promoting the conservation of North American sea ducks by supporting scientific research and effective management strategies, with a focus on preventing further listings of sea duck species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and contributing to the understanding of sea duck populations and habitat needs.

The IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Alaska Good Neighbor Authority grant aims to fund partnerships with states, counties, and tribes for the planning and implementation of restoration projects on forest, rangeland, and watershed areas, with a focus on treating diseased trees, reducing hazardous fuels, and improving overall ecosystem health, including wildlife habitats.

The "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 Vermont" is a funding opportunity offering up to $1,000,000 to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in Vermont, with individual awards not exceeding $200,000, and applications are due by September 30, 2024.

The Michigan Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) offers the Environmental Justice (EJ) Impact Grant program. This program is designed to reduce environmental health burdens and impacts within Michigan’s Environmental Justice communities. The core mission of this grant aligns with the broader goal of promoting environmental equity and public health, particularly in areas disproportionately affected by environmental issues. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are residents within Michigan’s Environmental Justice communities. The overarching impact goal is to positively affect these residents by funding place-based and equity-focused projects. This direct focus on communities facing environmental injustice ensures that the grant addresses critical needs where they are most prevalent, aiming for tangible improvements in their living environments and health outcomes. The program prioritizes several key areas for funding. These include community improvement projects aimed at enhancing public health, initiating or expanding monitoring of background pollution levels in air, water, or soil (with air monitoring equipment classified as air quality sensors and not for regulatory use), new or improved equipment or management techniques to improve indoor air quality in schools, and the remediation/redevelopment of contaminated or blighted sites. These priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to environmental justice, addressing both pollution and its direct impacts on community well-being. Expected outcomes include measurable improvements in public health through community projects, enhanced understanding of pollution levels via monitoring, better indoor air quality in schools, and the revitalization of environmentally degraded areas. The program has a total of $20,000,000 available, with a maximum of $500,000 per applicant. This substantial funding allows for significant, impactful projects. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Tribes, community-based non-profit organizations (including grassroots and frontline organizations), schools, institutions of higher education, and local governments, reflecting a strategic approach to engage diverse stakeholders in achieving environmental justice.

The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement is to provide for Mexican Spotted Owl (MSO) surveys at Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (Station). In order to accomplish this objective, the Cooperator shall conduct presence/absence surveys for MSOs at the same MSO calling stations censused from 2006 to 2023. The Cooperator shall follow the same survey methodology and calling routes as described in Johnson et al. (2007). All surveys will be designed and conducted in accordance with the current approved USFWS MSO protocol (USFWS 2003). The Cooperator shall document the age, sex, and activity (calling, foraging, roosting, etc.) of all MSOs or any other owl species detected during surveys. The Cooperator shall possess a current federal endangered species permit from the USFWS authorizing the Cooperator to conduct MSO surveys. Please see the statement of work, provided as a separate document, for a full description of the project.

Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service NHQ Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP)The U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service NHQ Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is collaborating with National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through an interagency agreement for implementation of the Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Pilot Project Cooperative Agreement Program.Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Pilot ProjectNotice of Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CFWR-24-NOFO0001412Assistance Listing: This program is listed in the Assistance Listings (previously referred to as the Catalog of Federal Financial Assistance) on Sam.gov under 10.935, which can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/home.SAM is a web-based, government-wide application that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the federal government's trading partners in support of the contract awards, grants, and electronic payment processes.Notice of Funding Opportunity SummaryThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), under OUAIP, is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to host a CFWR pilot project for fiscal year (FY) 2024For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov.Key DatesApplicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on September 4, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.A webinar has been pre-recorded and is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvexAMyuY2o.The presentation and supporting information are posted in the Related Documents tab of this opportunity. The recorded webinar is also available on https://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/coop-agreements.The agency anticipates making selections by November 2024 and expects to execute awards by January 2025. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.Federal Funding Floor and Ceiling AmountsThe estimated funding floor for this opportunity is $75,000, and the estimated funding ceiling is $400,000. The funding floor means the minimum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. The funding ceiling is the maximum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. These numbers refer to the total agreement amount, not any specific budget period.Federal Financial Assistance TrainingThe funding available through this NFO is Federal financial assistance. Grants 101 Training is highly recommended for those seeking knowledge about Federal financial assistance. The training is free and available to the public via https://www.cfo.gov/resources/federal-financial-assistance-training/.It consists of five modules covering each of the following topics:1) laws, regulations, and guidance; 2) financial assistance mechanisms; 3) uniform guidance administrative requirements; 4) cost principles; and 5) risk management and single audit. FPAC agencies also apply Federal financial assistance regulations to certain non-assistance awards (e.g., non-assistance cooperative agreements).

