Opportunity Information: Apply for F23AS00003
The Fiscal Year 2023 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number F23AS00003) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.614. It was created under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3951-3956) to support on-the-ground coastal wetland projects through a competitive, matching-grant structure. The central purpose is to help conserve coastal wetland ecosystems over the long term by funding efforts that acquire, restore, or enhance wetlands in coastal areas, which in practice can include securing priority wetland parcels, rehabilitating degraded habitats, and improving ecological function and resilience in coastal landscapes.
A defining feature of this opportunity is how it is financed and why that matters. Instead of relying solely on general appropriations, the program is funded through user-based revenues tied to recreational boating and fishing, including excise taxes on sport fishing equipment, electric motors and sonar, import duties on fishing tackle and recreational vessels, and a portion of the federal gasoline tax associated with motorboats and small engines. These revenues flow into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is then appropriated to support programs like this one. In plain terms, the program is designed to reinvest recreation-based revenue back into conserving the coastal wetlands that support fish and wildlife populations and the broader coastal environments people depend on for recreation and ecosystem services.
Eligibility is narrow and aimed at state-level leadership. Only state governments can apply, specifically state agencies (or entities formally designated by a governor) in eligible coastal states, commonwealths, and territories. The intended applicant is typically a state natural resources agency or fish and wildlife agency. If an organization is unsure whether it qualifies or whether it has been designated by the governor, the opportunity directs applicants to confirm eligibility with their WSFR Regional Office. This structure keeps the program focused on state-led coastal conservation priorities and ensures applicants have the authority to carry out land acquisition and major restoration actions.
Geography is another key eligibility filter. Eligible applicants must be in coastal states bordering the Atlantic, Gulf, or Pacific coasts, as well as Great Lakes states. The Great Lakes states specifically called out are Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The full list of eligible states and territories included in the notice is: Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Louisiana is explicitly not eligible for this program due to a statutory exclusion in the Act (16 U.S.C. 3955(b)(1)), meaning otherwise similar coastal wetland work in Louisiana must be pursued through different federal programs.
From an award and timing standpoint, the opportunity is offered as a grant instrument with an award ceiling listed at $1,000,000. The posting shows an original closing date of 2022-06-24 and a creation date of 2022-01-27 for the FY 2023 cycle. While the notice references expected awards, the specific number is not provided in the source text you included. Because it is a competitive program and uses matching grants, applicants should expect that proposals are evaluated against other state submissions and that the applicant must bring non-federal match consistent with program rules (the notice emphasizes “competitive matching grants,” even though it does not state the exact match ratio in the excerpt provided).
In summary, this grant opportunity is a targeted funding stream for state-led conservation actions that permanently protect or measurably improve coastal wetlands. It is funded by sport-fishing and boating related revenues deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and limited to eligible coastal states and territories (with Louisiana excluded by law). The program’s throughline is long-term ecosystem conservation, using acquisition, restoration, and enhancement projects to maintain and rebuild coastal wetland functions that support fish and wildlife, coastal resilience, and public benefits tied to healthy coastal environments.Apply for F23AS00003
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2023 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.614.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-01-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-06-24. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Fiscal Year 2023 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program?
It is a discretionary, competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. FWS) to support on-the-ground coastal wetland conservation projects. The program funds efforts to acquire, restore, or enhance coastal wetlands to support long-term conservation of coastal wetland ecosystems.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F23AS00003.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 15.614.
What law created or authorizes this grant program?
The program was created under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3951-3956).
What kinds of projects does the program fund?
The central focus is coastal wetland conservation through projects that acquire, restore, or enhance wetlands in coastal areas. Examples described in the opportunity include securing priority wetland parcels, rehabilitating degraded habitats, and improving ecological function and resilience in coastal landscapes.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The purpose is to conserve coastal wetland ecosystems over the long term by permanently protecting or measurably improving coastal wetland functions that support fish and wildlife, coastal resilience, and other public benefits tied to healthy coastal environments.
How is this grant program funded, and why is that important?
The program is funded through user-based revenues connected to recreational boating and fishing. Those revenues include excise taxes on sport fishing equipment, electric motors and sonar, import duties on fishing tackle and recreational vessels, and a portion of the federal gasoline tax associated with motorboats and small engines. These revenues are deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is then appropriated to support programs like this one. In practical terms, recreation-based revenue is reinvested into conserving the coastal wetlands that help support fish and wildlife populations and the coastal environments people use for recreation and ecosystem services.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. The program is described as a competitive grant program.
Does this grant require matching funds?
Yes. The opportunity is described as using a competitive, matching-grant structure, and it emphasizes "competitive matching grants." The excerpt provided does not specify the exact match ratio.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments. Specifically, eligible applicants are state agencies (or entities formally designated by a governor) in eligible coastal states, commonwealths, and territories. The intended applicant is typically a state natural resources agency or fish and wildlife agency.
Can local governments, nonprofits, universities, or tribes apply directly?
Based on the information provided, only state governments (state agencies or governor-designated entities) can apply. No other applicant types are listed as eligible in the provided excerpt.
What if an organization is not sure it is eligible or designated by the governor?
The opportunity directs applicants to confirm eligibility with their WSFR Regional Office if they are unsure whether they qualify or whether they have been designated by the governor.
Which states and territories are eligible?
The notice lists the following eligible states and territories: Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Are Great Lakes states eligible?
Yes. The opportunity states that Great Lakes states are eligible. The Great Lakes states specifically called out are Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Is Louisiana eligible?
No. Louisiana is explicitly not eligible for this program due to a statutory exclusion in the Act (16 U.S.C. 3955(b)(1)).
What is the award type (instrument) for this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered as a grant instrument.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $1,000,000.
When was this FY 2023 opportunity created and when did it close?
The posting shows a creation date of 2022-01-27 and an original closing date of 2022-06-24 for the FY 2023 cycle.
How many awards will be made?
The notice references expected awards, but the specific number is not provided in the excerpt.
What agency administers the program?
The program is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
How does the program tie into boating and fishing?
Funding comes from recreational boating and fishing-related revenues that flow into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The program is designed to reinvest those user-based revenues into conserving coastal wetlands that support fish and wildlife and sustain coastal environments used for recreation and other benefits.
What types of benefits is the program trying to protect or improve?
Based on the description provided, the program aims to maintain and rebuild coastal wetland functions that support fish and wildlife populations, improve coastal resilience, and sustain broader public benefits connected to healthy coastal environments and ecosystem services.
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