Opportunity Information: Apply for F25AS00332
The F25AS00332 Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) Competitive Funding Round is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help protect important lands and natural resources within the Highlands Region of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The program is designed to support land conservation projects where a public entity acquires land, or an interest in land (such as a conservation easement), from a willing seller in order to conserve resources that have high conservation value. In practical terms, the funding is aimed at helping states and their local partners permanently protect priority forests, watersheds, habitats, and other sensitive landscapes that are central to the Highlands Region.
A key feature of this program is the cost-share structure. Governors of the four eligible Highlands States may submit proposals requesting federal support for up to 50 percent of the total project cost, meaning the remaining share must come from non-federal sources. This makes the program a matching-grant tool intended to leverage state, county, municipal, and other eligible conservation funding to complete land protection deals that might otherwise be harder to fund.
Funding under the Highlands Conservation Act is generally split into two separate tracks: Base funds and Competitive funds. This notice is specifically for the Competitive Funding Round. Base funds will be announced through a different Notice of Funding Opportunity, and the same project cannot be submitted to both tracks. Applicants therefore need to decide which funding stream best fits a given land acquisition effort and ensure each project is only proposed once.
Eligibility to apply is intentionally narrow. Only the Lead State Agency (or agencies) designated by the Governor in each of the four Highlands States can submit an application under the HCA grant program. If a Governor has designated more than one Lead Agency, those agencies must coordinate before submitting so that the request stays within the maximum allowable amount under this opportunity and is presented as a unified, non-duplicative submission. While only the Lead State Agency can apply, the program allows those state recipients to pass funds along: all or part of an award may be subawarded to a county or municipality within the Highlands Region, or to another state conservation agency, supporting on-the-ground partners who are directly involved in closing land deals.
The award information in the listing indicates an award ceiling of $3,850,000 and an expectation of four awards, aligning with the four eligible states. The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources (CFDA 15.667), uses a grant as the funding instrument, and is administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The original closing date is listed as 2026-10-31, so proposals must be finalized and submitted by then, following the specific application and documentation requirements laid out in the full notice.
The current Lead State Agencies and contacts identified for this program are: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (Matt Starr, matthew.starr@ct.gov); New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (Lynn Kovach, lynn.kovach@parks.ny.gov); New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Liz Ward, elizabeth.ward@highlands.nj.gov); and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Dan Pierce, danipierce@pa.gov). Additional program background is provided through the program webpage at www.fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act-grant, which is the main reference point for understanding the Highlands Conservation Act program’s goals, geography, and grant structure.Apply for F25AS00332
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F25AS00332 Highlands Conservation Act – Competitive Funding Round" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.667.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-31. (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 $3,850,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) Competitive Funding Round (F25AS00332) - FAQs
1) What is the F25AS00332 Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) Competitive Funding Round?
F25AS00332 is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Highlands Conservation Act (HCA). This specific notice covers the Competitive Funding Round and supports projects that protect important lands and natural resources in the Highlands Region.
2) What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The purpose is to help permanently conserve high-value lands and resources in the Highlands Region by funding land conservation projects where a public entity acquires land, or an interest in land (such as a conservation easement), from a willing seller. In practice, the program is used to protect priority forests, watersheds, habitats, and other sensitive landscapes central to the Highlands Region.
3) Which states are included in the eligible Highlands Region for this opportunity?
The Highlands Region covered by this opportunity includes four states: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
4) What kinds of projects does the HCA Competitive Funding Round support?
The opportunity supports land conservation projects involving acquisition from a willing seller. This includes acquiring full ownership of land or acquiring an interest in land, such as a conservation easement, to conserve resources with high conservation value.
5) Does this program require matching funds (cost share)?
Yes. Governors of the four eligible Highlands States may submit proposals requesting federal support for up to 50 percent of the total project cost. The remaining share must come from non-federal sources, making this a matching-grant program designed to leverage state and local conservation funds.
6) Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is limited to the Lead State Agency (or agencies) designated by the Governor in each of the four eligible states (CT, NJ, NY, PA). Other entities cannot apply directly under this notice.
7) Can counties, municipalities, or local partners apply directly?
No. Only the Governor-designated Lead State Agency can submit an application. However, the state recipient may subaward all or part of an award to a county or municipality within the Highlands Region, or to another state conservation agency, to support implementation and on-the-ground partners involved in land protection transactions.
8) What happens if a Governor has designated more than one Lead State Agency?
If more than one Lead Agency is designated in a state, those agencies must coordinate before submitting. The submission must be unified, non-duplicative, and remain within the maximum allowable amount under this opportunity.
9) What is the difference between Base funds and Competitive funds under the Highlands Conservation Act?
HCA funding is generally split into two tracks: Base funds and Competitive funds. This notice is specifically for the Competitive Funding Round. Base funds will be announced under a different Notice of Funding Opportunity.
10) Can the same project be submitted to both Base and Competitive funding tracks?
No. The same project cannot be submitted to both tracks. Applicants must choose the funding stream that best fits a given land acquisition effort and ensure each project is proposed only once.
11) What is the award ceiling for this Competitive Funding Round?
The listing indicates an award ceiling of $3,850,000.
12) How many awards are expected under this notice?
The notice indicates an expectation of four awards, aligning with the four eligible states.
13) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument for this opportunity is a grant.
14) Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
15) What is the CFDA (assistance listing) number and category for this program?
The program is listed under Natural Resources with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 15.667.
16) What is the application deadline (closing date) for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed for proposals is 2026-10-31. Proposals must be finalized and submitted by that date in accordance with the application and documentation requirements in the full notice.
17) Who should applicants contact in each eligible state?
The Lead State Agencies and contacts identified are:
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection - Matt Starr: matthew.starr@ct.gov
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation - Lynn Kovach: lynn.kovach@parks.ny.gov
- New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council - Liz Ward: elizabeth.ward@highlands.nj.gov
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Dan Pierce: danipierce@pa.gov
18) Where can I find official program background information about the HCA grant and the Highlands Region?
Program background and references are available on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service webpage for the program: www.fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act-grant.
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