Funding Available Through the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and Tips for Habitat Grant Writing Michael Redmer US Fish & Wildlife Service Chicago Illinois.

Funding Available Through the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and Tips for

Habitat Grant Writing

Michael RedmerUS Fish & Wildlife Service Chicago Illinois Field Office 1250 South Grove Suite 103Barrington, Illinois 60010

The Mission of the US Fish & Wildlife Service:

• “Working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.”

USFWS “Trust Resources,” and their habitats.

• Migratory birds.

• Interjurisdictional fish.

• Federal endangered, threatened, and candidate species.

Also a strong interest in any other “aquatic” wildlife.

How do we accomplish our mission?

• Manage the National Wildlife Refuge System• Conserving habitat• Regulatory responsibility• Law enforcement• Education/outreach• Working with local governments• Working with not-for profit groups• Working with private landowners

Working with private landowners…including local units of government.

• Provide technical assistance

• Occasional funding

Is voluntary!

Two primary funding sources for local projects in NE Illinois:

• Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW)

• Northeast Illinois Wetland Conservation Account Grants (in Partnership with The Conservation Fund and Corps of Engineers).

• Challenge Cost-Share/Flex Funds

Partners for Fish & Wildlife

• Discretionary funds: Purchase order & simple agreement (NOT a grant).

• Cost share (1:1 landowner: USFWS).

• Small projects: (USFWS share <$5K).

• Project duration: 10 year minimum.

• Common small PFW projects:– Purchase/planting native seeds/plugs.– Install water control device/disable farm tile.– Brush cutting/licensed herbicide application.– Should not pay for prescribed burns.

Partners for Fish & Wildlife projects in Chicago Area Based Primarily on Trust Resource Benefits

• Migratory birds.• Interjurisdictional fishes.

– Other aquatic species/resources.• Federal endangered/threatened species.• USFWS Regional Priority species. See:

http://midwest.fws.gov/pdf/priority.pdf

Partners for Fish & Wildlife: Helps fund Lt. Governor Pat Quinn’s “Rain Garden Initiative.”

• For more information, go to:

www.standingupforillinois.org/cleanwater/raingardens.php

Challenge Cost Share/Flex Funds

• Several Dedicated Fund categories: – Non-Game Bird Conservation Research.– Joint Venture (wetland birds) Research.– Great Lakes Coastal Habitat.– Challenge Cost Share (must benefit National Wildlife Refuge).

• Awards range from $3K to $25K (Coastal).

• “RFP” Mailed, proposals due in early Autumn.

• Apply through Chicago Office.

• Projects must be completed in one year.

Other Sources: National Grants & Federal Aid

• National Coastal Wetlands Conservation.

• North American Waterbird Conservation Act (NAWCA)– May work with Chicago Office to develop proposal.

• State Wildlife Grants (“SWG”).

– Requires 1:1 match, but is a federal grant administered by IDNR…may not be matched with fed funds.

USFWS Funding Breakdown

Fund Source Available to Match? Amounts

PFW USFWS/CIFO Private landowners, local gov’t

1:1 required <$5,000

Flex Funds

USFWS/Region 3 (apply through CIFO)

Local gov’t NGO’s

1:1 “strongly suggested”

$5,000-$25,000

Federal Aid

USFWS Division of Federal Aid (develop project w/CIFO)

States & participating partners

Depends on partners and program

Varies, up to $1M

NAWCA USFWS Division of Migratory birds (develop project w/CIFO)

States and local partners

Depends on partners and program

$50,000 small

$1M large

Important Web Sites:

• Chicago Illinois Field Office, Habitat Restoration/Funding Pages:http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Chicago/habitatrestoration.htm

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Chicago/fundsources.htm

• USFWS National/Federal Assistance Grants:http://www.fws.gov/grants/

A Few Tips for Grant Writers

• Always try to get matching funds, even if not required.

• Get technical assistance/feedback early in game.

• Express benefits and outcomes as cost per acre.

• Don’t submit incomplete proposals.

• But be concise (no “phone books”).

• Double, and triple check your arithmetic.

• Provide realistic timetables; avoid requesting extensions.