Grant Opportunity: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Forest Restoration

Request for Applications

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore one of the largest systems of fresh surface water in the world—the Great Lakes. As one of 16 GLRI regional working group members, the U.S. Forest Service awards competitive grants to assist organizations and communities who are taking creative approaches to improve habitats and water quality.

Fiscal Year 2022 Grant Cycle Information

The U.S. Forest Service announces that up to $4.15 million in new funds are expected to be available for reforestation, ecosystem restoration and forest health improvement in the Great Lakes Basin. This funding will be competitively awarded based on applications received by the November 14, 2022 deadline. All applications must be prepared and submitted through GRANTS.gov (search Opportunity Number USDA-FS-GLRI-FR22).

Anticipated funds will be distributed across three Program Areas described below. The minimum and maximum Federal funding requests vary depending on Program Area, with an overall range of $50,000 to $300,000.

Award of grants is contingent on allocation of EPA funding.

Program Areas

  1. Mitigate Forest Insect and Disease Impacts – Implement targeted reforestation and forest protection actions to minimize invasive forest insect and disease impacts on watersheds.
  2. Reduce Runoff from Degraded Sites through Green Infrastructure – Capture or treat stormwater runoff by planting trees and other vegetation as an integral component of green infrastructure.
  3. Restore and Connect Coastal and Riparian Forest Habitats – Protect, restore, and enhance high-quality coastal zone and connecting riparian ecosystems where trees are an important component.

Who May Apply

State agencies, Tribal communities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and local governments that work within the Great Lakes Basin of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Important Dates

  • Thursday, September 22, 2022 – Webinar to discuss the Request for Applications, purpose of the grant Program Areas, eligibility, and how to apply. (This webinar has passed, please see the recording linked below).
  • Monday, November 14, 2022 – Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 6:00 p.m. Eastern/5:00 p.m. Central
  • February 2023 (tentative) – The Forest Service expects to notify all applicants regarding their status as recipients. Project awards are contingent on allocation of EPA funding.

Fiscal Year 2022 GLRI Forest Restoration Application Materials

Submit all applications for this funding opportunity through GRANTS.gov. Search for Grant Opportunity USDA-FS-GLRI-FR22.

We encourage all prospective applications to locate the opportunity in Grants.gov early in the process to review all application forms, subscribe to receive updates, and obtain required registrations.

Grants.gov has a full set of instructions on how organizations can apply for opportunities on its website. Note: all organizations must have inactive SAM registration to apply for this opportunity. SAM registration can be obtained at no cost at sam.gov and may take several weeks. 

Agency-specific instructions and forms (also available in the Related Documents tab on the Grants.gov opportunity page):

Resources for Applicants