Opportunity Information: Apply for F20AS00060
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F20AS00060) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Its core purpose is to put Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding toward projects that tackle major environmental challenges in the Great Lakes ecosystem by protecting, restoring, or enhancing habitat in ways that produce long-term conservation outcomes. The emphasis is on sustaining and rebuilding native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, with a particular focus on migratory birds and the habitats they depend on across the Great Lakes watershed.
A key feature of this opportunity is that it is coordinated through the two bird habitat joint ventures operating in the Great Lakes basin: the Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Venture and the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture. These joint ventures, working alongside the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs in the Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest and Northeast Regions, use a competitive process to fund projects proposed by states and other partners. In practice, that means applications are expected to align with established, science-based conservation priorities and to show how the proposed work fits into broader regional habitat strategies rather than being stand-alone, short-term efforts.
Project selection leans toward proposals that directly advance the habitat objectives laid out in major planning documents, especially the Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Venture Implementation Plan and the Lower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Plain (Bird Conservation Region 13) Bird Conservation Region Plan. Strong proposals can also be supported by other relevant bird conservation plans and by State Wildlife Action Plans, which helps demonstrate that the work contributes to documented statewide and regional conservation needs. The activities contemplated under this funding generally include on-the-ground actions such as securing durable habitat protection, restoring degraded wetlands or coastal systems, improving habitat quality, and implementing enhancements that measurably benefit priority species and ecological functions over time.
The notice also flags two geographic priorities that applicants are encouraged to highlight when applicable. First, projects located in known migratory bird stopover sites should be clearly identified, since these areas can be crucial for birds during migration when they need dependable places to rest and refuel. Applicants are pointed to the Great Lakes Migratory Bird Stopover Map Tool as a resource for identifying and documenting these stopover locations. Second, proposals occurring within watersheds associated with Great Lakes "Areas of Concern" (AOCs) should be highlighted as well, linking habitat work to places recognized for significant environmental degradation and ongoing remediation needs. Importantly, being in a stopover site and/or an AOC watershed is encouraged but not mandatory, so strong projects outside those areas can still be competitive if they meet program goals and planning priorities.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility includes state governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) designation (excluding institutions of higher education). The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is environment and natural resources under CFDA 15.662. The listed award ceiling is $300,000. The opportunity was originally posted on February 21, 2020, with an original closing date of April 17, 2020.Apply for F20AS00060
- 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 Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection" 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 21, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2020. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection grant?
This is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). It uses Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding to support projects that protect, restore, or enhance habitat in the Great Lakes ecosystem to achieve long-term conservation outcomes.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F20AS00060.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to address major environmental challenges in the Great Lakes ecosystem by funding habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement projects that produce durable, long-term conservation benefits.
What conservation outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The opportunity emphasizes sustaining and rebuilding native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, with a particular focus on migratory birds and the habitats they rely on across the Great Lakes watershed.
Which federal agency runs this grant program?
The program is run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. The program uses a competitive process coordinated through the Great Lakes basin bird habitat joint ventures, with involvement from FWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs in the Midwest and Northeast Regions.
How is the program coordinated in the Great Lakes basin?
Coordination occurs through two bird habitat joint ventures operating in the Great Lakes basin: the Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Venture and the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture. These joint ventures, working alongside FWS programs, help guide priorities and support a competitive project selection process.
What types of projects are expected to be most competitive?
Projects are expected to align with established, science-based conservation priorities and fit within broader regional habitat strategies. Proposals that read as stand-alone or short-term efforts are not as aligned with the stated emphasis as projects that clearly connect to joint venture and regional habitat objectives.
Which planning documents are specifically highlighted for alignment?
Project selection leans toward proposals that directly advance habitat objectives in major planning documents, especially the Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Venture Implementation Plan and the Lower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Plain (Bird Conservation Region 13) Bird Conservation Region Plan.
Can other plans be used to support a proposal?
Yes. The notice indicates that strong proposals can also be supported by other relevant bird conservation plans and by State Wildlife Action Plans to show the work contributes to documented statewide and regional conservation needs.
What kinds of activities can be funded under this opportunity?
The opportunity contemplates on-the-ground habitat actions such as securing durable habitat protection, restoring degraded wetlands or coastal systems, improving habitat quality, and implementing enhancements that measurably benefit priority species and ecological functions over time.
Does the program focus only on birds?
The emphasis includes sustaining and rebuilding native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, while calling out a particular focus on migratory birds and the habitats they depend on.
Are there geographic priorities applicants should highlight?
Yes. The notice flags two geographic priorities that applicants are encouraged to highlight when applicable: projects located in known migratory bird stopover sites and projects occurring within watersheds associated with Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs).
What are migratory bird stopover sites and how should they be addressed in an application?
Migratory bird stopover sites are areas that can be crucial during migration, providing dependable places for birds to rest and refuel. If a project is in a known stopover site, the notice indicates it should be clearly identified.
Is there a tool mentioned for identifying migratory bird stopover sites?
Yes. Applicants are pointed to the Great Lakes Migratory Bird Stopover Map Tool as a resource to identify and document stopover locations.
What are Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) and how do they relate to this grant?
AOCs are places recognized for significant environmental degradation and ongoing remediation needs. The notice encourages applicants to highlight proposals occurring within watersheds associated with AOCs, helping connect habitat work to areas with documented environmental challenges.
Is being in a migratory bird stopover site required?
No. Being located in a stopover site is encouraged but not mandatory, and projects outside those areas can still be competitive if they meet program goals and align with planning priorities.
Is being in an AOC watershed required?
No. Being located in an AOC watershed is encouraged but not mandatory, and projects outside those areas can still be competitive if they meet program goals and align with planning priorities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes state governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) designation (excluding institutions of higher education).
Are institutions of higher education eligible under the nonprofit category described?
No. The notice states that nonprofits without a 501(c)(3) designation are eligible, excluding institutions of higher education.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Environment and Natural Resources.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 15.662.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $300,000.
When was this opportunity originally posted?
The opportunity was originally posted on February 21, 2020.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was April 17, 2020.
What should an applicant emphasize to show their project is not a short-term stand-alone effort?
The notice emphasizes showing how the proposed work fits into broader regional habitat strategies and aligns with established, science-based conservation priorities, especially those found in the highlighted joint venture and bird conservation region plans.
What does the program mean by "durable" or "long-term" habitat outcomes?
Based on the description, the program is looking for habitat protection, restoration, or enhancement actions that persist over time and lead to measurable benefits for priority species and ecological functions, rather than temporary or isolated improvements.
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