Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program 2025 Northeast and Midwest | USDA FS 2025 LSR NORTHEAST MIDWEST

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS 2025 LSR NORTHEAST MIDWEST

The Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Grant Program 2025 for the Northeast and Midwest is a competitive U.S. Forest Service grant designed to accelerate collaborative, science-based restoration across priority rural forest landscapes. The core idea is to fund projects that produce clear, on-the-ground results at meaningful scale, rather than isolated site-level work. Proposals are expected to show measurable landscape outcomes, rely on sound science, and align with the priorities and strategies laid out in each participating State Forest Action Plan (or an equivalent statewide restoration strategy). A strong application will typically demonstrate partnerships across organizations and landownerships, a clear restoration rationale tied to documented state priorities, and a plan to track results in a way that is transparent and defensible.

This opportunity focuses on projects located in 20 Northeast and Midwest states: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Cross-regional projects are allowed, meaning a proposal can include work in one or more of these states while also including related activities in states outside the region (for example, extending into the South or West) as long as the project meaningfully covers the eligible Northeast and Midwest footprint. If the project is entirely in other regions, applicants are expected to use the separate LSR opportunities for the West or South instead.

A key procedural requirement is state sponsorship. With the exception of federally recognized Tribes, applicants must have sponsorship from the relevant State Forester(s) for the state(s) where the work will be carried out. Practically, this means applicants need to coordinate early with the appropriate state forestry office and submit a draft application narrative and budget spreadsheet to the relevant State Forester(s) by close of business on September 27. The guidance strongly implies that waiting until late in the process is risky, so early outreach is recommended to confirm fit with state priorities, strengthen partnerships, and secure the required sponsorship. The notice also flags that there is a separate request for proposals specifically for federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations, so tribal applicants should ensure they are applying under the correct solicitation.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes state governments; county and municipal governments (city or township); special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The program is listed under CFDA 10.664 and falls under the Environment and Natural Resources activity category. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant issued by the Forest Service.

For this 2025 Northeast and Midwest competition, the Forest Service expects to make about 12 awards, with an award ceiling of $600,000 per grant. The federal closing date listed for the opportunity is November 15, 2024, but applicants should treat the September 27 State Forester draft deadline as a practical gate that needs to be met well ahead of the federal submission deadline. Overall, the program is oriented toward high-impact restoration that leverages additional public and private resources, meaning proposals are typically stronger when they bring matching contributions, partner capacity, or complementary funding to amplify what federal dollars can accomplish.

• The Forest Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program 2025 Northeast and Midwest" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.664.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-08-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-15. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: 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 having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA FS 2025 LSR NORTHEAST MIDWEST

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: