USDA Forest Service - GLRI Forest Restoration 2021 | USDA FS GLRI FR21

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS GLRI FR21

The USDA Forest Service - GLRI Forest Restoration 2021 grant opportunity is a discretionary funding program designed to support forest and watershed restoration projects across the Great Lakes basin. The program is rooted in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) priorities and focuses on practical, on-the-ground actions where trees and forests play a central role in improving ecosystem health, water quality, and habitat connectivity. In general, the Forest Service is looking to fund projects that deliver measurable restoration outcomes tied to watershed protection and resilience in Great Lakes landscapes.

The opportunity emphasizes three main priority action areas. First, it supports efforts to mitigate forest insect and disease impacts by funding targeted reforestation and forest protection actions that reduce damage from invasive insects and pathogens and, in turn, protect watersheds. This can include activities that restore forest cover after pest or disease impacts, improve species composition for resilience, and implement protective measures that reduce future risk. Second, it funds projects that reduce runoff from degraded sites through green infrastructure, specifically by capturing or treating stormwater using trees and other vegetation as core components of nature-based solutions. This priority aligns with urban and community forestry, stormwater management, and site rehabilitation approaches that reduce polluted runoff and erosion. Third, it supports the restoration and connection of coastal and riparian forest habitats by protecting, restoring, and enhancing high-quality coastal zone forests and the riparian corridors that link them. The intent here is to strengthen habitat quality and connectivity along shorelines and waterways where forested systems provide outsized benefits for water filtration, bank stability, and wildlife movement.

Federal funding requests generally range from $50,000 to $300,000, with the specific minimum and maximum depending on the program area, and the overall award ceiling set at $300,000. The Forest Service anticipated making around 20 awards under this announcement. A key budget requirement is a 20% non-federal cost share of the total project cost, meaning applicants must provide match funding or eligible in-kind contributions equivalent to one-fifth of the overall project budget (federal plus non-federal). This match requirement is an important planning consideration because proposals need to clearly document the source and allowability of the non-federal share.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The funding instrument is a grant, and the primary activity area is environment and natural resources under CFDA 10.664.

Timing details in the notice include a posting/creation date of May 5, 2021, and an application deadline of July 8, 2021, with applications due by 6:00 p.m. Eastern (5:00 p.m. Central). To help applicants understand program goals and application expectations, an informational webinar was scheduled for May 25, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. Central / 2:00 p.m. Eastern, with a recording to be made available afterward through the GLRI Forest Restoration grant webpage and related documents.

• The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USDA Forest Service - GLRI Forest Restoration 2021" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.664.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 05, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 08, 2021 Applications due at 600 p.m. Eastern/500 p.m. Central. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA FS GLRI FR21

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