$100 Million Available for Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience
December 6, 2024
NOAA is announcing the availability of up to $100 million in funding for transformational projects that restore coastal habitat and strengthen community resilience. This funding has been made available through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This is the third and final round of this funding opportunity under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Of the $100 million of funding available, up to 15 percent is specifically available to U.S. federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and organizations that represent tribes through formal legal agreements, through direct awards or subawards:
- A direct award is an award where the tribe is the applicant, receives an award from NOAA, and administers the award
- A subaward to a tribe is an award where a non-tribal applicant receives a direct award from NOAA, but provides a specific amount of funding to a tribe to carry out a portion of the award
The remaining funding will be available to all eligible applicants.
NOAA will accept proposals with a federal funding request of between $750,000 and $10 million for the entire award. Typical funding is anticipated to range from $4 million to $6 million. Applications are due by April 16, 2025. For more information, view the Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants funding opportunity.
Biden-Harris Administration, NOAA make $99 million available for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund
December 4, 2024
Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA Fisheries announced up to $99 million in funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) for conservation and recovery projects focusing on Pacific salmon and steelhead. This funding — which includes $34.4 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) — will advance state and tribal efforts to restore salmon populations and habitats, and bolster climate and economic resilience in surrounding communities.
NOAA will accept proposals from eligible applicants from Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, and federally-recognized tribes of the Columbia River Basin and Pacific coast (including Alaska). The application deadline is March 4, 2025. Recommended proposal selections are expected to be announced in summer 2025.
NOAA launches first animated, educational series for students about weather and climate
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Today program is launching its first-ever animated, educational series — Teek and Tom Explore Planet Earth. The five-part video series and accompanying lesson plans, take students on a deep dive to explore how the ocean influences weather and climate on Earth. Teek and Tom Explore Planet Earth introduces a range of scientific topics, including wild weather extremes and how NOAA uses high-tech tools to gather data and information that provides a window into understanding the planet. The series teaches students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades about the ocean-weather-climate connection and is coupled with educator-ready lesson plans, two for each episode, that align with Next Generation Science Standards.
Biden-Harris Administration, NOAA make $95 million available for fish passage as part of Investing in America agenda
October 30, 2024
NOAA Fisheries announced two funding opportunities totaling $95 million through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support new fish passage projects, with one focused on tribes. Projects will help protect and restore migrating fish and their habitats, and support communities and economies that depend on these resources.
Every year, millions of fish attempt to migrate to their spawning and rearing habitats to reproduce. They are often blocked from completing their journey by human-made barriers, such as dams and culverts. When fish cannot reach their habitat, they cannot reproduce and maintain or grow their populations. Fish passage projects reopen these pathways and are important for the protection and restoration of migrating fish and their habitats.
The two funding opportunities announced today are:
- The $75 million Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Notice of Funding Opportunity, which will fund projects that reopen migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for fish across the coasts and Great Lakes.
- The $20 million Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Notice of Funding Opportunity, which will support tribes and tribal organizations in implementing fish passage work and building tribal capacity to sustain these efforts.
NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation has run four funding opportunities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. To date, the program has funded 214 awards totaling $985 million through these competitions.
The application deadline for the Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Funding Opportunity is February 10, 2025 and the deadline for applications for the Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage Funding Opportunity is February 27, 2025.
Additional information is available on the NOAA Fisheries website.
Launch of the Tribal Access to Capital Clearinghouse
The Access to Capital Clearinghouse is a website that provides a searchable database of all federal funding opportunities, including grants and loans, available to Tribal Nations and Native businesses.
A multi-agency strategy to improve awareness of, access to, and utilization of federal funding resources for Tribal governments, Tribal enterprises, Native entrepreneurs, and Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
Grant Opportunities
Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program Request for Proposals
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science offsite link, in partnership with the NOAA Marine Debris Program, will announce a request for proposals under their Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program.
Using funding from NOAA’s Marine Debris Program provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science will award up to $1,475,000 in grants to remove derelict fishing traps throughout coastal waterways of the United States while collecting data to prevent future gear loss. Projects may range from $50,000 to $200,000.
