F24AS00196 FY 2024 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 2 | F24AS00196

Opportunity Information: Apply for F24AS00196

F24AS00196 is a FY 2024 discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.615) under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, specifically the Traditional Conservation Grants Program for Region 2. The main purpose of this program is to help states build, improve, and carry out their own conservation programs aimed at conserving and recovering threatened and endangered species that fall under the Service's jurisdiction. In practice, the funding is meant to support on-the-ground and programmatic work that contributes to Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery goals, strengthens conservation outcomes for sensitive wildlife, and, where possible, prevents species from needing to be listed in the first place.

Grant funds can be used for projects that deliver direct benefits to federally listed species, as well as to candidate species, at-risk species, and species that have been recently delisted. The program is flexible in the types of activities it will support, as long as the work is clearly tied to measurable conservation benefit. Typical project types include management actions (such as habitat restoration or threat reduction), research that fills key knowledge gaps needed for recovery decisions, monitoring to track population status or habitat conditions, and outreach efforts that improve compliance, stewardship, or partner engagement. Applicants are expected to spell out, in a clear and specific way, how the proposed tasks will contribute to species recovery or reduce the likelihood that a species will need ESA listing. Proposals that are most competitive are those that make a strong, direct connection between the work plan and concrete benefits to the target species or its habitat.

Eligibility is limited to state government agencies. To apply, a state agency must have an active cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under Section 6(c) of the ESA, or it must enter into or reconfirm that agreement within 30 days of the application deadline. Importantly, even if an application is otherwise strong, the Service cannot obligate federal funds for a project unless it has a complete, signed cooperative agreement in place, consistent with the applicable federal regulations (including 50 CFR 81.3, 50 CFR 81.5, and 43 CFR 12.50(b)(3)). While only states can be direct recipients of awards, the program explicitly allows states to partner with other entities. Local governments, counties, nonprofits, conservation organizations, and other groups can participate through collaboration with an eligible state agency, typically as subgrantees or project partners, when the work is mutually beneficial and aligns with the state's cooperative agreement.

Key administrative details include an original application closing date of May 24, 2024, a grant instrument type of "Grant," and an environment-focused funding activity category. The listed award ceiling is $1,384,372. The opportunity was created on November 30, 2023. Overall, this funding opportunity is designed to strengthen state-led conservation efforts by paying for targeted actions that can be directly tied to recovery progress for listed species and proactive conservation outcomes for species that are headed toward higher risk.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F24AS00196 FY 2024 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 2" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.615.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-24. (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 $1,384,372.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for F24AS00196

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