Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS 2026 GLRI CFP
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA Forest Service (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA FS 2026 GLRI CFP) designed to help protect threatened private forestlands in key portions of the Lake Superior Basin in Michigan and Wisconsin. The program provides funding to acquire land outright through fee simple purchase, with the goal of preventing conversion of forests to non-forest uses and keeping these lands available for long-term community and ecological benefits. The maximum award amount is $1,000,000 per grant, and the Forest Service anticipates making about six awards under this funding round.
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian Tribes, county governments, and city or township governments, as well as qualified nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). A central requirement is that applicants must be capable of acquiring and managing land, since the funding is specifically intended for land acquisition and long-term stewardship responsibilities. Projects must focus on forested properties that are at least five acres in size, and the application needs to show that the land is genuinely at risk of being converted to non-forest uses, such as development or other forms of land use change that would reduce forest cover and fragment habitat.
The program emphasizes community value as much as conservation outcomes. Proposals are expected to demonstrate clear public benefits that can include economic outcomes (such as supporting local forest-based economies or tourism), environmental services (like water quality protection, carbon storage, and erosion control), educational opportunities (outdoor learning, demonstration forests, community programming), and recreational access (trails, hunting, fishing access, nature viewing, and other compatible uses). Beyond these general benefits, the opportunity places additional weight on projects that protect, enhance, and improve the resilience of habitats that sustain native aquatic and terrestrial species important to the Lake Superior ecosystem. In practice, this means applicants should be prepared to explain how the parcel contributes to ecological integrity, such as safeguarding riparian areas, protecting headwaters, maintaining wetlands connected to forest systems, or supporting habitat needs for native wildlife.
Competitive applications are expected to go further than simply identifying a desirable parcel. Strong proposals will show exceptional public benefit, meaningful community engagement, and a strategic role in improving terrestrial habitat connectivity. The notice highlights a defined Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity Pilot Area, and projects that help connect existing protected lands, reduce fragmentation, or secure corridors between important habitat blocks are positioned to be more competitive. Community engagement is also a key differentiator, so applicants should be ready to document local support, partnerships, consultation or coordination with stakeholders, and how the acquisition and long-term management will reflect community priorities and deliver tangible outcomes.
Key administrative details include a closing date of December 8, 2026, and the program is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.689. Because the summary references additional requirements contained in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), applicants should rely on that document for the full set of conditions, required attachments, mapping or parcel documentation expectations, appraisal and acquisition rules, eligibility nuances, and any scoring criteria or priority geographies that control how proposals are evaluated.Apply for USDA FS 2026 GLRI CFP
- The Forest Service in the community development, environment, natural resources, rt sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.689.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-12-08. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA Forest Service (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA FS 2026 GLRI CFP) intended to help protect threatened private forestlands in key portions of the Lake Superior Basin in Michigan and Wisconsin by funding land acquisition and long-term stewardship.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The primary goal is to prevent the conversion of forests to non-forest uses (such as development or other land use changes that reduce forest cover and fragment habitat) by acquiring threatened private forestlands and keeping them available for long-term community and ecological benefits.
What types of activities does the grant fund?
The program provides funding to acquire land outright through fee simple purchase. Applicants must also be prepared for long-term stewardship responsibilities associated with owning and managing the acquired land.
Is this funding for conservation easements or only for purchasing land?
Based on the information provided, the program is described as funding acquisition through fee simple purchase (outright purchase). Any additional eligible acquisition approaches, if any, would be detailed in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
What is the maximum award amount per grant?
The maximum award amount is $1,000,000 per grant.
How many awards does the Forest Service expect to make?
The Forest Service anticipates making about six awards under this funding round.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian Tribes, county governments, city or township governments, and qualified nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education).
Are institutions of higher education eligible if they are nonprofits?
No. The eligibility description excludes institutions of higher education, even if they otherwise operate as nonprofit entities.
What capabilities must an applicant demonstrate?
Applicants must be capable of acquiring and managing land. This requirement reflects that the funding is specifically intended for land acquisition and long-term stewardship responsibilities.
What geographic area does this opportunity focus on?
The program focuses on key portions of the Lake Superior Basin in Michigan and Wisconsin.
What kind of properties are eligible for acquisition?
Projects must focus on forested properties that are at least five acres in size and are genuinely at risk of conversion to non-forest uses.
Is there a minimum parcel size requirement?
Yes. The property must be at least five acres in size.
What does it mean that the land must be "at risk" of conversion?
The application needs to show that the forestland is genuinely threatened by conversion to non-forest uses, such as development or other land use changes that would reduce forest cover and fragment habitat.
What types of public benefits are expected from proposed projects?
Proposals are expected to demonstrate clear public benefits. Examples mentioned include economic outcomes (supporting local forest-based economies or tourism), environmental services (water quality protection, carbon storage, erosion control), educational opportunities (outdoor learning, demonstration forests, community programming), and recreational access (trails, hunting, fishing access, nature viewing, and other compatible uses).
Does the program prioritize both community value and conservation outcomes?
Yes. The program emphasizes community value as much as conservation outcomes, and competitive proposals are expected to demonstrate both strong public benefits and meaningful conservation impacts.
What ecological priorities are specifically emphasized for competitiveness?
Additional weight is placed on projects that protect, enhance, and improve the resilience of habitats sustaining native aquatic and terrestrial species important to the Lake Superior ecosystem. Applicants may need to explain how a parcel supports ecological integrity, such as safeguarding riparian areas, protecting headwaters, maintaining wetlands connected to forest systems, or supporting habitat needs for native wildlife.
What is the Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity Pilot Area, and why does it matter?
The notice highlights a defined Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity Pilot Area and indicates that projects improving terrestrial habitat connectivity can be more competitive. Examples include connecting existing protected lands, reducing fragmentation, or securing corridors between important habitat blocks.
What makes an application more competitive beyond identifying a desirable parcel?
Competitive applications are expected to show exceptional public benefit, meaningful community engagement, and a strategic role in improving terrestrial habitat connectivity. The opportunity highlights the value of demonstrating local support, partnerships, consultation or coordination with stakeholders, and a clear plan for acquisition and long-term management aligned with community priorities.
How important is community engagement in this program?
Community engagement is described as a key differentiator. Applicants should be prepared to document local support, partnerships, consultation or coordination with stakeholders, and how the project will reflect community priorities and deliver tangible outcomes.
What is the application deadline?
The closing date is December 8, 2026.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.689.
Where should applicants look for the full set of requirements and evaluation details?
Applicants should rely on the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the complete conditions, required attachments, mapping or parcel documentation expectations, appraisal and acquisition rules, eligibility nuances, scoring criteria, and any priority geographies used in evaluation.
Does the summary provided include all conditions and required documentation?
No. The summary references additional requirements contained in the official NOFO, which should be treated as the controlling source for complete application instructions and rules.
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