# Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program – Competitive Funding

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/f21as00585-highlands-conservation-act-grant-program-competitive-funding/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/334897

> Fish and Wildlife Service offered grants of up to $8.6 million (at least $25,000) to state and local governments. It expected to make $8.6 million in total. Applications closed on November 1, 2021.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | F21AS00585 |
| Agency | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | November 1, 2021 |
| Award ceiling | $8.6 million |
| Award floor | $25,000 |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | $8.6 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 15.667 |

## Who can apply

- State governments

Only the Lead State Agency (or Agencies), as determined by the Governor of each Highlands State, may apply 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. Each Agency may submit multiple applications to this Competitive grant round. A State Conservation Agency may subaward a grant to another State Conservation Agency.

## What the grant funds

The Highlands Conservation Act (H.R. 1964, 2004; 16 U.S.C. 3901) (HCA) is designed to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in conserving land and natural resources in the Highlands Region through Federal assistance for land conservation projects in which a State entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to permanently protect resources of high conservation value. The USDA Forest Service (USFS) was directed by the HCA to identify lands that have high conservation value through the “New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study: 2002 Update” and the “Highlands Regional Study: Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update.” Subject to availability of funds through Federal appropriation, each year 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. Proposed projects must be consistent with areas identified in the Study and Update as having high resource value. This program funds land conservation by State agencies in the Highlands Region. Funding appropriated under the Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) has been divided into two separate categories – Base and Competitive. Eligible applicants may submit requests for Competitive Funding in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. A separate Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted for Base Funds. A property may not be proposed for funding from both the Base and Competitive funding opportunities.

## Questions people ask

### Is F21AS00585 still open?

No. It closed on November 1, 2021.

### Who can apply for Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program – Competitive Funding?

Fish and Wildlife Service accepted applications from state and local governments. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program – Competitive Funding?

Closed November 1, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $8.6 million each. About $8.6 million in total.

### Who has won Highlands Conservation  grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Pennsylvania, Dept of Energy & Environmental Protection, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The program made 35 awards worth $49.1 million in that time.