Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA REG1 WPDG 25
Apply for EPA REG1 WPDG 25
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Region 1 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.461.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-02-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-24. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 13 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Region 1 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants opportunity is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help governments and eligible regional entities build stronger wetland programs. The central purpose is not simply to fund on-the-ground restoration projects in isolation, but to support the development or refinement of the policies, tools, and administrative capacity needed to protect, manage, and restore wetlands more effectively over time. In practice, this means helping recipients put durable wetland protection systems in place, improve how wetlands are tracked and assessed, and strengthen decision-making frameworks so wetland resources are conserved and improved across a jurisdiction.
The program is aimed at increasing both the quantity and the quality of wetlands in the United States. On the quantity side, the focus is on conserving existing wetland acreage and supporting restoration approaches that prevent ongoing losses. On the quality side, the goal is to improve wetland condition, which typically involves better monitoring, assessment methods, and management strategies that can detect degradation and guide corrective actions. EPA frames these outcomes as part of a broader effort to build the capacity of all levels of government to run comprehensive wetland protection and management programs, recognizing that long-term results depend heavily on strong state, Tribal, territorial, and local program infrastructure.
A key organizing concept for this grant program is the EPA "Core Elements of a Wetlands Program" and the related Wetlands Program Core Elements Framework. These core elements are essentially a structured set of building blocks that help jurisdictions design and improve a full wetland program, rather than relying on scattered or one-off activities. For states and Tribes in particular, the opportunity emphasizes the use and development of Wetland Program Plans (WPPs), which are planning documents that help identify program priorities, gaps, and an implementation roadmap for strengthening wetland protection over time. Applicants should expect that competitive proposals will align closely with these frameworks and clearly explain how the requested funding will help advance program development in a practical, measurable way.
Eligibility is described broadly and includes state governments, Tribal governments, U.S. territories and Insular Areas, local government agencies, and interstate or intertribal entities. The listing also indicates "Others" as eligible applicants, but the official Notice of Funding Opportunity should be treated as the final authority on who can apply and under what conditions. This matters because eligibility in EPA programs can hinge on legal status, governance authority, and whether an entity is applying on its own behalf or as part of a multi-jurisdiction partnership.
From a funding standpoint, this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number EPA REG1 WPDG 25) is categorized as an environmental grant under CFDA 66.461. The maximum award amount is listed as $350,000 per award, and EPA expects to make about 13 awards under this competition. The original closing date shown is 2026-04-24, and the opportunity record indicates a creation date of 2026-02-20. Taken together, those details suggest a limited number of moderately sized awards intended to support targeted program-development work that can be implemented within the scope of an EPA assistance agreement.
Overall, applicants should think of this grant as support for strengthening the "backbone" of wetland protection: improving program design, capacity, planning, and technical tools that enable better wetland conservation and restoration decisions over the long run. For the specific eligibility rules, any required cost share or matching expectations, allowable activities, and evaluation criteria, the Notice of Funding Opportunity is the document that will spell out exactly what EPA will fund and how proposals will be reviewed.
FAQs: Region 1 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDG)
What is the Region 1 FY 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants opportunity?
It is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help governments and eligible regional entities build stronger wetland programs. The focus is on developing or refining the systems that protect, manage, and restore wetlands over time.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The central purpose is to support wetland program development rather than funding isolated, one-off restoration projects. The program is intended to strengthen policies, tools, planning, and administrative capacity so wetland protection and management improves across an entire jurisdiction over the long run.
Is this grant meant to fund on-the-ground wetland restoration projects?
The opportunity emphasizes that it is not simply meant to fund on-the-ground restoration in isolation. Instead, it prioritizes the development of the frameworks, tools, and capacity that support durable wetland protection, management, and restoration decisions.
What outcomes is EPA trying to achieve through this program?
EPA frames the outcomes around increasing both the quantity and the quality of wetlands in the United States. Quantity is addressed by conserving existing wetland acreage and supporting restoration approaches that prevent ongoing losses. Quality is addressed by improving wetland condition through better monitoring, assessment methods, and management strategies.
How does this grant relate to long-term wetland protection?
This grant is described as support for strengthening the "backbone" of wetland protection. That means improving program design, planning, capacity, and technical tools so jurisdictions can conserve and improve wetland resources more effectively over time.
What are the EPA "Core Elements of a Wetlands Program" and why do they matter here?
The EPA Core Elements of a Wetlands Program (and the Wetlands Program Core Elements Framework) are presented as a key organizing concept for the grant. They provide structured building blocks to help jurisdictions design and improve a comprehensive wetland program rather than relying on scattered activities. Competitive proposals are expected to align closely with these frameworks.
What is a Wetland Program Plan (WPP)?
For states and Tribes in particular, the opportunity emphasizes Wetland Program Plans (WPPs). A WPP is a planning document used to identify program priorities, gaps, and an implementation roadmap for strengthening wetland protection over time.
How should an applicant demonstrate alignment with EPA frameworks?
Based on the description, applicants should clearly explain how their proposed work advances wetland program development in a practical, measurable way and aligns with the Core Elements framework and, where applicable, the use and development of a Wetland Program Plan (WPP).
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is described broadly and includes state governments, Tribal governments, U.S. territories and Insular Areas, local government agencies, and interstate or intertribal entities. The listing also indicates "Others" as eligible applicants.
Is the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) important for confirming eligibility?
Yes. The description notes that the official Notice of Funding Opportunity should be treated as the final authority on who can apply and under what conditions. Eligibility in EPA programs can depend on legal status, governance authority, and whether an entity is applying alone or within a multi-jurisdiction partnership.
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA REG1 WPDG 25.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under CFDA 66.461.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is $350,000 per award.
How many awards does EPA expect to make?
EPA expects to make about 13 awards under this competition.
What are the key dates shown for this opportunity?
The opportunity record indicates a creation date of 2026-02-20 and an original closing date shown as 2026-04-24.
What types of activities does the grant emphasize supporting?
It emphasizes activities that improve program infrastructure such as policies, tools, tracking and assessment approaches, monitoring and management strategies, planning efforts (including WPPs), and administrative capacity that improve decision-making and long-term wetland conservation outcomes.
Where can applicants find details like cost share requirements, allowable activities, and evaluation criteria?
The description states that the Notice of Funding Opportunity is the document that will spell out what EPA will fund, any required cost share or matching expectations, and how proposals will be reviewed.
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