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natural_resources · DOI-FWS

F25AS00332 Highlands Conservation Act – Competitive Funding Round

Fish and Wildlife Service · F25AS00332

66 days left

Award Range

$25K$3.9M

Total Program Funding

$3.9M

Expected Awards

4

Deadline

October 31, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

FWS Highlands Conservation Act Competitive grants fund 4 awards (up to $3.85M each) for land conservation in the Highlands region (CT, NJ, NY, PA) — acquiring land or conservation easements to protect water supplies, wildlife habitat, and recreational areas. Requires cost-sharing.

Who Should Apply

Land trusts, state/local governments, and conservation organizations in the CT-NJ-NY-PA Highlands region.

Who Should NOT Apply

Organizations outside the Highlands region, non-conservation entities.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

  • Must conserve land in Highlands region (CT/NJ/NY/PA)
  • 4 awards up to $3.85M
  • Cost-sharing required

💡 GrantQuick Tip

Large conservation awards restricted to four-state Highlands region. Must have willing sellers and identified parcels. Cost-sharing typically comes from state open space programs.

Competitiveness: Moderate — 4 awards in a limited geographic area with established land conservation programs.

What This Grant Funds

The Highlands Conservation Act Program (HCA) is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in the protection of land and natural resources in the Highlands Region. HCA grants support land conservation projects in which a State, County, or Municipal entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to conserve resources of high conservation value.Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals for up to 50% of the total cost of land conservation projects in the Highlands Region.Funding appropriated under the HCA is typically divided into two separate categories – Base and Competitive. Eligible applicants may submit requests for the Competitive Funding Round in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. A separate Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted for Base Funds. A project may not be proposed for funding in both funding opportunities.More information on the HCA program is available at www.fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act-grant

Attachments

Who Can Apply

Only the Lead State Agency (or Agencies) as determined by the Governor of each Highlands State may be the applicant for funding under the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program. If the Governor assigns multiple Lead Agencies, those Agencies must coordinate on funding requests prior to submission and ensure no more than the maximum allowable amount is requested through this funding opportunity. All or part of the funds received by the Lead State Agency may be subawarded to a County or Municipality within the Highlands Region, or to another State Conservation Agency.The current Lead State Agencies are:Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Contact Matt Starr: matthew.starr@ct.govNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Contact Lynn Kovach: lynn.kovach@parks.ny.govNew Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. Contact Liz Ward: elizabeth.ward@highlands.nj.govPennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Contact Dan Pierce: danipierce@pa.gov

Eligible Applicant Types

State Governments

Funding Details

Minimum Award
$25K
Maximum Award
$3.9M
Total Program Funding
$3.9M
Expected Number of Awards
4
Cost Sharing Required?
Yes
Funding Instrument
grant

Key Dates

Posted: May 19, 2026
Application Deadline: October 31, 2026 (66 days remaining)

Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date.

Agency Contact

Shelley DiBona Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov

Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov