Opportunity Information: Apply for F23AS00462
F23AS00462, the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program - Competitive Funding, is a federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help four states (Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) conserve land and natural resources in the Highlands Region. The program focuses on permanent land protection by supporting projects where a state, county, or municipal entity acquires land, or an interest in land (such as a conservation easement), from a willing seller. The intent is to safeguard areas with high conservation value, including important water resources, habitat, and other natural assets that are considered strategically significant for long-term protection.
A central requirement of this funding is that proposed conservation projects must align with the Highlands areas identified as high resource value in two key planning documents developed under direction of the Highlands Conservation Act: the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study 2002 Update and the Highlands Regional Study Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update. In other words, projects are expected to be located in, and consistent with, the mapped or described priority areas established through those studies. Funding is dependent on annual federal appropriations, and the program is structured around a cost-share approach: each year, the governors of the four Highlands states may submit proposals requesting up to 50 percent of the total project cost, meaning applicants should expect to provide the remaining match through state, county, municipal, or other eligible non-federal sources consistent with program rules.
This specific notice covers the Competitive funding category. Highlands Conservation Act appropriations are split into two tracks, Base and Competitive, with separate notices posted for each. One practical implication is that the same property cannot be submitted under both tracks; applicants must choose one route per property to avoid duplication. The competitive round is intended to select from among proposals and fund those that best meet the program priorities and requirements, within the limits of available appropriations.
Eligibility is tightly defined. While projects themselves may involve counties, municipalities, or other state conservation entities, only the Lead State Agency (or agencies) designated by each governor is allowed to apply directly to this federal opportunity. If a governor designates multiple lead agencies, they must coordinate before submitting to ensure they do not collectively request more than the maximum allowable amount under this opportunity. After award, the lead state agency may subaward funds to counties or municipalities within the Highlands Region, or to another state conservation agency, allowing on-the-ground projects to be carried out by the local or specialized entity best positioned to complete the acquisition and long-term protection.
The notice frames the program within broader national conservation and resilience goals, including alignment with the Biden-Harris Administrations America the Beautiful Initiative, which promotes conserving 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. The grant emphasizes benefits that are especially relevant to the Highlands: protecting drinking water supplies serving millions of people, strengthening climate resilience across a heavily populated region, expanding access to outdoor recreation close to where many Americans live, and conserving habitat that supports diverse fish and wildlife, including species identified as at-risk priorities by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include that it is a discretionary grant (CFDA 15.667) under the Fish and Wildlife Service, with eligible applicants categorized as state governments through their designated lead agencies. The opportunity was created July 28, 2023, with an original closing date of November 30, 2023. The listed award ceiling is $5,468,500. The agency also scheduled an online overview webinar for August 29 at 11:00 AM Eastern, with attendance handled by requesting a link from the service contact listed in the notice.
The current lead state agencies identified in the notice are the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. These agencies serve as the official applicants and coordinators for competitive requests and, when appropriate, can pass funds through to counties and municipalities to complete eligible conservation acquisitions in the Highlands.Apply for F23AS00462
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F23AS00462-Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program - Competitive Funding" 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 2023-07-28.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-11-30. (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 $5,468,500.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program - Competitive Funding (F23AS00462)
What is opportunity F23AS00462?
F23AS00462 is a federal discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program. This notice covers the Competitive Funding category.
What is the purpose of the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program?
The program supports permanent land protection in the Highlands Region by helping conserve land and natural resources with high conservation value. It is intended to safeguard strategically significant areas such as important water resources, habitat, and other natural assets for long-term protection.
Which states are covered by this grant program?
The program is focused on four Highlands states: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
What types of projects does the program fund?
The program focuses on permanent land protection by supporting projects where a state, county, or municipal entity acquires land, or an interest in land (such as a conservation easement), from a willing seller.
Does the seller have to be willing?
Yes. The notice describes eligible projects as acquisitions from a willing seller.
What does "an interest in land" mean in this notice?
