Region 7 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants

Background
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing the Region 7 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) to assist state, Tribal, territory, and local government agencies in developing or refining programs that protect, manage, and restore wetlands. The EPA's mission includes increasing the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland conditions. The goal of this grant is to enhance the capacity of governments at all levels to create effective wetland protection and management programs through the use of Core Elements of a Wetlands Program.

Grant Details
The WPDGs will support projects that develop or refine comprehensive state, Tribal, territory, or local government wetland programs. Eligible activities include:
1) Developing or updating a Wetland Program Plan (WPP);
2) Carrying out grant-eligible actions from an EPA-approved WPP;
3) Conducting wetland mapping and monitoring projects;
4) Implementing strategies for wetland restoration and protection;
5) Engaging in research, training, demonstrations, and studies related to water pollution prevention. Projects must comply with applicable regulations and demonstrate how they will increase wetland quality and quantity.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include Indian Tribes, state and local governments, institutions of higher education (IHEs), interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia. Ineligible applicants include for-profit organizations, federal agencies, and individuals. Applications must demonstrate activities taking place within EPA Region 7 (Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska) and must not request more than $400,000 in funding.

Period of Performance
The project period for awarded grants is expected to be between one to four years.

Grant Value
The total funding available for this opportunity is $1,857,000. It is anticipated that approximately 5-9 awards will be made under this announcement.

Place of Performance
Projects must take place within states, Tribes, territories within EPA Region 7 (Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska), including Tribal lands located within those states.