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

1. Funding Available Through the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and Tips for Habitat Grant Writing Michael Redmer US Fish & Wildlife Service Chicago Illinois Field Office 1250 South Grove Suite 103 Barrington, Illinois 60010

2. 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.”

3. 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.

4. 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

5. Working with private landowners…including local units of government. • Provide technical assistance • Occasional funding Is voluntary!

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. USFWS Funding Breakdown

13. 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/

14. 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.