The notice provides conservation easements as an example of an interest in land that may be acquired to achieve permanent protection.
What does "permanent land protection" mean in the context of this program?
Based on the notice, the emphasis is on acquisitions (fee title) or interests such as conservation easements intended to safeguard lands with high conservation value for the long term.
How do I know if a property is in an eligible priority area?
Projects are expected to align with Highlands areas identified as high resource value in two planning documents developed under direction of the Highlands Conservation Act: the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study 2002 Update and the Highlands Regional Study Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update. Proposed projects should be located in, and consistent with, the mapped or described priority areas established through those studies.
Which planning documents control the priority areas for this program?
The notice cites two key documents: (1) the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study 2002 Update and (2) the Highlands Regional Study Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update.
Is this the Base funding track or the Competitive funding track?
This specific notice covers the Competitive funding category. The program is split into Base and Competitive tracks, and separate notices are posted for each.
Can the same property be submitted under both Base and Competitive tracks?
No. The notice indicates that the same property cannot be submitted under both tracks, and applicants must choose one route per property to avoid duplication.
Who is eligible to apply directly to the federal opportunity?
Eligibility is narrowly defined: only the Lead State Agency (or agencies) designated by each governor is allowed to apply directly to this federal opportunity.
Do counties or municipalities apply directly to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under this notice?
No. The notice states that only the designated Lead State Agency may apply directly. However, after award, the lead state agency may subaward funds to counties or municipalities within the Highlands Region (or to another state conservation agency) so those entities can carry out eligible acquisitions.
Can a state have more than one lead agency?
Yes. If a governor designates multiple lead agencies, the notice says they must coordinate before submitting to ensure they do not collectively request more than the maximum allowable amount under this opportunity.
What is the cost-share requirement?
The program uses a cost-share approach. Each year, governors of the four Highlands states may submit proposals requesting up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Applicants should expect to provide the remaining match through state, county, municipal, or other eligible non-federal sources consistent with program rules.
What is the maximum federal share a proposal can request?
Based on the notice description, proposals may request up to 50 percent of the total project cost.
Where can the match come from?
The notice indicates the remaining share is expected from state, county, municipal, or other eligible non-federal sources, consistent with program rules.
Is funding guaranteed every year?
No. The notice explains that funding is dependent on annual federal appropriations.
How are competitive awards selected?
The competitive round is intended to select from among proposals and fund those that best meet the program priorities and requirements, within the limits of available appropriations.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity listing includes an award ceiling of $5,468,500.
What agency administers this grant?
The grant is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The notice frames it as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The notice lists CFDA 15.667.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on July 28, 2023, and the original closing date listed is November 30, 2023.
Does the program connect to broader national conservation goals?
Yes. The notice frames the program within broader national conservation and resilience goals, including alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration's America the Beautiful Initiative (including the goal of conserving 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030).
What benefits does the notice emphasize for Highlands conservation projects?
The notice emphasizes benefits including protecting drinking water supplies serving millions of people, strengthening climate resilience in a heavily populated region, expanding access to outdoor recreation close to where many Americans live, and conserving habitat supporting diverse fish and wildlife, including species identified as at-risk priorities by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Was an informational webinar offered for this opportunity?
Yes. The agency scheduled an online overview webinar for August 29 at 11:00 AM Eastern, and attendance was handled by requesting a link from the service contact listed in the notice.
Which lead state agencies are identified in the notice?
The notice identifies the following lead state agencies: the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council; and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
What role do lead state agencies play after an award is made?
After award, the lead state agency may subaward funds to counties or municipalities within the Highlands Region, or to another state conservation agency, so that the acquisition and long-term protection work can be completed by the most appropriate entity.
What is the main conservation mechanism supported by the program?
The notice centers on acquisition-based conservation, meaning purchase of land or purchase of an interest in land (for example, a conservation easement) from a willing seller, to achieve permanent protection.
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| FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Cultural and Paleontology Resource Management Apply for L24AS00075 Funding Number: L24AS00075 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $32,000 |
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