Priority will be given to projects that provide ecological and/or economic benefits; integrate innovative, sustainable approaches to derelict fishing trap disposal; and take place in sanctuaries, reserves, tribal or Indigenous community fishing grounds, or other protected areas. Projects throughout the coastal United States, including United States territories and Freely Associated States, are eligible for consideration. Eligible applicants include American Indian and Alaska Native governments and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Organizations; non-profit 501(c) organizations; state, territorial, and Freely Associated State government agencies; local governments; commercial (for-profit) organizations; and educational institutions.
Proposals are due on May 30, 2024 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). More information is available on the Virginia Institute of Marine Science website offsite link.
National Coastal Resilience Fund 2024 Request for Proposals
Today, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, released a request for proposals for the FY 2024 National Coastal Resilience Fund. Funded projects will restore, increase, and strengthen natural infrastructure—the landscapes that help absorb the impacts of storms and floods—to ultimately protect coastal communities and enhance fish and wildlife habitat.
In FY 2023, the National Coastal Resilience Fund provided $189 million for the restoration or expansion of natural features, such as coastal marshes and wetlands, dune and beach systems, oyster and coral reefs, mangroves, coastal forests, coastal rivers, and barrier islands. This year, the fund will invest approximately $140 million in projects.
Pre-proposals are due April 10, 2024. Applicants invited to submit a full proposal will have a July 2, 2024, deadline. The complete request for proposals can be found here offsite link. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is holding pre-proposal webinars on February 28, March 5, and March 7. Registration information can be found here offsite link.
If you have questions, please contact Lindy.Betzhold@noaa.
New grant opportunity to benefit Indigenous Knowledge holders and Alaska Native community members
February 21, 2024
Today, NOAA Fisheries is announcing a new FY24 Notice of Funding Opportunity that will support community resiliency and food security, strengthen collaboration with tribal governments and Indigenous communities, and engage Indigenous Knowledge Holder voices in NOAA Fisheries’ science. This limited funding opportunity has been made available with funds from the Inflation Reduction Act in support of NOAA Climate-Ready Fisheries.
These grants will support NOAA Fisheries' efforts to:
- support and collaborate with existing Knowledge networks to build capacity in remote Arctic communities in line with the NOAA Fisheries Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy.
- incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into existing science, where possible, to build climate resilience in communities on the front lines of climate change in the Arctic. This requires NOAA services in the form of partnerships, internships, and education opportunities.
- conduct collaborative and co-produced research providing opportunities for the co-development of research and knowledge needs with academic, international, and Indigenous partners at the Inuit Circumpolar Council.
This multi-year funding opportunity through the Alaska Fisheries Science Center Indigenous Engagement Program will provide up to $500,000 available in the initial Notice of Funding Opportunity for fiscal year 2024 and the remaining funding will potentially be available in future years for continuation of this work. More details on the funding opportunity can be found on Grants.gov (Opportunity number: NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2024-25622), and the deadline for submitting proposals is April 26, 2024.
$700,000 Available for Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Projects
Atlantic salmon in the Gulf of Maine region. The Gulf of Maine distinct population segment of Atlantic salmon is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and is one of ten NOAA Species in the Spotlight. This funding opportunity will remain open until 2026. Applications will be accepted and considered on an annual basis. To be considered for funding in the current federal fiscal year, applications are due by April 1, 2024. For funding in FY2025 and FY2026, applications will be due by March 31, 2025, and March 31, 2026, respectively.
NOAA will accept proposals with a NOAA federal funding request of between $100,000 and $1.5 million over a 3-year award period. For more information, view the Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants funding opportunity. Read more about previously funded projects.
Check out these other NOAA Grants:
Marine Debris Program
The NOAA Marine Debris Program offers several nationwide, competitive funding opportunities for marine debris projects. These include: removal, prevention, and research grants.
NCCOS Competitive Research Program
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science's Competitive Research Program (NCCOS) supports the Competitive Research Program (CRP) and the RESTORE Science Program that provide the critical information and predictive capabilities required to manage the nation’s coastal resources in an ecosystem context. NCCOS addresses these issues via a stressor-based or regional ecosystem approach. These issues typically require multidisciplinary research teams and a significant long-term commitment of resources because of their complexity and the effort required to reach a new level of understanding sufficient to support NOS priorities and drive future coastal management decisions.
