Grants and Agreements
Eastern Region State, Private and Tribal Forestry Competitive Grant Opportunities
The USDA Forest Service Eastern Region provides leadership, technical support, sound science and financial assistance to help ensure that regardless of ownership, our region’s forests and trees continue to provide clean water, forest products, wildlife habitat, recreation, and other benefits for present and future generations. Our grant programs allow us to directly support forest owners taking local and landscape-scale approaches to protect and manage the region’s forests.
See below for a list of the competitive grant opportunities administered by the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region State, Private and Tribal Forestry programs. Individual program areas may offer additional funding opportunities.
Grants Administration and Management
Processing grants is an integral part of the mission of the Eastern Region, State, Private, and Tribal Forestry. The following resources are provided to assist our partners in working with us through the grant application, monitoring and reporting process.
How to Complete a Grant Application Package
This document serves as a comprehensive overview of Forest Service requirements, and information to ensure that all application packages are in compliance with both Forest Service and Office of Management and Budget regulations.
These resources, which are updated quarterly, can be found in the Grant Monitoring and Reports folder. These reports provide information for current grantees regarding status of funds, reporting and expiration. A guide with further clarification is included if needed.
Quick Links
State Fact Sheets are yearly reports that capture some of the accomplishments from the Eastern Region's State, Private, and Tribal Forestry program funding and technical support provided to the states in the previous fiscal year (October 1 - September 30). They also provide a snapshot of the forestry statistics for each state.
| Connecticut | Standard | Brief |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Standard | Brief |
| District of Columbia | Standard | Brief |
| Illinois | Standard | Brief |
| Indiana | Standard | Brief |
| Iowa | Standard | Brief |
| Maine | Standard | Brief |
| Maryland | Standard | Brief |
| Massachusetts | Standard | Brief |
| Michigan | Standard | Brief |
| Minnesota | Standard | Brief |
| Missouri | Standard | Brief |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | Standard | Brief |
| New Jersey | Standard | Brief |
| New York | Standard | Brief |
| Ohio | Standard | Brief |
| Pennsylvania | Standard | Brief |
| Rhode Island | Standard | Brief |
| Vermont | Standard | Brief |
| West Virginia | Standard | Brief |
| Wisconsin | Standard | Brief |
Highlighted Grants
Program 1: High-Priority Regional Invasive Species Projects Request for Applications
Instructions and other agency-specific forms are available below.
- Eligibility: All Eastern Region state forestry departments or equivalent state agencies that have a responsibility for forest health are eligible. Other organizations are eligible (e.g., institutes of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and local governments), but the application must also include an email of support from the state forest health agency lead.
- Deadline: Fall
- Agency-specific Forms
Program 2: State Capacity Program
Instructions and other agency-specific forms are available below.
- Eligibility: All State departments that participate in the USFS Eastern Region Cooperative Forest Health Protection and Forest Health Monitoring programs are eligible.
- Deadline: 30 days after listing on the State allocation sheets.
- Agency-specific Forms
The shared commitment of reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires doesn’t stop at a jurisdictional boundary. Through the Cohesive Fire Strategy grant program, the Forest Service supports states, Sovereign Tribal nations and partners in their efforts of developing resilient landscapes, encouraging fire-adapted communities and reducing wildfire risk on non-federal land.
