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The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) is requesting project applications to restore and conserve habitat necessary to support coastal, estuarine-dependent, and diadromous fish species along the U.S. Atlantic Coast. Federal funding available through the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) program will be used to support the top ranked proposals. To ensure available funding is being directed most effectively, projects should be geared toward meeting ACFHP’s conservation objectives described in its Conservation Strategic Plan.
America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act was passed by Congress and signed by the President on October 30, 2020. The legislation made significant changes to project eligibility requirements for this funding opportunity; these changes can be found in the funding instructions. The ACE Act places an emphasis on restoration efforts that will improve recreational fishing opportunities and public use of resources. Improvements in public access as a component of projects are also encouraged.
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Available funding: A total of approximately $200,000 in funding is available to support 2-4 projects each year; however, exceptional projects may be funded for the full amount. This is a highly competitive process, with funding requests consistently exceeding available funds. As noted above, successful proposals should demonstrate a minimum 1:1 non-federal match. Once the requested NFHP grant funds are matched with non-federal funds/in-kind, an unlimited amount of federal and non-federal contributions to the project are allowed. ACFHP gives special consideration to projects with more than the minimum match.
Timeline: Applicants will be notified of their projects’ funding status as that information becomes available. Funding decisions will not be made until a federal budget is passed for FY2026. FY2026 starts on October 1, 2025. Applicants should not expect to hear anything until at least the last quarter of 2025.The total amount available to fund projects is unknown at this time.
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For complete information and guidelines please review the funding instructions: FY26 ACFHP Project Funding Instructions
The following is required to apply:
The following is suggested but not required:
- Copies of any permit letters received to date from authorizing agencies
- Letters of Support
Applications must be received by 5:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, January 31, 2025. Any supplemental documents for the application that cannot be uploaded in the online form should be emailed to the ACFHP Director, Simen Kaalstad, at skaalstad@asmfc.org.
To view the criteria that will be used to evaluate project applications, please click here: FY26 Project Evaluation Criteria
You can check out previously funded ACFHP projects here: On the Ground Projects – Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership or visit the National Fish Habitat Partnership Project Accomplishment Map to see other great projects from across the country!
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