Multistate Conservation Grants Program Begins 2008 Grant Cycle

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies extends a big "thank you" to everyone that reviewed proposals for the 2007 cycle of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP). Members of seven Association committees were asked to review, score, rank and comment on grant applications.

"We obtained nearly a 50 percent participation rate," said Kelly Miller Reed, the Association's Multistate Grants Program Coordinator. "The input from Committees is an important part of the selection process as is relied on heavily during the National Grants Committee's deliberations.We really can't thank them enough for their participation."

The Association submitted its 2007 MSCGP “priority list of projects” to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) by the mandated October 1 deadline. The state directors recommend that the USFWS fund eleven projects deemed to be high priorities for the state fish and wildlife agencies. Successful grants will be announced in December and funds will be available January 1, 2007.

The Association kicked off the next cycle of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP) today, with the solicitation of National Conservation Needs (NCNs) . NCNs are the foundation of the MSCGP, and are annually selected to establish the states' priorities for the grant program. NCNs, which are essentially one page statements of need, guide grant proposal development and selection later in the year as all proposals are required to address a NCN.

Each Committee and Regional Association is allowed to submit one NCN, which are due by Friday, February 16, 2007 . To have input in the NCN process, non-governmental organizations can work with Association committees, and states can work with Association committees or their Regional Association(s).

All proposed NCNs from Committees and Regional Associations will be evaluated by the National Grants Committee, who will select NCNs to recommend for State Directors' approval at the March 2007 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. Grant applications will then be solicited to address these NCNs.

Guidelines and submission requirements for 2008 NCNs are available at http://www.fishwildlife.org/multistate_grants.html and were distributed via email to all Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs, Regional Associations, and NGOs. A 2008 MSCGP schedule ( hyperlink to new post ) and other pertinent information is also available on the website.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kelly Reed at kreed@fishwildlife.org or 202-624-7890.