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is soliciting proposals to reduce whale mortality from fishing gear entanglement in Southern California. This grant directly aligns with NFWF's mission to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats for current and future generations by addressing a critical threat to cetacean populations. The program aims to provide compensatory restoration for injuries to cetaceans caused by the Refugio Beach Oil Spill (RBOS), thereby mitigating past environmental damage and fostering healthier marine ecosystems. The primary beneficiaries of this program are cetaceans in Southern California, particularly those susceptible to entanglement in fishing gear. The impact goals are to increase the capacity of the entanglement response network, improve documentation and disentanglement efforts, and broadly support activities that reduce serious injuries or mortalities from entanglements. This initiative contributes to the foundation's strategic priority of healthy oceans and coasts by safeguarding marine mammals. The program prioritizes several key areas to achieve its goals. These include directly enhancing entanglement response in Southern California, and potentially beyond if it benefits local cetaceans, coordinating with federal, state, and local resource agencies to improve the overall West Coast Marine Mammal Entanglement Response Program, and training and developing volunteer response capacity. Furthermore, proposals should outline how activities will contribute to the development of the overall capacity and infrastructure of the program. Expected outcomes include a more robust and efficient entanglement response network, a reduction in the number of entangled cetaceans, improved survival rates of entangled animals through effective disentanglement, and enhanced coordination among relevant agencies. Measurable results would likely involve metrics such as the number of successful disentanglements, the increase in trained responders, and the documented reduction in entanglement-related mortalities. An estimated $250,000 will be available for a Phase 1 project award, anticipated to last 1-2 years, with a priority geographic focus on the coastlines off Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties.

This funding opportunity is designed to support projects that enhance climate resilience, protect wildlife habitats, and improve water management in California's rivers and streams.

The Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), announces the availability of up to $1 million in California State General Funds for the Evaluation and Technical Assistance (ETA) for the Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Fund (DOGWF). The DOGWF ETA PY 23-24 awardee will be responsible for providing evaluation and technical assistance for DOGWF PY 23-24 program awardees as they pioneer initiatives that guide displaced oil and gas workers into new jobs and career trajectories by extending beyond singular sectors, committed to securing stable, well-compensated, and gratifying roles for these workers across diverse industries. The DOGWF ETA PY 23-24 grant aims to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of DOGWF projects. The initiative seeks to fund an organization with expertise in assessing program and operational capacity, facilitating Communities of Practice (CoPs), conducting a developmental evaluation for continuous learning and improvement, and addressing the needs of displaced workers impacted by energy sector shifts for future policy and program planning. In addition, the ETA awardee will support program grantees with developing and implementing strategies for partnership development, participant assessment, skills transfer, career navigation, administering training stipends, providing wrap-around support, identifying relevant career pathways and training programs, and guidance on participant tracking and performance outcomes reporting. Applicants for the DOGWF ETA must be organizations with the capacity, relationships, and expertise to deliver ETA to grantees across the state. Proposals from non-profit or for-profit consulting, technical assistance, evaluation, capacity-building organizations, labor organizations, community colleges, adult education providers, workforce boards, and education and training providers will be accepted. Proposals must be received by 3 p.m. PST on July 22, 2024. An informational webinar will be held on June 25, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. PST.  Pre-registration is required for all attendees. Please register through the following link by June 24, 2024 by 9 a.m. PST: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EOwky4VSQ06lWDMieX-9bA The EDD encourages applicants to submit a Notice of Intent to apply by July 1, 2024, at noon to WSBSFP1@edd.ca.gov. To view this SFP, visit the EDD Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals webpage

This shoreline restoration project contributes to the Navys efforts to provide a stable and secure natural environment in which to carry out mission activities and air operations. The work under this Cooperative Agreement will contribute to the future stabilization of the existing shoreline and the conservation of shoreline habitat.

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.