NMFS West Coast Region Education and Outreach Program | NOAA NMFS WCRO 2023 2007937

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS WCRO 2023 2007937

The NMFS West Coast Region Education and Outreach Program (NOAA NMFS WCRO 2023 2007937) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce aimed at improving conservation outcomes for marine resources along the U.S. West Coast through targeted education and outreach. The central purpose is to support projects that help conserve and restore protected marine species and their habitats by increasing public understanding, strengthening community involvement, and encouraging behaviors and practices that align with long-term recovery goals. In practical terms, the program is designed to translate science and recovery priorities into outreach products, learning experiences, and community-facing efforts that can measurably support species recovery and habitat protection.

A defining requirement of this opportunity is that proposed projects must implement and complement one or more actions already identified in official conservation planning documents, specifically an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan and/or a Species in the Spotlight Action Plan. Those plans outline priority actions for species that are endangered, threatened, or otherwise at heightened risk, and this grant is intended to fund education and outreach work that directly supports those planned actions rather than stand-alone messaging. The opportunity sits under the West Coast Region Endangered Species Conservation goal, with an emphasis on helping recover protected marine species and the habitats they depend on.

Funding is provided through grants and cooperative agreements, with an award ceiling of $120,000 per project and an anticipated total of about eight awards. The program’s activity categories span community development, education, environment, and natural resources, reflecting its intent to fund community-centered initiatives that can shift awareness and engagement in ways that benefit conservation outcomes. The CFDA listing for this opportunity is 11.454.

Eligibility is broad and includes most common public and nonprofit partners involved in regional education and conservation work. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education where noted); and even individuals. This wide eligibility suggests NOAA intended to attract proposals from a mix of agencies, educators, community groups, tribal organizations, universities, and local practitioners who are positioned to reach key audiences and influence on-the-ground stewardship.

The opportunity was created on April 20, 2023, with an original application closing date of June 20, 2023. Overall, this program is best understood as a relatively small, targeted funding source for well-aligned outreach and education projects that can show a clear line of sight between the proposed activities and the specific recovery actions laid out in ESA Recovery Plans and Species in the Spotlight Action Plans for West Coast protected marine species.

• The Department of Commerce in the community development, education, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NMFS West Coast Region Education and Outreach Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.454.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 20, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $120,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals.

Apply for NOAA NMFS WCRO 2023 2007937

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