Natural Resources Conservation Service

Description

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS is announcing the availability of up to $5 million in Wetland Mitigation Banking Program (WMBP) grant funds for the development and establishment of mitigation banks and banking opportunities solely for agricultural producers with wetlands subject to the Wetland Conservation Compliance provisions of the 1985 Food Security Act (as amended). WMBP is a competitive grants program accepting proposals from Federally recognized Native American tribal governments, State and local units of government, for-profit entities, nonprofits with or without a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and public and State controlled institutions of higher education. Applications will be accepted from eligible entities in any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Priority will be given to banks located in geographic areas with the largest numbers of wetland compliance producer requests. Based on NRCS data, proposals from the following States will receive priority consideration: Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on July 6, 2020. FOR MORE INFORMATION: See the Full Announcement in the Related Documents tab of this opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to visit the WMBP website at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=nrcseprd362686 to learn more about the program. . A webinar for potential WMBP applicants was held May 19, 2020. View the webinar recording and slides on the WMBP website at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/farmbill/?cid=nrcseprd362686 Please note that the introduction to the webinar was not recorded due to technical issues.

Who can apply

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses

Contact

Michele Devaney <br/>Grants Management Specialist
michele.devaney@usda.gov