Region 3 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants

The Region 3 Wetland Program Development Grants support efforts to develop and refine wetland protection programs at the state, Tribal, territorial, and local government levels across EPA Region 3. This region encompasses Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Assistance Listing 66.461, the Wetland Program Development Grant (WPDG) program provides competitive financial assistance for projects that increase wetland acreage and improve wetland condition through capacity building, scientific advancement, and policy development. Its statutory authority stems from Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act, which enables EPA to fund activities that coordinate and accelerate research, investigations, training, demonstrations, and studies to prevent and eliminate pollution. The program’s primary goal is to help governmental entities develop comprehensive, long-term wetland protection programs. These efforts are guided by the Wetlands Program Core Elements Framework and Wetland Program Plans (WPPs), which outline actions that enhance monitoring, regulatory tools, and restoration activities. Funding may support projects such as developing wetland inventories and maps, establishing wetland water quality standards, improving Section 401 and 404 permitting programs, conducting condition assessments, or integrating wetland conservation into broader watershed management plans. However, implementation-only projects—those performing routine tasks without developing new knowledge or methodologies—are ineligible. Two funding tracks are offered. Track One (WPP) is for state, Tribal, or territorial applicants with approved Wetland Program Plans, or those developing or updating one. Track Two (Non-WPP) is open to local governments, interstate agencies, intertribal consortia, and universities that are agencies of a state, supporting actions from Appendix A: Program Development and Refinement Actions. Applicants must clearly align their proposed actions with either an approved WPP or the eligible activities listed in the appendix. Projects may span one to four years, with most lasting up to five years. EPA anticipates approximately $2.4 million in total funding, awarding roughly 6–12 grants. About $1.7 million is reserved for Track One and $700,000 for Track Two, with a maximum individual award of $900,000. Awards may be issued as grants or cooperative agreements, with substantial EPA involvement possible. Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, interstate and intertribal organizations, federally recognized tribes, and colleges or universities that are agencies of a state government. Applicants must provide a minimum 25 percent cost share of the total project cost, which may consist of cash or documented in-kind contributions. Tribal and intertribal applicants who include their award within a Performance Partnership Grant (PPG) are exempt from this match requirement. “For profit” entities, individuals, and federal agencies are not eligible to apply. Projects must be conducted within EPA Region 3 or on tribal lands located within those states. Applications are submitted electronically via Grants.gov. Applicants must maintain active registration in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The submission deadline is November 13, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with questions due by October 30, 2025. EPA anticipates notifying selected applicants by February 2026 and awarding funds by March 2026. The submission package must include the SF-424, SF-424A, EPA Form 4700-4, EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54, and a detailed Project Narrative of no more than 26 double-spaced pages. Required narrative sections include project need, environmental benefits, budget, milestone schedule, outputs and outcomes, programmatic capability, and partner descriptions. Applications are reviewed based on criteria such as project need, clarity of tasks, budget reasonableness, environmental and programmatic outcomes, and transferability of results to other jurisdictions. Additional factors include partnerships, organizational capability, and past performance under federal assistance agreements. Final selections are made by the Region 3 Water Division Director, with consideration for geographic distribution and funding balance between tracks. Awardees must comply with EPA’s General Terms and Conditions, data quality and invasive species control policies, and national geospatial data standards. Reporting requirements include progress and financial reports consistent with 2 CFR Part 200 and 1500. The EPA emphasizes transparency, expecting results and lessons learned to be shared broadly to advance wetland protection programs across the region.

Demonstrate clear need, show measurable outcomes, describe transfer of results, maintain logical budget and strong partner engagement.