Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00236
The Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.667) to help conserve priority lands and natural resources in the Highlands Region. The program is grounded in the Highlands Conservation Act (H.R. 1964, enacted in 2004; 16 U.S.C. 3901), which focuses on protecting land with high conservation value by supporting land conservation projects where a state entity acquires land, or an interest in land (such as a conservation easement), from a willing seller. The central goal is permanent protection of important resources in the Highlands, using federal dollars to leverage state-led conservation acquisitions.
Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically the Highlands states of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Proposals are submitted at the state level, and the notice indicates that each year, subject to federal appropriations, the Governors of these four states may submit project proposals. The federal share can cover up to 50 percent of the total project cost, meaning applicants must provide the remaining match through state funds and/or other non-federal sources, consistent with typical cost-share conservation acquisition programs. Because the funding is tied to annual appropriations, the availability and amount of funding can vary year to year.
Projects must align with the locations and priorities identified by the USDA Forest Service through the regional assessments that mapped and documented lands with high resource and conservation value. Specifically, proposed acquisitions need to be consistent with the areas identified in the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study 2002 Update and the Highlands Regional Study Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update. In practical terms, this means the program is not open-ended across the entire region; it is aimed at lands that have already been vetted and highlighted in these studies as particularly important for conservation outcomes.
For the referenced funding announcement (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00236), the opportunity was created on July 9, 2018, with an original closing date of August 17, 2018. The funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is natural resources, and the program anticipated making about four awards. The stated award ceiling was $473,000, which suggests relatively targeted, acquisition-focused awards rather than large-scale multi-year program grants. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a cost-share funding source to help Highlands states complete high-priority land or easement acquisitions from willing sellers, ensuring long-term protection of the region's most valuable conservation lands as defined by the federal regional studies.Apply for F18AS00236
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.667.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 09, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 17, 2018. (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 $473,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program FAQs
What is the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program?
The Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.667). Its purpose is to help conserve priority lands and natural resources in the Highlands Region by supporting state-led land conservation acquisitions.
What law authorizes this grant program?
The program is grounded in the Highlands Conservation Act (H.R. 1964, enacted in 2004; 16 U.S.C. 3901). The Act focuses on protecting land with high conservation value in the Highlands by leveraging federal funds to support conservation acquisitions carried out by state entities.
What is the main goal of the program?
The central goal is permanent protection of important resources in the Highlands Region. Federal dollars are used to leverage and partially fund state-led acquisitions of land or interests in land so that high-value conservation areas are protected long term.
What types of projects does the program fund?
The program supports land conservation projects where a state entity acquires land, or an interest in land, from a willing seller. An interest in land can include a conservation easement, not just full ownership.
Does the program require landowners to sell?
No. The program specifically supports acquisitions from a willing seller, meaning participation is voluntary on the landowner side.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments in the Highlands states of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Proposals are submitted at the state level.
Can local governments, nonprofits, or individuals apply directly?
Based on the information provided, eligibility is limited to state governments (Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania). The notice describes proposals being submitted at the state level by the Governors of these states, and it does not indicate eligibility for local governments, nonprofits, or individuals to apply directly.
How are proposals submitted?
Proposals are submitted at the state level. The notice indicates that each year (subject to federal appropriations), the Governors of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania may submit project proposals.
What is the federal cost-share limit?
The federal share can cover up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Applicants must provide the remaining portion as match through state funds and/or other non-federal sources, consistent with cost-share conservation acquisition programs.
What can be used for the required match?
The match must be provided through state funds and/or other non-federal sources. The information provided describes the match requirement at this level but does not list specific match source rules beyond being non-federal and consistent with typical cost-share acquisition programs.
Is funding available every year?
Funding availability is tied to annual federal appropriations, so the availability and total amount of funding can vary from year to year.
What geographic area does the program focus on?
The program focuses on the Highlands Region, with an emphasis on lands identified as having high resource and conservation value through USDA Forest Service regional assessments and studies.
Do projects have to be in specific pre-identified locations?
Yes. Proposed acquisitions must be consistent with the areas identified in the relevant Highlands regional studies. The program is targeted to lands already mapped and documented as high-priority for conservation rather than being open-ended across the entire region.
Which studies define the eligible priority areas?
Projects need to be consistent with the areas identified in the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study 2002 Update and the Highlands Regional Study Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update.
What is the role of the USDA Forest Service studies in this program?
The USDA Forest Service regional assessments mapped and documented lands with high resource and conservation value. The grant program relies on these studies to define the locations and priorities where conservation acquisitions should occur.
Which federal agency runs this opportunity?
The opportunity is run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for the referenced announcement?
The referenced funding announcement lists Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00236.
When was the referenced opportunity posted and when did it close?
For Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00236, the opportunity was created on July 9, 2018, and the original closing date was August 17, 2018.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What activity category does this grant fall under?
The activity category is natural resources.
How many awards were anticipated under the referenced announcement?
The program anticipated making about four awards under the referenced funding announcement.
What was the maximum award size (ceiling) for the referenced announcement?
The stated award ceiling was $473,000 for the referenced announcement.
Is this funding intended for large multi-year programs or targeted projects?
Based on the stated award ceiling and the description, the opportunity is best understood as relatively targeted, acquisition-focused support rather than a large-scale multi-year program grant.
What kinds of conservation outcomes does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes long-term, permanent conservation protection in the Highlands Region by supporting acquisitions (including easements) of lands identified as high value in the federal regional studies.
How does the program use federal funds to achieve its goals?
Federal funds are used as a cost-share to leverage state-led conservation acquisitions. The federal government can cover up to half of project costs, with the state and other non-federal sources providing the remaining match.
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