This is a Fish and Wildlife Service program funding fish and wildlife restoration, research, and habitat work in the Great Lakes Basin, with awards from $2,000 to $500,000 and cost sharing required. It fits conservation groups, governments, tribes, universities, and small businesses doing on-the-ground or research work in the Basin. If your business has no connection to Great Lakes fish, wildlife, or habitat, do not bother applying.
| Industry | Estimated fit |
|---|---|
| Environment & ConservationMatches your industry (conservation) | 80 |
| Education & TrainingMatches your industry (stem) | 61 |
| Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Arts & CultureLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Energy & Clean TechLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Finance & BankingLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Industry | Estimated fit |
|---|---|
| Food & BeverageLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Healthcare & BiotechLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Housing & Real EstateLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| ManufacturingLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Social Services & NonprofitLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Technology & SoftwareLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Closes in 13 days | 54 |
| Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Closes in 13 days | 53 |
| Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Closes in 13 days | 53 |
These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.
Funds fish and wildlife restoration, research, and regional projects in the Great Lakes Basin. Open to states, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, universities, individuals, and small businesses; cost sharing required. Awards range from $2,000 to $500,000 depending on proposal type.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) requests interested entities to submit research, restoration, and Regional Project proposals for the restoration of the Great Lakes Basin fish and wildlife resources, as authorized under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (16U.S.C. 941c). The purpose of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (GLFWRA) is to provide assistance to States, Indian Tribes, and other interested entities to encourage cooperative conservation, restoration, research, and management of the fish and wildlife resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. Supported in part by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, we expect approximately $3.5 million to support proposals this fiscal year. Available funding and proposal awards are subject to final Congressional appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026. Up to 33 and one-third percent of the total Congressional appropriation to the GLFWRA is eligible to fund Regional Project proposals. Expected award funding for Regional Project proposals is between $200,000 to $500,000. Successful restoration and research proposals have ranged from $2,000 to $500,000 with the average proposal at $217,843. Expected award funding for restoration and research proposals is between $10,000 and $250,000. Selected restoration and research proposals and Regional Project proposals will be awarded funding for the duration of the proposal via a grant or cooperative agreement between the recipient and the Service. Funding will be made available once the official award letter has been received by the successful applicant and the performance period has started. Continuation of proposals funded in previous fiscal years are eligible but will be considered and reviewed as a new proposal. Restoration and research proposals will be awarded a grant agreement and Regional Project proposals will be awarded a cooperative agreement under this announcement. Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network partners that submit Regional Project proposals that qualify as CESU proposals will be subject to the CESU indirect cost rate cap. Regional Projects are authorized activities of the Service related to fish and wildlife resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement impacting the resources of multiple States or Indian Tribes with fish and wildlife management authority in the Great Lakes Basin. The two-page restoration and research pre-proposals and Regional Project proposals are submitted to the Service to determine eligibility and the Proposal Review Committee (PRC) scores and ranks the proposals using GLFWRA Review Criteria (Review Criteria). Successful restoration and research pre-proposal applicants are invited to submit full proposals, which are scored and ranked by the PRC using the Review Criteria. The PRC recommends the restoration and research full proposals and Regional Project proposals for funding to the Service’s Midwest Region 3 Regional Director for approval. Successful restoration and research and Regional Project proposal applicants can anticipate receiving an official grant or cooperative agreement award letter between January and March 2027.
The proposal activities (e.g., habitat restoration and barrier removal) must be within the Great Lakes Basin or impact a fish or wildlife species (e.g., research, assessment) present in the Great Lakes Basin to be eligible for funding.
Topics
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