Deadline: 12-Jan-22
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking applications for the Great Lakes Fish Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants competition to provide federal financial and technical assistance to habitat restoration projects that meet NOAA’s mission to restore coastal habitats and support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) goal to protect and restore habitats to sustain healthy populations of native fish species in the eight U.S. Great Lakes states.
Priorities
Highest priority will be given to applications that:
- Propose habitat restoration activities that substantially contribute to GLRI goals including:
- GLRI Focus Area 1 – Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern: Habitat restoration that contributes to implementing management actions within the following AOCs will be given the highest priority in this competition: Milwaukee Estuary, Lower Green Bay and Fox River, Cuyahoga River, Maumee River, St. Lawrence River at Massena, Niagara River, Torch Lake, Rouge River, Kalamazoo River, Saginaw River and Bay, St. Louis River, Detroit River, and Grand Calumet River.
- GLRI Focus Area 4 – Habitat and Species: Through this competition they intend to address GLRI Focus Area 4 goals by prioritizing a subset of habitat restoration projects identified by the Lake Committees as Environmental Priorities to meet fish community objectives for Great Lakes fish species. Lake Committees are composed of senior officials from state, provincial, and U.S. intertribal fishery agencies, convened by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Together, they are responsible for managing the Lakes’ fisheries and developing plans and guidance to sustain healthy populations of Great Lakes commercial and recreational fish species.
- Exhibit a capacity to manage concurrent habitat restoration projects over multiple years, and an ability to manage federal funds, maintain financial and administrative records, and fulfill reporting requirements. The applicant should demonstrate a willingness to coordinate with NOAA to conduct technically sound restoration projects to address program priorities.
- Demonstrate willingness and ability to work with stakeholders and communities. Applicants should propose projects that were developed through inclusive processes and demonstrate appropriate and diverse stakeholder support. Applicants should also plan to disseminate information about project plans, benefits and results with relevant stakeholders and local communities.
Funding Information
- NOAA anticipates typical federal funding for awards will range from $500,000 to $5 million over one to three years. NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal funding request of less than $300,000 or more than $30 million total over three years. NOAA anticipates up to $10 million will be available under this Announcement in FY22.
- Applications should cover a period of performance between 12 and 36 months, but may select a project where the period of performance extends up to 48 months. The earliest anticipated start date for awards will be October 1, 2022. Award periods may be extended, at the discretion of NOAA and based on project needs, up to the extent legally allowable, typically 5 years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, non-profits, commercial (for profit) organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local and Native American tribal governments.
- Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be considered.
- Federal agencies are strongly encouraged to work with states, nongovernmental organizations, municipal and county governments, and others that are eligible to apply.
- Eligible applicants may be located anywhere but must propose work within the Great Lakes basin and within one of the eight U.S. Great Lakes states (New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota).
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=336437
