Region 2 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants

The Region 2 Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDG) opportunity, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2, supports the enhancement of state, Tribal, territory, and local wetland programs. The WPDG program aims to improve the quality and quantity of wetlands across the U.S. by helping governmental agencies develop or refine their wetland protection and management programs. These grants align with EPA’s broader goal to build the capacity of all levels of government to manage wetland resources effectively, guided by the Wetlands Program Core Elements Framework and, when applicable, approved Wetland Program Plans (WPPs). The EPA anticipates awarding between six to eight grants totaling up to $1,730,000 under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), EPA-REG2-WPDG-25. Funding will be distributed across two tracks: Track One for states, Tribes, and territories engaged with EPA-approved WPPs or developing them, and Track Two for non-WPP applicants including local governments, intertribal consortia, interstate agencies, and qualifying universities. Each track may receive approximately $865,000. Applicants may propose projects lasting from one to five years, with a maximum federal request of $300,000 per application. EPA may issue awards incrementally and reserves the right to adjust the number of awards and funding levels based on application quality and budget availability. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia, institutions of higher education, and interstate agencies. Applicants must demonstrate that their project activities fall within EPA Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To be eligible, applicants must focus on developing or refining wetland programs rather than implementing traditional restoration practices. Projects must relate to research, demonstrations, surveys, or training; conventional implementation and mitigation projects are ineligible. A minimum 25% non-federal cost share is required unless waived, as in some Tribal and Insular Area cases. The application package must include standard federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, EPA Form 4700-4, and others), along with a detailed project narrative that describes the project need, environmental benefits, tasks, milestone schedule, budget, partnerships, and evaluation plan. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM ET on April 10, 2026. Applicants may submit multiple proposals for different projects, provided each is submitted separately under the appropriate track. Projects will be evaluated against criteria including the clarity of project need and environmental benefit, feasibility of tasks and budget, partnerships, and the strength of the plan for tracking and transferring results. Applications are scored on a 100-point scale and reviewed within their respective track categories. Successful applicants can expect notification of selection by June 2026, with awards anticipated in October 2026. The performance period may extend up to five years. The program is recurring, with annual cycles, making it critical for applicants to plan strategically for future rounds based on EPA priorities and outcomes.

Highlight environmental benefits; focus on transferability of results; ensure eligibility of project types and use of funds.