Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00091
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program 2019 (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00091) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It uses Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) appropriations to tackle major environmental challenges in the Great Lakes ecosystem, with a strong focus on on-the-ground habitat work that supports healthy, self-sustaining populations of native species. The core conservation objective behind this particular funding round is to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands (both coastal and inland) and related upland habitats in ways that directly benefit Great Lakes fish and wildlife, especially migratory birds, and, when relevant, federally listed species.
A defining feature of this opportunity is where the work must occur and who it is meant to involve. Projects are expected to be implemented on privately owned lands (specifically non-federal and non-state lands) and must fall within the Great Lakes watershed. While applications can propose work anywhere in the watershed, the program places added emphasis on projects in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) and in coastal zones, reflecting GLRI priorities around restoring degraded areas and improving nearshore and coastal habitat function. In practice, this means the most competitive projects are typically those that align with recognized geographic priorities, contribute to measurable habitat improvements, and fit within broader watershed or coastal restoration strategies.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which signals that the Fish and Wildlife Service expects substantial involvement from agency staff during project development and implementation. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program itself is voluntary and incentive-based: it helps private landowners restore and conserve habitat through a combination of technical assistance (planning, design, biology expertise) and financial assistance delivered through these agreements. In the Great Lakes basin, PFW biologists working across eight states collaborate with partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs to identify geographic focus areas and establish habitat conservation priorities. These focus areas are essentially where the program concentrates resources to deliver the greatest benefit for federal trust species, and project work plans are meant to be developed strategically in coordination with partners, with meaningful participation by local Service field staff rather than being purely applicant-driven.
From a project design standpoint, proposals are expected to advance the Service mission, promote biological diversity, and rest on sound scientific principles. The notice emphasizes that program strategic plans guide what gets funded, so applicants are expected to review the relevant PFW strategic plan and align proposed outcomes with those priorities. A specific process expectation is also spelled out: prospective applicants should contact the PFW state coordinator before submitting an application. That step matters because it helps ensure the proposal fits geographic focus areas, uses appropriate restoration approaches, accounts for landowner participation and site constraints, and is positioned to succeed under a cooperative agreement model.
Eligibility is broad and includes many kinds of applicants who can partner with landowners or coordinate restoration work, such as state, county, and local governments; tribes and tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3)s); public housing authorities; individuals; and for-profit entities including small businesses. The activity category is environment and natural resources, and the associated CFDA number is 15.662. The opportunity opened February 6, 2019, with an original closing date of September 30, 2019 (with the instruction to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for details). The award ceiling is $100,000, and the Service anticipated making around 20 awards, suggesting a competitive program that favors well-scoped, implementable projects with clear ecological outcomes.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as targeted habitat restoration support for the Great Lakes basin, using a partnership model where the Fish and Wildlife Service works closely with applicants and private landowners to deliver wetland and upland habitat improvements in priority areas. Competitive applications would typically present a clear restoration plan on eligible private lands within the watershed, demonstrate alignment with PFW strategic priorities and GLRI goals (especially in AOCs and coastal zones), and show how the project will produce tangible benefits for native fish and wildlife, particularly migratory birds and other federal trust resources.Apply for F19AS00091
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program 2019" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.662.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 06, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2019 See NOFO for details.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program 2019 opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00091) administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It uses Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) appropriations to address major environmental challenges in the Great Lakes ecosystem, with an emphasis on on-the-ground habitat work that supports healthy, self-sustaining populations of native species.
What is the main conservation objective of this funding round?
The core conservation objective is to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands (both coastal and inland) and related upland habitats in ways that directly benefit Great Lakes fish and wildlife. The opportunity especially highlights benefits to migratory birds and, when relevant, federally listed species.
What types of habitats does this grant focus on?
The opportunity is focused on wetlands (coastal and inland) and related upland habitats that support Great Lakes fish and wildlife.
Where must projects be located to be eligible?
Projects are expected to occur within the Great Lakes watershed and be implemented on privately owned lands, specifically non-federal and non-state lands.
Are projects required to be in coastal areas or Areas of Concern (AOCs)?
