No. F25AS00379 · Fish and Wildlife Service
F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round
Geography: CT · NJ · NY · PA
“In FY 2026, $9,173,450 in Base funding is available for grants to Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.” — From the announcement
- Award range
- $25,000 – $2,293,362
- Expected awards
- ~4
- Application deadline
- Oct 31, 2026
- Posted
- May 19, 2026
- Last verified
- 3 days ago
At a glance
AI summaryThis program funds land acquisition projects and related administrative, transaction, and acquisition costs to conserve land and natural resources in the Highlands Region. Only the lead state agency designated by the governors of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania may apply, and the land must be in the Highlands Region or in an approved Highlands Expansion Opportunity Area municipality. Up to $9,173,450 is available in base funding, with up to 4 awards; each state may request up to $2,293,362. A 50 percent non-federal cost share is required.
AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement
What it funds
Official description from grants.gov
The Highlands Conservation Act Program (HCA) is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in the protection of land and natural resources in the Highlands Region. HCA grants support land conservation projects in which a State, County, or Municipal entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to conserve resources of high conservation value.Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals for up to 50% of the total cost of land conservation projects in the Highlands Region.Funding appropriated under the HCA is typically divided into two separate categories – Base and Competitive. Eligible applicants may submit requests for the Base Funding Round in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. A separate Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted for Competitive Funds. A project may not be proposed for funding in both funding opportunities.More information on the HCA program is available at www.fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act-grant
Who can apply
- State governments
“In FY 2026, $9,173,450 in Base funding is available for grants to Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.” — From the announcement
Program history
USASpending.govAssistance listing 15.667 · Highlands Conservation
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (15.667), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 0 | — | — |
| FY 2025 | 13 | $749,000 | $200,000 – $1,092,000 |
| FY 2024 | 5 | $1,462,500 | $1,172,250 – $1,462,500 |
| FY 2023 | 6 | $172,000 | $172,000 – $1,138,000 |
| FY 2022 | 3 | $1,460,000 | $1,460,000 – $1,460,000 |
| FY 2021 | 3 | $1,460,000 | $1,460,000 – $2,230,000 |
For comparison, this notice advertises $25,000 – $2,293,362.
- DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION & NATURAL RESOURCES PENNSYLVANIA $17,120,240 · FY 2023
- NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION $3,000,000 · FY 2021
- DEPT OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION $2,247,500 · FY 2024
- NJ HIGHLANDS COUNCIL $1,383,625 · FY 2025
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Aug 26, 2026