Natural Resources Grants

The USDA Forest Service’s funding opportunity, "Recreation Sites and Visitor Services: Creating Quality Recreation Experiences," aims to cultivate partnerships to improve recreation opportunities on National Forest System lands. This Outreach of Interest (OOI) is not a traditional grant program but serves as a mechanism to engage potential partners in identifying collaborative projects. It seeks to generate ideas for programs or initiatives that address recreation needs, enhance visitor experiences, and support infrastructure improvements. By fostering partnerships, the USDA Forest Service aims to build capacity, improve recreational offerings, and ensure the long-term stewardship of public lands. The primary goal of this initiative is to create and maintain high-quality recreational experiences. This includes addressing the increased demand for outdoor recreation, enhancing access to public lands, improving safety, and maintaining or upgrading the extensive infrastructure on National Forest System lands. The USDA Forest Service manages 160,000 miles of trails, 10,000 developed recreation sites, and 196 million acres of forest and grasslands, which are visited by millions annually. Partnerships are vital for meeting growing recreational demands, maintaining infrastructure, and engaging communities in conservation and stewardship. This funding opportunity does not specify a monetary award ceiling or floor, as its primary purpose is to explore project ideas rather than allocate direct funding. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities, such as for-profit and non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, federal, state, local, and Native American tribal governments, and other public entities like school districts and conservation districts. The USDA Forest Service values collaborations that address shared goals and create opportunities for community engagement, job training, conservation education, and improved access to public lands. Applications should outline ideas for programs or projects that align with the USDA Forest Service’s objectives. Potential projects might involve enhancing infrastructure resiliency to weather events, improving access for activities like hunting or fishing, or increasing the capacity of recreational sites to serve visitors. Submitted proposals should demonstrate how partnerships will help address the challenges of maintaining high visitor standards while accommodating growing demand. Applicants are encouraged to innovate and propose solutions that foster long-term sustainability and stewardship. Submissions must follow specific guidelines outlined in the "Outreach of Interest Template Instructions" document. Applicants should save their forms under a new name before uploading them to ensure proper submission. While this OOI does not include specific funding terms, successful partnerships could lead to future agreements or collaborative initiatives under the USDA Forest Service’s legislative authority. The application period closes on **January 23, 2025**, with an original deadline extension previously set for February 7, 2025. Interested parties should ensure their proposals are submitted promptly and in compliance with submission requirements. For additional information or assistance, applicants can contact Robin Taylor-Davenport from the Outreach and Partnership Engagement Branch. This opportunity provides a platform for diverse entities to collaborate with the USDA Forest Service in supporting outdoor recreation. Through innovative partnerships, it aims to enhance the recreational experience for millions of visitors while promoting sustainable land stewardship and community involvement.

This funding opportunity provides support for various organizations and partners to collaborate with the USDA Forest Service in protecting and managing significant cultural heritage sites on public lands across the nation.

The "Wildlife Habitat Enhancement" grant from the USDA Forest Service aims to partner with various organizations and communities to improve wildlife habitats on national forest lands through projects like creating artificial structures and controlling erosion, with the goal of conserving species, fostering environmental stewardship, and enhancing recreational activities.

This funding opportunity is designed to support organizations in creating inclusive outdoor recreation programs that engage underrepresented communities and promote equitable access to national forests and grasslands.

This funding opportunity supports partnerships among various organizations and institutions to conserve at-risk plant species and pollinators on national forests and grasslands through innovative conservation measures and habitat restoration efforts.

This funding opportunity is designed to support a variety of organizations in their efforts to improve the management and restoration of endangered grassland ecosystems across the nation.

This program provides over $1.2 million in funding to support public and nonprofit entities in Texas for projects that enhance urban forestry, improve community resilience, and promote environmental health.

This grant provides financial support to job training programs in Greater Boston, helping participants in healthcare, clean energy, and childcare sectors access essential wraparound services to ensure their success.

This program provides financial assistance to Vermont farmers, custom operators, and non-profit organizations for purchasing innovative equipment that improves water quality and reduces agricultural waste runoff.

This funding opportunity supports Colorado non-profits and government entities in collaborating on conservation and recreation planning to enhance outdoor experiences and engage underrepresented communities.

This program provides financial assistance to dam owners in California for the repair and improvement of aging dams to enhance safety and restore water storage capacity amid climate challenges.

This grant provides funding to coalitions in Arizona to implement significant systems changes that improve community health and wellbeing over a three-year period.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to New York State municipalities for developing or expanding food scraps recycling programs to promote sustainable waste management and reduce landfill waste.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipalities in New York State for developing or expanding food scraps recycling programs to promote sustainable waste management and reduce landfill waste.

This program provides financial assistance to property owners in DuPage County for projects that improve water quality and reduce flooding in local waterways.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that develop innovative resources and services to help adults in the middle or late stages of their careers with reskilling, upskilling, and career navigation, particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profit organizations in Syracuse to help individuals and families secure and maintain stable housing through prevention, rapid re-housing, and outreach services.

This program provides an opportunity for project sponsors to receive expert feedback on their water quality restoration or protection project ideas before applying for funding to address nonpoint source pollution.

This funding program provides financial support to New York State municipalities and organizations for projects focused on waste reduction, recycling, and managing household hazardous waste, helping them implement sustainable practices.

This program provides matching funds to local governments, nonprofits, and tribes in Colorado to replace high-water-use turf with water-efficient landscapes, promoting water conservation and community engagement.