Multistate Conservation Grant Program

Description: The Sport Fish Restoration Act and the Wildlife Restoration Act, as amended by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-408, 114 STAT. 1766 §112 et seq.; Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, 16 U.S.C. §777 et seq.; and Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, 16 U.S.C. §669 et seq.) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make up to $6,000,000 available annually under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) to fund multistate conservation project grants. In addition to the regular annually available funds of $6,000,000, the President signed the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act (Modernizing PR Act) (Public Law (Pub. L.) 116-94) into law on December 20, 2019 as part of the larger Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. This law amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (WR Act, 16 U.S.C. 669) to, among other measures, create a new Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program; which will provide an additional $5,000,000 to the program. The primary goal of both programs is to provide grant funds to address regional or national priority needs of the State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners that are beyond the scope and capabilities of a single State. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) work cooperatively to manage both programs. The Association manages the grant application process, providing oversight, coordination, and guidance. The Service awards and manages the grants. Both programs are competitive grant programs.