Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program 2023 Northeast and Midwest | USDA FS 2023 LSR NORTHEAST MIDWEST

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS 2023 LSR NORTHEAST MIDWEST

The Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program 2023 for the Northeast and Midwest is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (CFDA 10.664). It is designed to push forward collaborative, science-based work that restores priority rural forest landscapes at a meaningful scale. The program is aimed at projects that can show measurable, on-the-ground results, bring multiple partners together, and use grant dollars to leverage additional public and private resources. A core requirement is that proposed work should directly support priorities already identified by states through their State Forest Action Plans or similar statewide restoration strategies, which effectively serves as the roadmap for what kinds of forest conditions and threats the program wants addressed.

This particular funding notice applies to projects located in the 20 Northeast and Midwest states listed in the announcement: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. The intent is to fund landscape-scale efforts rather than isolated site projects, meaning applicants are expected to propose activities that add up to broader outcomes across priority forest areas, such as improving forest health, resilience, and long-term function. While the notice does not list specific treatment types in the excerpt provided, the emphasis on restoration, outcomes, and alignment with State Forest Action Plans typically signals a focus on tangible actions that improve ecological condition and reduce priority threats identified by states.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The funding instrument is a grant and the opportunity category is discretionary, meaning proposals are competitively reviewed and selected rather than funded automatically based on a formula.

A key process requirement is state involvement: all applicants except federally recognized tribes must have the relevant State Forester sponsor the application. Practically, that means applicants need to coordinate with the State Forester office for the state or states where the work will occur and secure sponsorship as part of the submission process. The notice also specifies an internal step and deadline tied to that sponsorship: applicants should submit a draft of the application narrative and a budget spreadsheet to the relevant State Forester(s) by close of business on September 29 so the state can review and decide whether to sponsor before the final federal deadline.

For funding size and scale, the program lists an award ceiling of $600,000 and anticipates making about 15 awards. The opportunity was created on August 10, 2022, and the original closing date was November 10, 2022, with submissions due by 6 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. Central) on that date. Finally, the notice highlights that for FY 2023 there is a separate request for proposals specifically for federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations, and applicants in those categories are directed to look under the "Related Opportunities" link for the tribal-specific solicitation. The posting also notes that separate Landscape Scale Restoration opportunities exist for the West and South, also accessible through the "Related Opportunities" section.

• The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program 2023 Northeast and Midwest" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.664.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 10, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 10, 2022 Due by 6 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. Central) November 10, 2022.. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 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), 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.

Apply for USDA FS 2023 LSR NORTHEAST MIDWEST

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: