USDA opens $150M for IRA Forest Landowner Support
Eligible applicants: states, local authorities, tribes, native corporations, education institutions, nonprofits, and forprofits. Applications are due October 21, 2023.
Opportunity: USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Forest Landowner Support
Announcement Type: NOFO
Overview and Eligible Uses: This NOFO initiates the first in a series of Forest Landowner Support NOFOs, funded by four IRA provisions. These provisions are designed to facilitate cost-sharing and payment incentives for forestry practices, emphasizing the inclusion of underserved landowners and small-acreage landowners (owning less than 2,500 acres) in emerging private markets focused on climate mitigation and forest resiliency.
This NOFO solicits proposals for two specific IRA provisions: Subtitle D, Section 23002(a)(2) and Subtitle D, Section 23002(a)(3). Under these provisions, the USDA Forest Service aims to:
Support Underserved Landowners: Encourage the participation of underserved forest landowners in emerging private markets focused on climate mitigation and forest resilience.
Engage Small-Acreage Landowners: Foster the involvement of forest landowners owning less than 2,500 acres in the growing private markets for climate mitigation and forest resilience.
Multiple deadlines (or “Tracks”) are available to encourage involvement from a wide variety of applicants and to capture learning for future program development. Tracks are defined by overall proposal budget size.
Future NOFO cycles will expand to cover additional provisions, including cost-sharing for climate mitigation or forest resilience practices and payments for implementing practices that visibly enhance carbon sequestration and storage.
Amount:t. The USDA Forest Service anticipates up to $150 million may be awarded through this opportunity under Tracks A and B.
Applying entities may submit up to three unique proposals under Track A and/or B for a maximum combined total of $25 million.
Entities that have subsidiaries and affiliates will be treated as one applicant for purposes of calculating the $25 million cap on requests.
Track C is not included in the $25 million cap on the total amount requested.
Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
Eligible Applicants:
The following entities are eligible to submit a project proposal through Tracks A and B:
U.S. State Governments
U.S. Local Governments
Tribal Governments
Alaska Native Corporations/Villages
Other Tribal Entities
Education Institutions
Non-Profit Entities
For-Profit Entities
The following entities are eligible to submit a project proposal through Track C:
Nonprofit organizations with a mission focused on sustainable forestry and/or forest conservation. Applicants must have demonstrated success in managing competitive subgrant programs that are regional or national in scope.
Key Dates:Three “Tracks” with distinct deadlines are offered to encourage participation by applicants that have a breadth of experience, expertise, and geographic scale. Tracks are defined by the overall proposed budget:
Track A: Proposal budgets greater than or equal to $2 million and less than $25 million are due by October 21, 2023, 60 days following publication.
Track B: Proposal budgets less than $2 million will be considered for funding on a quarterly basis beginning at least 60 days following publication.
Track C: Proposals to administer a national competitive regranting program may also be considered. Budgets must be greater than or equal to $5 million, less than $50 million, and include at least 80% sub-awards. Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis and reviewed at least quarterly. NOTE: These programs will include substantive involvement by the USDA Forest Service and be best suited for cooperative agreements rather than grants.
Key Links:
For a full list of currently available grant programs under the Infrastructure Law and other helpful tools, take a look at our Helpful Resources page.
This tracker will continue to send updates when new funding opportunities are announced.