The NOAA Great Lakes Fish Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants is a funding opportunity through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aimed at supporting habitat restoration projects that benefit native fish species in the Great Lakes region. This initiative aligns with NOAA's goals under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), emphasizing projects that rehabilitate coastal habitats and mitigate habitat degradation. Grants will target projects that provide significant ecological benefits, particularly within Areas of Concern (AOC) for toxic substances and priority areas identified by Lake Committees, which oversee sustainable management for Great Lakes fisheries. These committees collaborate with regional stakeholders, including tribal, state, and intertribal fishery agencies, to guide habitat restoration efforts that enhance local fish populations and ecosystem resilience.

This grant prioritizes habitat restoration in several forms, such as hydrologic restoration, fish passage improvements, shoreline and reef restoration, and enhancing nearshore habitats. Priority activities may include removal of fish barriers, shoreline softening, and restoration of native plant life, and efforts should aim to increase resilience to extreme weather and climate effects. Projects located within or benefitting underserved and indigenous communities, including tribal government-led initiatives, will receive heightened consideration. In alignment with the Justice40 Initiative, NOAA encourages applicants to use the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool to identify potential benefits to disadvantaged communities.

Funding awards will range from $500,000 to $6 million, with the NOAA Restoration Center within the NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation managing allocations. Although no cost-sharing is required, NOAA encourages applicants to leverage additional funding sources to strengthen applications. Multi-year funding requests are acceptable for projects with milestones extending over a three-year period, and NOAA anticipates disbursing awards in annual installments based on project progress and funding availability. NOAA will only consider projects within the Great Lakes basin across the eight U.S. Great Lakes states.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, state, local, and Native American tribal governments, as well as U.S. territories. Federal agencies may not apply directly but can participate through partnerships. Application submission requires registration in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, and applicants should ensure these registrations are complete prior to applying. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by the established annual deadlines: October 28, 2024; September 5, 2025; and September 4, 2026.

Applications will be reviewed based on relevance to GLRI priorities, technical and scientific merit, budget justification, and community outreach plans. Proposals will be evaluated for their potential to restore targeted habitats, address community resilience to climate hazards, and provide socio-economic benefits. NOAA may engage with successful applicants to finalize award details, and all awards will be subject to NOAA's uniform administrative requirements and additional compliance with NOAA policies on data management, equity, and environmental justice.

For inquiries, applicants are encouraged to contact Rina Studds at rina.studds@noaa.gov or (301) 427-8651, or Julie Simmons at julie.simmons@noaa.gov or (734) 680-5671. NOAA staff are available to discuss technical aspects of proposals prior to submission, though no pre-application review of draft proposals will be offered.