Download - Funding Available Through the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and Tips for Habitat Grant Writing
Funding Available Through the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and Tips for
Habitat Grant Writing
Michael RedmerUS Fish & Wildlife Service Chicago Illinois Field Office 1250 South Grove Suite 103Barrington, Illinois 60010
The Mission of the US Fish & Wildlife Service:
• “Working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.”
USFWS “Trust Resources,” and their habitats.
• Migratory birds.
• Interjurisdictional fish.
• Federal endangered, threatened, and candidate species.
Also a strong interest in any other “aquatic” wildlife.
How do we accomplish our mission?
• Manage the National Wildlife Refuge System• Conserving habitat• Regulatory responsibility• Law enforcement• Education/outreach• Working with local governments• Working with not-for profit groups• Working with private landowners
Working with private landowners…including local units of government.
• Provide technical assistance
• Occasional funding
Is voluntary!
Two primary funding sources for local projects in NE Illinois:
• Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW)
• Northeast Illinois Wetland Conservation Account Grants (in Partnership with The Conservation Fund and Corps of Engineers).
• Challenge Cost-Share/Flex Funds
Partners for Fish & Wildlife
• Discretionary funds: Purchase order & simple agreement (NOT a grant).
• Cost share (1:1 landowner: USFWS).
• Small projects: (USFWS share <$5K).
• Project duration: 10 year minimum.
• Common small PFW projects:– Purchase/planting native seeds/plugs.– Install water control device/disable farm tile.– Brush cutting/licensed herbicide application.– Should not pay for prescribed burns.
Partners for Fish & Wildlife projects in Chicago Area Based Primarily on Trust Resource Benefits
• Migratory birds.• Interjurisdictional fishes.
– Other aquatic species/resources.• Federal endangered/threatened species.• USFWS Regional Priority species. See:
http://midwest.fws.gov/pdf/priority.pdf
Partners for Fish & Wildlife: Helps fund Lt. Governor Pat Quinn’s “Rain Garden Initiative.”
• For more information, go to:
www.standingupforillinois.org/cleanwater/raingardens.php
Challenge Cost Share/Flex Funds
• Several Dedicated Fund categories: – Non-Game Bird Conservation Research.– Joint Venture (wetland birds) Research.– Great Lakes Coastal Habitat.– Challenge Cost Share (must benefit National Wildlife Refuge).
• Awards range from $3K to $25K (Coastal).
• “RFP” Mailed, proposals due in early Autumn.
• Apply through Chicago Office.
• Projects must be completed in one year.
Other Sources: National Grants & Federal Aid
• National Coastal Wetlands Conservation.
• North American Waterbird Conservation Act (NAWCA)– May work with Chicago Office to develop proposal.
• State Wildlife Grants (“SWG”).
– Requires 1:1 match, but is a federal grant administered by IDNR…may not be matched with fed funds.
USFWS Funding Breakdown
Fund Source Available to Match? Amounts
PFW USFWS/CIFO Private landowners, local gov’t
1:1 required <$5,000
Flex Funds
USFWS/Region 3 (apply through CIFO)
Local gov’t NGO’s
1:1 “strongly suggested”
$5,000-$25,000
Federal Aid
USFWS Division of Federal Aid (develop project w/CIFO)
States & participating partners
Depends on partners and program
Varies, up to $1M
NAWCA USFWS Division of Migratory birds (develop project w/CIFO)
States and local partners
Depends on partners and program
$50,000 small
$1M large
Important Web Sites:
• Chicago Illinois Field Office, Habitat Restoration/Funding Pages:http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Chicago/habitatrestoration.htm
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Chicago/fundsources.htm
• USFWS National/Federal Assistance Grants:http://www.fws.gov/grants/
A Few Tips for Grant Writers
• Always try to get matching funds, even if not required.
• Get technical assistance/feedback early in game.
• Express benefits and outcomes as cost per acre.
• Don’t submit incomplete proposals.
• But be concise (no “phone books”).
• Double, and triple check your arithmetic.
• Provide realistic timetables; avoid requesting extensions.