Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
🏛 Forest Service
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for federally recognized Indian Tribes, local government entities, and nonprofit organizations qualified to acquire and manage land.
Projects must involve fee simple acquisition of private forest land in the Lake Superior Basin of Michigan and Wisconsin. Properties must be at least five acres and threatened by conversion to non-forest uses.
Funded projects should provide community benefits including economic, environmental, educational, and recreational value. Preference goes to proposals demonstrating exceptional public benefits and strategic habitat connectivity within the Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity Pilot Area.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
Federally recognized Indian Tribes, local government entities, and nonprofit organizations that are qualified to acquire and manage land may apply for up to $1,000,000 for the fee simple acquisition of private forest land in portions of the Lake Superior Basin of Michigan and Wisconsin. Projects submitted for funding consideration must be forested properties at least five acres in size that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses and that provide community benefits including economic, environmental, educational, and recreational benefits. An additional focus of this opportunity is to protect, enhance and increase resilience of habitats necessary for sustaining native aquatic and terrestrial species important to the Lake Superior ecosystem. Competitive proposals will be those that demonstrate exceptional public benefits, meaningful community engagement, and strategic contributions to terrestrial habitat connectivity within the defined Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity Pilot Area.
For additional information and requirements, please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity document linked in both the “Related Documents” tab and the “Instructions” link located in the “Package” tab.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Notice of Funding Opportunity document
- Project narrative describing land acquisition and community benefits
- Property information and threat assessment documentation
- Community engagement letters of support
- Land management plan
- Budget and cost-sharing documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Liam M Krause Grantor
- 📧 liam.krause@usda.gov
- 📞 4142384843
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.689 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$600,000
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$600,000
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$600,000
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$600,000
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$600,000
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$600,000
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$600,000
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$600,000
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$600,000
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$600,000
Top States by Funding
- NH 8 awards $3.6M
- WA 4 awards $2.2M
- ME 8 awards $2.0M
- NY 7 awards $1.9M
- VT 4 awards $1.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.689). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $7,194,923 | |
| 2025 | $3,692,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $350,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Federally recognized Indian Tribes, local government entities, and qualified nonprofit land management organizations may apply.
What properties qualify for funding?
Forested private land of at least five acres in the Lake Superior Basin of Michigan and Wisconsin that faces conversion to non-forest uses.
What is the maximum award amount?
Awards are available up to $1,000,000 per project. The total funding pool is $3,500,000.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is December 8, 2026.
What makes a proposal competitive?
Strong proposals demonstrate exceptional public benefits, meaningful community engagement, and strategic contributions to terrestrial habitat connectivity within the pilot area.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly document the threat to forest conversion. Provide specific evidence that the land faces imminent conversion risk.
- Emphasize community benefits across multiple dimensions: economic jobs, environmental protection, educational opportunities, and recreational access.
- Show strong community engagement. Include letters of support from local stakeholders, tribal leadership, or government partners.
- Align your project with the Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity Pilot Area priorities. Explain how acquisition contributes to habitat connectivity.
- Develop a realistic land management plan showing long-term stewardship and community benefit achievement.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants overlook the specific geographic restriction to Lake Superior Basin portions of Michigan and Wisconsin. Proposals must be location-specific. Vague threat assessments without concrete evidence of conversion pressure weaken competitiveness significantly. Insufficient community engagement documentation fails to demonstrate meaningful local support and partnership.
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