Opportunity Information: Apply for F24AS00446
F24AS00446, titled "Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) - Base Funding Round," is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help permanently protect land and natural resources in the Highlands Region across Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The program is focused on land conservation projects that secure property or conservation interests (such as easements) from willing sellers so that areas with high conservation value can be protected long-term. In practical terms, the funding is meant to support projects where government entities obtain land or rights in land specifically to conserve important natural resources in the Highlands.
A central feature of the HCA program is its cost-share structure. Subject to federal appropriations, the Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals requesting federal funding for up to 50 percent of the total project cost. This makes the program a matching-style investment, where state and local partners are expected to bring the remaining share of funding or value needed to complete the acquisition or conservation action. The opportunity also notes that Highlands States may ask the Service to add municipalities from an identified Expanded Opportunity Area for the Highlands Landscape into the official Highlands Region, which can expand where eligible conservation work may occur over time.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity specifically covers the Base funding category. The HCA program typically splits appropriated funds into two buckets: Base and Competitive. Eligible applicants can apply under this notice for Base funds, while Competitive funds will be offered through a separate notice. In addition, the Service is piloting a third, separate notice this year aimed at land protection projects in under-resourced and under-served communities within the Highlands Region. An important rule is that the same project cannot be submitted for funding across multiple HCA funding opportunities, so applicants need to choose the single most appropriate track for each project.
Eligibility is limited in a very specific way. While conservation projects can involve state, county, and municipal acquisitions, only the Lead State Agency (or agencies) designated by each Governor is allowed to apply directly for funding under the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program. If a Governor designates more than one Lead Agency in a state, those agencies must coordinate before applying to ensure the request does not exceed the maximum allowable amount for this funding opportunity. After an award is made, the Lead State Agency can pass through all or part of the federal funds by subawarding to a county or municipality within the Highlands Region, or to another state conservation agency, which is how local projects are commonly supported even though local governments do not apply directly to the Service.
Key administrative details in the posted data include the funding instrument type (grant), the activity category (natural resources), and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number 15.667. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,462,500 and an original closing date of 2024-12-31. The listed eligible applicant type is state governments, reflecting the requirement that only the designated Lead State Agency may submit the application. The opportunity was created on 2024-08-29.
The notice also advertises an online overview of the funding opportunity scheduled for Friday, September 27 at 11:00 AM EST, with invitations provided by emailing the Service contact referenced in the notice (Section G.1). For state-specific coordination and project development, the notice directs interested parties to the current Lead State Agencies and their contacts: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (Matt Starr, matthew.starr@ct.gov), New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (Lynn Kovach, lynn.kovach@parks.ny.gov), New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Liz Ward, elizabeth.ward@highlands.nj.gov), and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Dan Pierce, danipierce@pa.gov).Apply for F24AS00446
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F24AS00446 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round" 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 2024-08-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-31. (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 $1,462,500.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is grant opportunity F24AS00446?
F24AS00446 is the "Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) - Base Funding Round" Notice of Funding Opportunity. It is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support land conservation projects in the Highlands Region.
Which federal agency runs this program?
The program is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is the main purpose of the Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) program?
The purpose is to help permanently protect land and natural resources in the Highlands Region by supporting projects that secure property or conservation interests (such as conservation easements) from willing sellers so areas with high conservation value can be protected long-term.
What kinds of projects are the funds intended to support?
Funds are intended to support land conservation projects where government entities obtain land or rights in land specifically to conserve important natural resources in the Highlands Region. This includes acquiring full ownership of land or acquiring conservation interests such as easements.
What does "permanently protect" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, the program focuses on long-term conservation outcomes by supporting acquisitions of land or conservation interests (for example, easements) that are intended to protect high-value conservation areas over the long term.
Where can projects be located?
Projects must be located within the Highlands Region across Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Can the eligible geography change over time?
Yes. The opportunity notes that Highlands States may ask the Service to add municipalities from an identified Expanded Opportunity Area for the Highlands Landscape into the official Highlands Region, which could expand where eligible conservation work may occur over time.
Is this the only funding round under the HCA program?
No. The HCA program typically splits appropriated funds into two categories: Base and Competitive. This notice covers the Base funding category. Competitive funds will be offered through a separate notice.
Is there any special pilot funding opportunity mentioned?
Yes. The Service is piloting a separate notice this year aimed at land protection projects in under-resourced and under-served communities within the Highlands Region.
Can the same project be submitted to multiple HCA funding opportunities?
No. The opportunity states that the same project cannot be submitted for funding across multiple HCA funding opportunities. Applicants must choose the single most appropriate track for each project.
How does the HCA cost-share (matching) structure work?
Subject to federal appropriations, the Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals requesting federal funding for up to 50 percent of the total project cost. This means the program generally requires a match: state and local partners are expected to provide the remaining share of funding or value needed to complete the acquisition or conservation action.
What is the maximum federal share that can be requested?
The notice describes that proposals may request federal funding for up to 50 percent of the total project cost (subject to federal appropriations).
Who is eligible to apply directly for this grant?
Eligibility is limited to the Lead State Agency (or agencies) designated by each Governor. Only those designated Lead State Agencies may apply directly for funding under the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program.
Are county or municipal governments eligible to apply directly to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under this opportunity?
No. While projects can involve county and municipal acquisitions, local governments do not apply directly to the Service under this program. Applications are submitted by the designated Lead State Agency.
How can local projects be supported if municipalities cannot apply directly?
After an award is made, the Lead State Agency may pass through all or part of the federal funds by subawarding to a county or municipality within the Highlands Region, or to another state conservation agency. This is the mechanism described for supporting local projects.
What if a Governor designates more than one Lead State Agency?
If more than one Lead Agency is designated in a state, those agencies must coordinate before applying to ensure that the request does not exceed the maximum allowable amount for this funding opportunity.
What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What activity category does this grant fall under?
The activity category listed is natural resources.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided is 15.667.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $1,462,500.
When is the closing date for this funding opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2024-12-31.
When was this opportunity created (posted)?
The opportunity was created on 2024-08-29.
Is there an informational webinar or overview session?
Yes. The notice advertises an online overview scheduled for Friday, September 27 at 11:00 AM EST.
How do you get an invitation to the online overview?
Invitations are provided by emailing the Service contact referenced in the notice (Section G.1).
Who are the Lead State Agency contacts for state coordination and project development?
The notice lists the following Lead State Agencies and contacts:
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Matt Starr (matthew.starr@ct.gov)
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation: Lynn Kovach (lynn.kovach@parks.ny.gov)
- New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council: Liz Ward (elizabeth.ward@highlands.nj.gov)
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Dan Pierce (danipierce@pa.gov)
What is the eligible applicant type shown in the posted opportunity data?
The listed eligible applicant type is state governments, reflecting that only the designated Lead State Agency may submit the application.
Does this notice cover Base funding only, or also Competitive funding?
This notice specifically covers the Base funding category. Competitive funds are expected to be offered through a separate notice.
Who submits proposals for federal funding under the cost-share structure?
The opportunity states that, subject to federal appropriations, the Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals requesting federal funding for up to 50 percent of the total project cost, with applications submitted by the designated Lead State Agency (or agencies) for each state.
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| Highlands Conservation Act - Pilot - Under-Resourced Communities Funding Round Apply for F24AS00447 Funding Number: F24AS00447 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $830,862 |
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| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management Apply for L25AS00072 Funding Number: L25AS00072 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $18,000 |
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