Coastal Program | F17AS00014

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00014

The Coastal Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that supports on-the-ground work to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat in coastal areas. It is designed as a voluntary, incentive-based program, meaning participation is optional and the program encourages conservation by offering practical help and funding rather than imposing regulatory requirements. Support is provided both as direct technical assistance from FWS staff and as financial assistance through cooperative agreements, which typically involve close coordination between the recipient and the agency during planning and implementation.

A central feature of the program is its use of "geographic focus areas." These are specific coastal locations where the Coastal Program concentrates resources to achieve the greatest conservation benefit, especially for federal trust species (species and resources the federal government has particular responsibility to conserve, such as migratory birds and certain threatened or endangered species). Coastal Program staff work with project partners, local stakeholders, and other FWS programs to identify these focus areas and to set habitat conservation priorities within them. This collaborative approach is meant to align local needs with regional and national conservation goals, and to ensure projects are targeted, coordinated, and biologically meaningful.

Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to be strategic and science-based. Work plans are developed in coordination with partners and typically include substantial involvement from FWS field staff, reflecting the cooperative agreement structure. To be competitive and appropriate for funding, projects must advance the FWS mission, support biological diversity, and rely on sound scientific biological principles. The kinds of projects supported are guided by program strategic plans, which help define priority habitats, species, threats, and preferred conservation actions. Because of that, potential applicants are encouraged to review the relevant strategic plan before applying and to contact their regional Coastal Program office ahead of submission to confirm fit, refine project scope, and improve alignment with regional priorities.

Eligibility for funding is broad, spanning many types of applicants who may be positioned to carry out coastal habitat work. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; individuals; for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits). This wide eligibility reflects the program's intent to work across public and private lands and to support partnerships that can deliver habitat outcomes at the local level.

Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include the funding opportunity number F17AS00014 and the use of the cooperative agreement as the primary funding instrument. The assistance is associated with CFDA number 15.630 and is categorized under activity areas such as community development, education, environment, and natural resources. The award ceiling listed is $500,000, with an expected number of approximately 500 awards, indicating that awards may range in size and that the program anticipates funding a significant number of projects. The opportunity was created on Nov 03, 2016, with an original closing date of Sep 30, 2017.

The legal authority for the Coastal Program is grounded in long-standing federal fish and wildlife conservation statutes, specifically the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-c, 747e-742j) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (16 U.S.C. 661-667(e)). These authorities support the program's focus on conserving and improving fish and wildlife resources and coordinating conservation considerations alongside land and water resource management.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development, education, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coastal Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 03, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2017. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 500 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for F17AS00014

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