Habitat funding opportunities now open

By Rachel Latchford

March 26, 2024


The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead is announcing two new funding opportunities.

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Two funding opportunities are open from the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL): 

  1. Increase capacity and workforce development to meet Puget Sound habitat recovery goals. 
    • The HSIL will invest up to $5 million in proposals to support short-term capacity, training, and workforce development for protection and restoration projects in Puget Sound. 
    • This includes proposals to fund new and existing staff positions, consultant support, and training that will address urgent gaps in an organization’s ability to achieve restoration or protection goals. The HSIL will also invest in proposals that support collaborative capacity and projects that explore solutions to address workforce development and long-term capacity gaps in the Puget Sound recovery system. 
  1. New science, synthesis, and analysis for improved protection and restoration of kelp and eelgrass in Puget Sound. 
    • The HSIL will invest up to $2 million to address Puget Sound kelp or eelgrass knowledge gaps by funding research, synthesis, and analysis to support future evaluation and development of management tools, policy, and guidance. 
    • To meaningfully address the challenges facing kelp and eelgrass, a holistic and inclusive approach to research is needed. Proposals are encouraged from diverse fields of study to include (but not limited to) biophysical science, social science, and Indigenous science. 

Key Dates:

  • Request for Proposals Opens: March 26, 2024  
  • Request for Proposals Closes: 5 p.m. on May 22, 2024 
  • Applicant Webinar: April 3, 2024 1-3 p.m. Registration is required.  

Request for proposals solicitation, application materials, and additional resources, including opportunities for technical assistance, are available on the HSIL's Request for Proposals webpage. 

For questions regarding these funding opportunities, contact the HSIL RFP Coordinators: Matt Lurie (WFDW,  matthew.lurie@dfw.wa.gov) and Rebecca Brown (DNR, rebecca.brown@dnr.wa.gov). 

Did you know?

The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead accelerates Puget Sound recovery by improving the health of the rivers, forests, shorelines, estuaries, and marine vegetation through advancing Habitat Implementation Strategy outcomes. 

For questions on the HSIL Program, contact Jennifer Griffiths (WDFW, jennifer.griffiths@dfw.wa.gov) 

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