Region 7 State Wildlife Grant Program Open to Alaska Department of Fish and Game only | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): USFWS Region 7 State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program (Alaska)

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 7 State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program announcement for Alaska. It provides federal funding to support state-level efforts to conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat, with a strong emphasis on species not traditionally managed through hunting or fishing programs.

2) Who is eligible to apply?

The announcement states it is only open to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

3) What is the main purpose of the SWG Program in Alaska?

The purpose is to help Alaska design, update, and carry out coordinated conservation work that benefits a broad range of native species and the habitats they depend on. The funding is intended to support conservation work that is clearly tied to Alaska's statewide conservation strategy.

4) What types of work does the program fund?

The program funds two main categories: planning and implementation.

• Planning: Activities that directly support development or revision of Alaska's Wildlife Action Plan.
• Implementation: On-the-ground or programmatic actions carried out to execute the Wildlife Action Plan.

5) What qualifies as an eligible "planning" activity?

Planning activities must directly support the development or revision of Alaska's Wildlife Action Plan, and that plan must be approved by the Director of USFWS. The announcement describes planning work as leading to concrete updates to the statewide conservation strategy, such as:

• Refining priority species lists
• Improving habitat assessments
• Updating threats and conservation actions
• Strengthening monitoring approaches
• Revising conservation priorities based on new science or changing conditions

6) What qualifies as an eligible "implementation" activity?

Implementation activities are actions Alaska carries out specifically to execute the Wildlife Action Plan. Examples included in the announcement are:

• Habitat conservation and restoration work
• Research and monitoring tied to priority conservation needs
• Threat reduction efforts
• Other actions clearly mapped back to the Plan's goals and strategies

7) What are "species of greatest conservation need" and why do they matter here?

The announcement identifies conservation of "species of greatest conservation need" as a major selection and spending priority. Projects are expected to focus on these priority species and to direct limited resources where conservation need and potential benefit are highest.

8) Does this grant fund any type of natural resource project?

No. While the opportunity is broadly about benefiting wildlife and habitat, the announcement emphasizes it is not a general-purpose funding source for natural resource activities. Proposals must be defensible as Wildlife Action Plan-driven work under the SWG framework.

9) Are wildlife education activities eligible for SWG funding?

Generally, wildlife education activities are not eligible. The only exception described is when an education component is minor or incidental and still critical to the success of an otherwise eligible project.

10) Are law enforcement activities eligible for SWG funding?

Generally, law enforcement activities are not eligible. The only exception described is when a law enforcement component is minor or incidental and still critical to the success of an otherwise eligible project.

11) Can a project be primarily outreach or enforcement if it has conservation benefits?

The announcement indicates no. A project cannot be primarily an outreach campaign or enforcement initiative. A small, necessary educational element or limited enforcement-related support may be included only if it is essential to achieving the conservation outcomes of an otherwise eligible project.

12) Is this a competitive grant program?

The announcement describes it as a mandatory grant program (not discretionary in the usual competitive sense) under CFDA 15.634, State Wildlife Grants.

13) Is there a cost share or match requirement?

Yes. The announcement states the opportunity carries a cost-sharing or matching requirement.

14) How much funding is available, and are there minimum or maximum award amounts?

The posting data listed in the announcement shows no estimated total funding and no award floor or ceiling. This typically indicates that specific amounts are determined through program allocations and the state-federal grant agreement process rather than being fixed in the public notice.

15) What is the CFDA number for this program?

The announcement lists CFDA 15.634, State Wildlife Grants.

16) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is F15AS00172.

17) What are the key dates for the announcement?

• Posted date: May 15, 2015
• Closing date: August 31, 2016
• Archive date: September 1, 2016

18) Where can I find more background on the SWG Program?

The announcement points to the USFWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration SWG webpage: http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SWG/SWG.htm

19) Who is the contact for access issues or help with the full announcement?

The listed contact is Tarajoy Mihan, Grants Fiscal Officer. Phone: 907-786-3698. Email: TarajoyMihan@fws.gov.

20) What is the required relationship between funded projects and Alaska's Wildlife Action Plan?

Projects must be driven by Alaska's Wildlife Action Plan. Planning projects must directly support developing or revising the Plan (which must be approved by the USFWS Director). Implementation projects must clearly map back to the Plan's goals and strategies and be designed to carry the Plan out.