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F25AS00332 Highlands Conservation Act – Competitive Funding Round

Fish and Wildlife Service · Opportunity number F25AS00332

View the official notice on Grants.gov
15 days left (deadline Oct 31, 2026)

Details summarized from the official notice as of Oct 15, 2026. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines and requirements in the official notice before applying.

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Key facts

Opportunity numberF25AS00332
AgencyFish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior
Assistance listing (ALN, formerly CFDA)15.667
PostedMay 19, 2026
DeadlineOct 31, 2026
Award ceiling$3,850,000
Award floor$25,000
Expected number of awards4
Estimated total program funding$3,850,000
Cost sharing or matching requiredYes
Funding typeGrant
CategoryNatural resources
Last updated hereOct 15, 2026

Summary from the notice

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 Competitive Funding Round in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. A separate Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted for Base 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

Who can apply

The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible:

  • State governments

Who should take a closer look

  • State governments

Not listed as eligible

  • Small businesses
  • Nonprofits
  • Colleges and universities
  • Local governments
  • Tribal governments and organizations
  • Larger for-profit companies
  • Individuals

Unless the eligibility text in the notice names you, this opportunity is probably not for you.

Eligibility details from the notice

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.gov

Cost sharing: this notice requires cost sharing or matching funds. Check the notice for the required share and what counts toward it.

Registrations you will likely need

Most applications submitted through Grants.gov need the following. Registration can take several weeks, so start early. The notice lists the exact requirements.

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