Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program

CFDA 10.093 Active Grant
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$68.6M FY2026
$9.6M
FY24
$68.6M
FY26*
* estimated

Who has received this funding

Organizations awarded under CFDA 10.093 (USAspending.gov).

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2026 The FY 2026 VPA-HIP NOFO is still in clearance but will seek to award $70M in funding for new projects to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled public access program lands.

Program Objective

The primary objective of VPA-HIP is to encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make that land available for access by the public for wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting or fishing, under programs implemented by state or tribal governments.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • U.S. State Government
  • U.S. Territory Government
  • Federally Recognized Tribal Government

Eligible applicants for VPA-HIP are limited to state, territorial and tribal Governments.

Beneficiaries

  • Other

The beneficiary eligibility is extended to the public for the purposes of expanding existing public access programs or create new public access programs or provide incentives to improve habitat on enrolled program lands.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Grants are awarded through a competitive process. Following award selections, grantees enter into a grant agreement with NRCS. The agreement includes the deliverables and proposed budget for the project, as well as reporting requirements and other general terms and conditions.

Program details & compliance

Description

VPA-HIP is a competitive grant program and only state and tribal governments may apply. Projects may be up to 3 years in duration. The maximum amount for a single award is $3 million. Up to 25% of the funding for each award may be used to provide incentives to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled public access program lands.

Mission Categories

Primary: Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation

Other categories:
Fish and Wildlife Preservation

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

The funding provided by the VPA-HIP helps states and tribal governments increase public access to private land and improve wildlife habitat. Grant recipients can use the funding to provide financial incentives to landowners to participate in a public access program, provide infrastructure or equipment associated with implementation of the public access program, and provide incentives to landowners to improve wildlife habitat on lands enrolled in a public access program.

Restrictions

Only state and tribal governments are eligible to directly receive VPA-HIP grants.

Reporting & Compliance

Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Formula

Formula and matching requirements are not applicable to this listing.

Contacts

Mike Larsen, Acting Branch Chief, Projects Branch, Financial Assistance Programs Division
435-253-0920
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-02-04. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-29 05:33:50.