| Criteria | Information |
|---|---|
| Available Grants | Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) |
| Eligibility | Eligible applicants vary by grant category, but include state forestry agencies, Sovereign Tribal nations, non-profit organizations, forest fire compacts, and academic institutions. |
| Application Open Period | Closed Find the opportunity on grants.gov under USDA-FS-2025-COHESIVE-STRATEGY. |
| Upcoming Application Period | Opens November 15, 2024. |
| Recorded Webinars | Information provided on eligibility, funding limits, application requirements, timelines, and how to apply. Upcoming FY2025 Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy Grant Webinar dates:
|
2025 Grant Information
Application Resources
- The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy
- The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy - Northeast Regional Action Plan
- Northeast Regional Action Plan - 2020 Update
- State Forest Action Plans
- National SPTF Priorities and Objectives with proposed core performance measures and performance reporting options
Funded Projects and Ranked Lists
- FY 2024 Funded List - Wildfire Risk Reduction
- FY 2023 Funded List - Cross‐Boundary Wildfire Hazard Mitigation on Non‐Federal Lands
- FY 2023 Funded List - Wildfire Risk Reduction
- FY 2022 Funded List - Wildfire Risk Reduction and Wildfire Preparedness Grants
- FY 2022 Funded List - Cross-Boundary Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Grants
- FY21 Funded Projects
- FY 2020 WRR/WR and Adjacent Lands Funded Projects
- FY 2018 Proposals Ranked
- FY 2017 Wildfire Risk Reduction Request for Proposals Comments
- FY 2017 Proposals Ranked
Contact Information
National Association of State Foresters
Forest Service Eastern Region
For the Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy Competitive grant program, contact:
Ray Parrish
Program Manager
raymond.j.parrish@usda.gov
(414)323-0859
For WRR in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia or Connecticut, contact:
Maris Gabliks
Cooperative Fire Specialist
maris.g.gabliks@usda.gov
(609) 235-7524
For WRR in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Michigan, contact:
Caleb Schreiber
Cooperative Fire Specialist
caleb.schreiber@usda.gov
(715) 628-6999
For WRR in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, or Vermont, contact:
Helene Hochholzer
Cooperative Fire Specialist
helene.hochholzer@usda.gov
(860) 861-7322
NOTICE:
We anticipate launching the fiscal year 2025 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant Program Request for Application (RFA) in late winter, 2025. This is a departure from the previous few years during which the RFAs were announced in late summer/early fall.
Cooperative Weed Management Areas Request for Applications
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world — the Great Lakes. As one of the initiative’s 16 regional working group members, the U.S. Forest Service uses GLRI resources to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and accelerate progress toward long-term restoration goals for this important ecosystem.
The GLRI Action Plan outlines priorities and goals for Federal agencies working together on Great Lakes restoration. Cooperative Weed Management Area projects contribute to goals for GLRI Focus Area 2: Invasive Species.
Fiscal Year 2024 GLRI Cooperative Weed Management Areas Grant Cycle
The U.S. Forest Service anticipates that $1M in new funds are expected to be available for the Fiscal Year 2024 GLRI Cooperative Weed Management Areas grant program. The goal of this program is to detect, prevent, eradicate, and/or control invasive plant species to promote resiliency, watershed stability, and biological diversity on Federal, State, or other public or private land.
For this work, the minimum Federal request is $25,000 and maximum Federal request is $100,000. This funding will be competitively awarded based on applications received through the deadline at Grants.gov.
Award of funds is contingent on allocation of EPA funding.
Who May Apply
GLRI funding is available to Cooperative Weed Management Areas (and similar organizations, e.g., Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas and Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management) that work within the Great Lakes Basin of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) and similar groups are organized partnerships of Federal, State, and local government agencies, Tribes, individuals, and various interested groups that manage invasive plants within a defined area, generally a county or larger in size.
Applications may include work on all land ownerships within the Great Lakes watershed of the United States. See the RFA Instructions document for more information on eligibility requirements.
Fiscal Year 2024 GLRI CWMA Application Materials
Submit all applications for this GLRI funding opportunity through Grants.gov. Search for Grant Opportunity USDA-FS-GLRI-CWMA24.
We encourage all prospective applicants to locate the opportunity on 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 an active SAM registration to apply for this opportunity. SAM registration can be obtained at no cost at sam.gov and may take several weeks.
