Open for applications

Federal funding opportunity

F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round

Fish and Wildlife Service

  • OpportunityF25AS00379
  • Agency codeDOI-FWS
  • CategoryDiscretionary (D)
71 days until applications close Sat, October 31, 2026
PostedMay 19, 2026 ClosesOct 31, 2026
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Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.

$9.2M Est. program funding
$2.3M Award ceiling
$25,000 Award floor
4 Expected no. of awards

Program summary

Synopsis

The Highlands Conservation Act Program (HCA) is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in the protection of land and natural resources in the Highlands Region. HCA grants support land conservation projects in which a State, County, or Municipal entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to conserve resources of high conservation value.Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals for up to 50% of the total cost of land conservation projects in the Highlands Region.Funding appropriated under the HCA is typically divided into two separate categories – Base and Competitive. Eligible applicants may submit requests for the Base Funding Round in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. A separate Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted for Competitive Funds. A project may not be proposed for funding in both funding opportunities.More information on the HCA program is available at www.fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act-grant

Timeline

Key dates

  • May 19, 2026
    Opportunity posted to grants.gov
  • August 21, 2026
    Today — 71 days of the window remain
  • October 31, 2026
    Applications close

Who may apply

Eligibility

Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:

  • State governments
Additional info on eligibility
Only the Lead State Agency (or Agencies) as determined by the Governor of each Highlands State may be the applicant for funding under the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program. If the Governor assigns multiple Lead Agencies, those Agencies must coordinate on funding requests prior to submission and ensure no more than the maximum allowable amount is requested through this funding opportunity. All or part of the funds received by the Lead State Agency may be subawarded to a County or Municipality within the Highlands Region, or to another State Conservation Agency.The current Lead State Agencies are:Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Contact Matt Starr: matthew.starr@ct.govNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Contact Lynn Kovach: lynn.kovach@parks.ny.govNew Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. Contact Liz Ward: elizabeth.ward@highlands.nj.govPennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Contact Dan Pierce: danipierce@pa.govIn FY 2026, $9,173,450 in Base funding is available for grants to Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Each State may request up to $2,293,362 in Base funding. The earliest anticipated project start date is January 1, 2026. Project periods will be no longer than 4 years from the date the grantee is notified of an award. Period of performance extensions may be considered under extenuating circumstances. If the funds are unspent when a grant closes and the HCA grant program is still actively funded, unspent funds will be returned to the program to be redistributed through the next Competitive Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity. If each of the four eligible States does not request the full $2,293,362 available, remaining funds will be distributed through either the concurrent or the next Competitive Grant Round Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Cost sharing or matching
Required

Awarding agency

Additional information

Agency name
Fish and Wildlife Service
Grantor contact
Fish and Wildlife Service
22041-3803
Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov

Assistance listing

CFDA program(s)

  • 15.667 Highlands Conservation

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