Illinois Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement Fiscal Year 2016 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Illinois Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement (FY 2016) opportunity?

The Illinois Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement Fiscal Year 2016 opportunity was a discretionary federal funding announcement offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Illinois. It focused on improving monarch butterfly and broader pollinator habitat on specific conservation easement lands in Illinois.

Which federal agency offered this funding?

The funding was offered by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Illinois.

What type of funding instrument was used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement. That means the selected recipient would be expected to work closely with NRCS during the project, rather than receiving a pass-through grant with minimal federal involvement.

What was the main goal of the project?

The overall aim was to strengthen monarch butterfly habitat and broader pollinator habitat on lands already enrolled under existing Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) conservation easements, where the easement purpose is to restore, protect, and enhance wetland resources on eligible properties.

Where would the work take place?

The work was intended for lands in Illinois that were already enrolled in Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) conservation easements.

What kinds of lands were eligible for habitat work under this opportunity?

The habitat restoration and improvement work was tied to WRP conservation easement acres, specifically where the underlying easement purpose is wetland restoration, protection, and enhancement.

What kinds of activities were applicants expected to carry out?

The announcement focused on practical, on-the-ground habitat restoration and improvement activities aligned with NRCS standards and specifications. The described work typically covered the full restoration cycle, including site assessment and planning, site preparation, seed procurement, and seeding/establishment practices.

Does the opportunity support a full restoration cycle or just one component (like planning or seed purchases)?

The funding was intended to support a complete implementation effort for monarch and pollinator habitat restoration plans on WRP easement acres, not just a narrow component such as planning alone or seed purchases alone.

What is meant by "site assessment and planning" in this announcement?

Site assessment and planning referred to determining existing site conditions and identifying restoration needs so the habitat work could be designed and implemented appropriately.

What is meant by "site preparation" for habitat restoration?

Site preparation included steps needed before planting or seeding, such as clearing, treatment, or other preparatory actions required to support successful establishment of habitat.

What is meant by "seed procurement" in this opportunity?

Seed procurement referred to sourcing appropriate native seed mixes suitable for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

What is meant by "seeding and establishment practices"?

Seeding and establishment practices referred to the on-the-ground work required to seed habitat and get it successfully started and sustained.

Were applicants expected to follow any specific technical requirements?

Yes. The work was expected to align with NRCS standards and specifications, reflecting NRCS's role in guiding conservation practice implementation.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included county governments; city or township governments; independent school districts; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); individuals; and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.

Were nonprofit organizations required to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?

No. The eligible applicant list included nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education).

Are institutions of higher education eligible under the nonprofit category?

No. The announcement specified nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.

Could an individual apply for this opportunity?

Yes. Individuals were included in the eligible applicant list.

Could a for-profit organization apply?

Yes. The eligible applicant list included for-profit organizations other than small businesses.

What types of government entities were eligible?

Eligible government entities included county governments, and city or township governments. Independent school districts were also listed as eligible.

Were tribal entities eligible to apply?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations were included as eligible applicants.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number was USDA NRCS IL ACEP 16 01.

What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 10.072.

What activity areas did this opportunity fall under?

The announcement was categorized under activity areas including agriculture, environment, and natural resources.

When was the announcement created?

The announcement was created on August 19, 2016.

What was the application closing date?

The original application closing date was October 4, 2016.

What was the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (award ceiling) was $750,000.

How many awards did NRCS anticipate making?

NRCS anticipated making a single award. The opportunity was structured as one relatively large cooperative agreement intended to fund a unified project or lead implementer rather than multiple smaller awards.

What does it mean that NRCS anticipated a single award?

It indicates the announcement was designed to select one recipient to lead or implement the project under one cooperative agreement, rather than distributing funding across several recipients through multiple awards.

Is this opportunity focused only on monarch butterflies?

While monarch butterfly habitat was a central focus, the stated aim also included strengthening broader pollinator habitat.

What program context is mentioned for the eligible lands?

The announcement referenced lands enrolled under existing Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) conservation easements, with the easement purpose centered on wetland restoration, protection, and enhancement.