Past Projects
- Michigan-based nonprofit uses GLRI funding to control invasive plants (Eastern Region feature article)
- GLRI Interactive Project Mapper
- List of FY23 Funded Projects (includes both Forest Restoration and CWMA grants)
- List of FY22 Funded Projects (includes both Forest Restoration and CWMA grants)
- List of Winter 2020-2021 Funded Projects
- List of Spring 2020 Funded Projects
Resources for Applicants
- 2024 Eastern Region Forest Health Staff List
- GLRI Forest Planning Assessments (available in selected watersheds)
- Climate Change
- Climate Change Resources for Land Managers
- Climate Change Response Framework – Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science
Links to Other USDA Forest Service Program Areas
NOTICE:
We anticipate launching the fiscal year 2025 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant Program Request for Application (RFA) in late winter, 2025. This is a departure from the previous few years during which the RFAs were announced in late summer/early fall.
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 2024 Grant Cycle Information
The U.S. Forest Service is anticipating $5.2 million in new funds to be available for reforestation, ecosystem restoration and forest health improvement in the Great Lakes Basin. All applications must be prepared and submitted through Grants.gov.
Anticipated funds will be distributed across three Program Areas described below. The minimum and maximum Federal funding requests vary depending on Program Area.
| GLRI Focus Area (see GLRI Action Plan) | Programs Areas Description | Anticipated Funding | Minimum Allowable Federal Request | Maximum Allowable Federal Request |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive Species | Mitigate Invasive Forest Insect and Disease Impacts – Implement targeted reforestation and forest protection actions to minimize invasive forest insect and disease impacts on watersheds. | $1,000,000 | $50,000 | $200,000 |
| Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health | Reduce Runoff Through Green Infrastructure – Capture or treat stormwater runoff by planting trees and other vegetation as an integral component of green infrastructure. | $3,000,000 | $100,000 | $300,000 |
| Habitat and Species | 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. | $1,200,000 | $50,000 | $200,000 |
Award of grants is contingent on allocation of EPA funding.
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.
Fiscal Year 2024 GLRI Forest Restoration Application Materials
Submit all applications for this funding opportunity through Grants.gov. Search for Grant Opportunity USDA-FS-GLRI-FR24.
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 an active SAM registration to apply for this opportunity. SAM registration can be obtained at no cost at sam.gov and may take several weeks.
Past Funded Projects
- GLRI Interactive Project Mapper
- List of 2023 Funded Projects (includes both Forest Restoration and CWMA projects)
- List of 2022 Funded Projects (includes both Forest Restoration and CWMA projects)
- List of 2021 Funded Projects
Success Stories
- Milwaukee’s Prescription for Healthy Trees During the Pandemic
- Forest Service grants support youth employment in Great Lakes watershed
- Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant builds resilience in Duluth
- Grant restores beetle-plagued tribal forest
- Food forest takes root in upstate New York
- Grant restores beetle-plagued tribal forest
- Midwest industrial city greens up with Forest Service support
- Forest Legacy project restores Michigan forest devastated by insects, floods
Resources for Applicants
- 2024 Eastern Region Forest Health Staff List
- Guidance for Landscape Tree Planting
- i-Tree Tools
- GLRI Forest Planning Assessments (available in selected watersheds)
- Climate Change
- Climate Change Resources for Land Managers
- Climate Change Response Framework – Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science
Links to Other USDA Forest Service Program Areas
Program Overview
The State and Private Forestry Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) competitive grant program funds collaborative, science-based restoration of priority rural forest landscapes, leverages public and private resources, and supports State Forest Action Plans.
Program outcomes include: Improve fish and wildlife habitat; improve water quality and watershed function; mitigate invasive plants, insect infestation, and disease; reduce wildfire risk; improve forest ecosystem health; and measure ecological and economic benefits.
Eligibility
- State agencies
- Federally Recognized Tribes
- Nonprofit organizations
- Universities
- Units of local government
Fiscal Year (FY) Funded Projects and Ranked Lists
FY 2024
FY 2023
FY 2022
- FY 2022 LSR Funded List
- FY 2022 LSR Ranked List
- FY 2022 LSR Reviewer Comments
- FY 2022 Application Narratives