No. Projects can be proposed anywhere within the Great Lakes watershed. However, the program places added emphasis on projects located in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) and in coastal zones, consistent with GLRI priorities.
Why does the opportunity emphasize Areas of Concern (AOCs) and coastal zones?
The added emphasis reflects GLRI priorities around restoring degraded areas and improving nearshore and coastal habitat function. Projects in these geographies are typically more competitive when they also deliver measurable habitat improvements and fit within broader restoration strategies.
What is the funding mechanism for awards under this opportunity?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which indicates that the Fish and Wildlife Service expects substantial involvement from agency staff during project development and implementation.
How does a cooperative agreement affect how a project is developed and carried out?
Under a cooperative agreement model, Fish and Wildlife Service staff are expected to have meaningful participation during project development and implementation. Projects are not intended to be purely applicant-driven; they are expected to be developed strategically in coordination with partners and local Service field staff.
What is the Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program and how does it relate to this opportunity?
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is voluntary and incentive-based. It supports private landowners in restoring and conserving habitat by providing technical assistance (such as planning, design, and biology expertise) and financial assistance through cooperative agreements. This funding round applies that PFW partnership model within the Great Lakes basin using GLRI appropriations.
Who is this program intended to involve?
Projects are expected to be implemented on privately owned lands and involve cooperation with private landowners, with coordination among applicants, partners, stakeholders, and Fish and Wildlife Service field staff.
What kinds of applicants are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; tribes and tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3)s); public housing authorities; individuals; and for-profit entities including small businesses.
Do projects have to benefit specific species groups?
Projects are intended to benefit Great Lakes fish and wildlife, with particular emphasis on migratory birds. When relevant, projects may also benefit federally listed species.
What are "federal trust species" in the context of this opportunity?
The notice describes PFW focus areas as places where the program concentrates resources to deliver the greatest benefit for federal trust species. Projects are expected to be developed strategically within those priorities and focus areas.
How are geographic focus areas used in this program?
In the Great Lakes basin, PFW biologists collaborate with partners and stakeholders to identify geographic focus areas and establish habitat conservation priorities. These focus areas guide where the program concentrates resources and inform how project work plans should be developed.
What does the opportunity say about project design and scientific standards?
Proposals are expected to advance the Fish and Wildlife Service mission, promote biological diversity, and be based on sound scientific principles.
How important is alignment with strategic plans?
Alignment is emphasized. The notice states that program strategic plans guide what gets funded, so applicants are expected to review the relevant PFW strategic plan and align proposed outcomes with those priorities.
Is there a recommended step before submitting an application?
Yes. Prospective applicants are expected to contact the PFW state coordinator before submitting an application. This step is highlighted as important for ensuring the proposal fits geographic focus areas, uses appropriate restoration approaches, accounts for landowner participation and site constraints, and is set up to succeed under a cooperative agreement model.
What kinds of projects are likely to be most competitive based on the notice?
The notice suggests that the most competitive projects typically (1) align with recognized geographic priorities such as AOCs and coastal zones, (2) contribute to measurable habitat improvements, (3) fit within broader watershed or coastal restoration strategies, and (4) show clear benefits for native fish and wildlife (especially migratory birds) while aligning with PFW strategic priorities and GLRI goals.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $100,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The Fish and Wildlife Service anticipated making around 20 awards.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 15.662.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is environment and natural resources.
When did the opportunity open and when was it originally scheduled to close?
The opportunity opened on February 6, 2019, and had an original closing date of September 30, 2019. The notice also instructs applicants to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for details.
Is this opportunity best suited for planning projects or on-the-ground implementation?
Based on the description, this opportunity is strongly focused on on-the-ground habitat work that produces tangible habitat improvements for Great Lakes fish and wildlife on eligible private lands.
What role do Fish and Wildlife Service staff play in Great Lakes basin projects under PFW?
PFW biologists working across eight Great Lakes states collaborate with partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs to identify focus areas and conservation priorities. For individual projects, local Service field staff are expected to have meaningful participation in developing and implementing work plans under the cooperative agreement approach.
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