Wetland Program Development Grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, has announced the Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants under funding opportunity number EPA-REG3-WPDG-25. This program is funded under Assistance Listing 66.461 and is designed to assist states, Tribes, territories, local governments, interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia in developing or refining wetland protection and management programs. The goal of this initiative is to increase the quantity and quality of wetlands in the United States by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving overall wetland condition. Applicants are encouraged to use the Core Elements of a Wetlands Program and develop Wetland Program Plans to strengthen capacity at multiple levels of government. The program is anticipated to distribute approximately $2.4 million in total funding, subject to the availability of future appropriations. Awards are expected to range from one to four years in duration, with no single project period exceeding five years. Applicants may request up to $900,000 per project. The EPA expects to issue between six and twelve awards, with approximately $1.7 million allocated for Track One applicants (states, Tribes, and territories working with EPA-approved Wetland Program Plans) and approximately $700,000 reserved for Track Two applicants (local governments, interstate agencies, intertribal consortia, and certain state-affiliated universities). The EPA reserves the right to partially fund projects or make additional awards within six months of the original selections if more funds become available. Eligibility for this grant is limited to state governments, local governments, federally recognized tribes, intertribal consortia, interstate agencies, and public institutions of higher education that are agencies of a state. For-profit organizations, individuals, and federal agencies are not eligible. Additionally, all projects must take place within EPA Region 3, which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, or on tribal lands within these states. Applicants must ensure their projects develop or refine wetland programs and must avoid implementation-only projects, such as those intended solely to carry out established practices. Certain activities, such as land acquisition, conventional wetland restoration, mitigation banking, or required permit compliance, are specifically ineligible. The program requires a minimum 25 percent cost share from applicants, except for tribes or intertribal consortia including their award under a Performance Partnership Grant, in which case no match is required. Cost share contributions may be cash or in-kind and must comply with federal cost accounting standards. Applicants must include a budget narrative and annualized work plan for the duration of their proposed projects. Special attention is given to demonstration projects, which must employ innovative or experimental approaches and share results for broader benefit. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by November 13, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. A question submission deadline is set for October 30, 2025. Applicants must have an active account with SAM.gov and a Unique Entity Identifier to apply. Anticipated notifications of selection will occur in February 2026, with award notifications following in March 2026. Submission must include required forms such as SF-424, SF-424A, EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54, EPA Form 4700-4, and a detailed project narrative not exceeding 26 double-spaced pages. Evaluation of applications will be based on nine weighted criteria totaling 100 points, including project need and environmental benefits, project tasks, milestone schedules, budgets, transfer of results, environmental outcomes, organizational capacity, partnerships, and past performance. Successful projects must demonstrate measurable outputs and outcomes aligned with EPA’s Five Pillars, particularly those related to clean air, land, and water, and cooperative federalism. Award notices will be issued by the EPA Region 3 Acquisition and Assistance Branch, and recipients will be required to comply with post-award reporting and administrative conditions, including federal quality assurance and invasive species control standards. The primary technical contact for this program is Megan Fitzgerald, who can be reached at 215-814-2721 or Fitzgerald.Megan@epa.gov. Grants.gov support is available for electronic submissions at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. Additional provisions, including program-specific requirements, can be found in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity and referenced EPA policies.