Data / Federal grants / F25AS00379
F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round
Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior) is accepting applications until October 31, 2026. It lists awards of up to $2.3 million, 4 awards expected, $9.2 million in total. Cost sharing is required.
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Key facts
- Opportunity number
- F25AS00379
- Status
- Posted, open
- Posted
- May 19, 2026
- Closes
- October 31, 2026
- Award ceiling
- $2,293,362
- Award floor
- $25,000
- Expected awards
- 4
- Total funding
- $9,173,450
- Cost sharing
- Required
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
- Natural Resources
- Assistance listing
- 15.667 Highlands Conservation
- Contact
- Fish and Wildlife Service · [email protected] · 22041-3803
Who can apply
- State governments
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: [email protected] York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Contact Lynn Kovach: [email protected] Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. Contact Liz Ward: [email protected] Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Contact Dan Pierce: [email protected] 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 B
What the agency says
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
Other open grants from the Department of the Interior
| Opportunity | Status | Closes | Award ceiling | Total funding | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States F26AS00107 | Open | Oct 24 | $600,000 | $1,950,000 | grants.gov |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) G27AS00165 | Open | Oct 30 | $330,000 | $330,000 | grants.gov |
| F26AS00071 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants F26AS00071 | Open | Oct 30 | $26,000,000 | $26,000,000 | grants.gov |
| F25AS00332 Highlands Conservation Act – Competitive Funding Round F25AS00332 | Open | Oct 31 | $3,850,000 | $3,850,000 | grants.gov |
| Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed P27AS00032 | Open | Nov 4 | $50,000 | $1,000,000 | grants.gov |
| WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS FY2026 (104g General) G27AS00164 | Open | Nov 12 | $120,000 | $462,500 | grants.gov |
All grants open to State governments · Everything closing in October 2026
Read from the Grants.gov API, last updated 2026-10-23. The agency's notice on Grants.gov is the official record; check it before you apply.