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.Apply for USDA FS 2025 LSR NORTHEAST MIDWEST
- 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.
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Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Grant Program 2025 (Northeast and Midwest) - FAQs
What is the Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Grant Program?
The Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Grant Program is a competitive U.S. Forest Service grant designed to accelerate collaborative, science-based restoration across priority rural forest landscapes. It is intended to support projects that deliver clear, on-the-ground restoration results at a meaningful landscape scale, rather than isolated site-level work.
What kinds of projects is this grant trying to fund?
This opportunity emphasizes restoration projects that:
- Produce measurable outcomes across a broader landscape (not just a single site).
- Are grounded in sound science and a defensible restoration rationale.
- Align with priorities and strategies in the relevant State Forest Action Plan(s) (or an equivalent statewide restoration strategy).
- Demonstrate collaboration, often across organizations and landownerships.
- Include a plan to track and report results in a transparent and defensible way.
Which states are eligible for the Northeast and Midwest LSR 2025 competition?
Projects must meaningfully cover the eligible Northeast and Midwest footprint, which includes these 20 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.
Are cross-regional projects allowed?
Yes. Cross-regional projects are allowed as long as the proposal includes meaningful work within the eligible Northeast and Midwest states listed in this opportunity. A proposal may also include related activities in states outside the region (for example, extending into the South or West) as long as the eligible Northeast and Midwest footprint is meaningfully included.
What if my project is entirely outside the Northeast and Midwest states listed?
If the project is entirely in other regions, applicants are expected to use the separate LSR opportunities for the West or South instead of this Northeast and Midwest competition.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes the following applicant types:
- 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
- Nonprofit organizations, including:
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education)
Is state sponsorship required to apply?
Yes. 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.
Do federally recognized Tribes need State Forester sponsorship?
No. Federally recognized Tribes are explicitly identified as an exception to the State Forester sponsorship requirement.
Is there a separate solicitation for Tribes?
Yes. The notice flags that there is a separate request for proposals specifically for federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations. Tribal applicants should make sure they are applying under the correct solicitation.
What does “state sponsorship” mean in practical terms?
In practical terms, state sponsorship means you need to coordinate with the appropriate state forestry office and secure sponsorship from the relevant State Forester(s) for the state(s) where your project work will happen. The guidance indicates you should submit a draft application narrative and a budget spreadsheet to the relevant State Forester(s) by the stated draft deadline.
What is the deadline to submit materials to the State Forester(s)?
Applicants are expected to submit a draft application narrative and budget spreadsheet to the relevant State Forester(s) by close of business on September 27.
Why is the September 27 State Forester draft deadline important if the federal deadline is later?
The September 27 deadline functions as a practical gate for most applicants because state sponsorship is required (except for federally recognized Tribes). 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 before the federal submission deadline.
What is the federal submission deadline for this opportunity?
The federal closing date listed for this opportunity is November 15, 2024.
How many awards does the Forest Service expect to make?
For the 2025 Northeast and Midwest competition, the Forest Service expects to make about 12 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $600,000 per grant.
Is this a formula grant or a competitive grant?
This is a competitive grant. The opportunity is described as a competitive U.S. Forest Service grant designed to fund high-impact, landscape-scale restoration proposals.
What federal agency is offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Forest Service.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant issued by the Forest Service.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 10.664.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity falls under the Environment and Natural Resources activity category.
What makes an application “strong” according to the opportunity description?
Based on the description provided, strong proposals typically show:
- Clear, measurable landscape outcomes and on-the-ground results at meaningful scale
- Use of sound science and a well-supported restoration rationale
- Alignment with priorities and strategies in the relevant State Forest Action Plan(s) (or an equivalent statewide restoration strategy)
- Partnerships across organizations and landownerships
- A transparent and defensible plan to track and report results
Does the program prefer projects with partners or collaborative approaches?
Yes. The program is designed to accelerate collaborative restoration. The description indicates that partnerships across organizations and landownerships are commonly part of strong applications.
Does the opportunity require measurable outcomes and result tracking?
Yes. Proposals are expected to show measurable landscape outcomes, and a strong application includes a plan to track results in a way that is transparent and defensible.
Does the project need to align with a State Forest Action Plan?
Yes. Proposals are expected to align with priorities and strategies laid out in each participating State Forest Action Plan, or an equivalent statewide restoration strategy.
Is matching funding required?
The information provided does not state that matching funds are required. However, the program is oriented toward high-impact restoration that leverages additional public and private resources, and proposals are typically stronger when they bring matching contributions, partner capacity, or complementary funding to amplify what federal dollars can accomplish.
How should applicants approach coordination with the State Forester(s)?
The guidance indicates that early outreach is recommended. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate early with the appropriate state forestry office to confirm fit with state priorities, strengthen partnerships, and secure the required sponsorship in time to meet the September 27 draft submission expectation.
Can a proposal include work in more than one eligible state?
Yes. The opportunity allows proposals that include work in one or more of the eligible Northeast and Midwest states, provided the project meaningfully covers the eligible footprint. If work will occur in multiple states, sponsorship would be needed from the relevant State Forester(s) for the states where work will be carried out (except for federally recognized Tribes).
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA FS 2025 LSR NORTHEAST MIDWEST) also looked into and applied for these:
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|---|
| Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program 2025 Southern and IITF Apply for USDA FS 2025 LSR SOUTHERN IITF Funding Number: USDA FS 2025 LSR SOUTHERN IITF Agency: Forest Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program 2025 West Apply for USDA FS 2025 LSR WEST Funding Number: USDA FS 2025 LSR WEST Agency: Forest Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| 2025 Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program for Tribes Apply for USDA FS 2025 LSR NATIONAL TRIBAL Funding Number: USDA FS 2025 LSR NATIONAL TRIBAL Agency: Forest Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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