RESTORE Science Program
The science and restoration programs working in the Gulf of Mexico understand the need for stakeholders to remain informed of future funding opportunities. To this end, they have collectively developed a calendar consolidating currently planned funding opportunities in order to keep stakeholders informed and help grant applicants plan ahead and submit their high-quality applications to the appropriate funding opportunity.
NOAA Acquisition and Grants
Each fiscal year, the AGO spends a significant portion of the NOAA budget on the products and services necessary for NOAA’s daily and long-term operations. NOAA acquires the majority of its goods and services using the above NAICS codes. More information can be found on the NAICS site. Use the following information to learn about business opportunities across NOAA.
Fish Passage Funding
Two fish passage funding opportunities that will remove in-stream barriers under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are now open, one focused on Indian tribes. Indian tribes are eligible to apply to both funding opportunities. NOAA can provide assistance to all applicants to best understand what funding opportunities may be more appropriate for their project. The Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Notice of Funding Opportunity is for Indian tribes, tribal commissions, or tribal consortias to implement tribal priority fish passage work that will remove dams and other in-stream barriers and build tribal organizational capacity. The funding opportunity was informed by verbal and written comments received during a 60-day comment period focused on the Tribal Provisions in the law. Applications are due August 29, 2022. For the broader fish passage competition, you can learn more on our website.
Regional Ocean Partnership Opportunity
NOAA has announced the availability of approximately $1 million in regional ocean partnership funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This funding is for federally-recognized Indian tribes that have current and/or ancestral interests in a region with an established regional ocean partnership and wish to pursue coastal and ocean activities that align with the partnership priorities. The funding opportunity was informed by verbal and written comments received during a 60-day comment period focused on the tribal provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Applications are due at 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 13, 2022.
NOAA Fisheries Species Recovery Grants
Are you a federally recognized tribe interested in recovering species listed under the Endangered Species Act? If so, consider applying for a NOAA Fisheries Species Recovery Grant. These grants support tribally-led management, research, monitoring, and outreach activities that have direct conservation benefits for threatened and endangered species. Learn more at our website.
Grants.gov
Search for all available grants at Grants.gov
Education Opportunities
NOAA's Ocean Guardian School Program now accepting Applications!
April 16, 2024
APPLICATIONS offsite link are now being accepted for participation in the 2024-2025 NOAA Ocean Guardian School program. Application deadline: June 1, 2024
Does your school have what it takes to help protect the ocean for the future? Promote ocean and watershed conservation at your school or in your local community by becoming an Ocean Guardian School. Occean Guardian School makes a commitment to the protection and conservation of its local watersheds, the world's ocean, and special ocean areas, like national marine sanctuaries. The school makes this commitment by proposing and then implementing a school- or community-based conservation project.
Who is Eligible to Participate in the Ocean Guardian School
PARTICIPATION WITHOUT FUNDING: Any school (PreK-12) in the United States may apply to participate in the Ocean Guardian School
PARTICIPATION WITH FUNDING: Grant amounts range from $1,000 - $4,000 per school depending on the program region and funding year. Any school (PreK-12) from the locations below may apply for an Ocean Guardian School grant.
- Any school (preK-12) located in California in the following counties:
- Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Solano, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Alameda, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Monterey, San Benito, Merced, Madera, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Santa Barbara, and Ventura
- Any school (preK-12) located in Washington in the following counties:
- Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor and Pacific
- Any school (preK-12) located in Oregon in the following counties:
- Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos and Curry
- Any school (preK-12) located in Hawai‘i
Check out these other Education opportunities:
Student Opportunities
Check out our website for information about educational opportunities that are available throughout NOAA.
Environmental Literacy Program
Working at national, regional, and local levels, our funded projects educate and inspire people to use Earth systems science to improve ecosystem stewardship and increase resilience to environmental hazards. Education plays a critical role in achieving NOAA’s mission and vision. To make the best social, economic, and environmental decisions, individuals should have the ability to understand scientific processes, consider uncertainty, and reason about the ways human and natural systems interact (NOAA's Education Strategic Plan, 2021–2040). Since 2005, our grants have supported formal (K-12) and informal education projects that cultivate these skillsets among diverse audiences.
Bay Watershed Education and Training
The B-WET program is an environmental education program that promotes place-based experiential learning for K–12 students and related professional development for teachers. B-WET fosters the growth of new, innovative programs and encourages capacity-building and environmental education partnerships.