Funding Opportunities

Program Background, Objective, and Goals:
One of the BLM's highest priorities is to promote ecosystem health and one of the greatest obstacles to achieving this goal is the rapid expansion of weeds across public lands. These invasive plants can dominate and often cause permanent damage to natural plant communities. If not eradicated or controlled, noxious weeds will continue to jeopardize the health of public lands and to constrain the myriad activities that occur on them. This program supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Section 40804 (b) Ecosystem Restoration. This program supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI. BLM Arizona State Office (AZ) Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Programs work to prevent, detect, inventory, control, and monitor weed populations on public lands.

Program Background, Objective, and Goals:
Since the Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program (PCRP) was established in 2001, the Program has dramatically improved the availability and use of locally adapted, genetically appropriate native seed for restoration. The PCRP-led Seeds of Success project has made more than 27,000 native seed collections across 44 states and 93 ecoregions. Under PCRP leadership, the Plant Conservation Alliance developed and released the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration—the first of its kind in the world. Since PCRP created the Native Forb and Grass Seed Production IDIQ Contract in 2018, BLM staff have ordered more than 100,000 pounds of seed from 55 native species across 62 seed transfer zones. The proportion of native seed purchased through the BLM National Seed Warehouse System increased from roughly 50% native seed in 2001 (the year PCRP was established) to 80% native seed in 2019. PCRP partnerships with federal agencies and non-federal organizations have grown millions of seedlings for restoration on BLM lands, provided education and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities, and developed much of the science that land managers use to inform restoration seeding decisions. Finally, PCRP sponsored the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Assessment of Seed Needs and Capacities and the Open Access publication of the first international principles and standards for using native seeds in ecological restoration. Through these myriad accomplishments, PCRP has consistently proven to be a global leader in the development of locally adapted native plant materials and their use in restoring adaptive and resilient ecosystems. This program also supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act P.L. 117-58, Section 40704(b) Ecosystem Restoration. This program supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI. Public lands contain a diversity of native plant communities that make up over 50 ecoregions across BLM administered lands. Each ecoregion contains native plants that have adapted to those environments. The program will continue to work with partners to increase the quantity, diversity, and effectiveness of native forbs and grasses for restoration of wildlife habitats and rehabilitation after wildfires.

The Water Supply Development Revolving Fund (WSDRF) was created to provide low-cost financing, grants, and technical assistance for water supply development projects outside of Arizona’s major urban centers. This fund is specifically designed to meet the unique water supply needs of small, rural communities.

WIFA can provide up to $2 million in grant funding and up to $3 million in the form of a low-interest loan for a total of $5 million in financial assistance per application.

Interest rate discounts and grant eligibility will be determined based on the criteria listed in ARS § 49-1274(B)(3), including:

Water Demands: existing, near-term and long-term water demands compared to the volume and reliability of existing water supplies
Project Benefits: impact on water supply, benefits to multiple jurisdictions, conservation efforts, BMPs being implemented, and long-term reliability of supply being developed
Project Feasibility: engineering specs, the cost and effectiveness of the proposal, funding sources, and public comment
Financial Need: median household income

This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides $10,000 in funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to start the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization.

Mini Grants are small grants of up to $2,000 that are available year-round to support innovative public programs that increase understanding of the human experience. Applicants may request up to $2,000 in Mini Grants per fiscal year (November 1 – October 31). Mini Grants can be used for capacity-building, program planning, and implementation of programs. Capacity-building may include training and education for constituents to help plan and/or implement public humanities engagements. The applicant organization’s budget must not exceed $500,000. Larger institutions must partner with a smaller institution that will lead the program or project. For more information please see the Arizona Humanities Grant Guidelines.

Implementation grants are awarded to support the one-time third-party start-up costs for Sustained Collaborations. Implementation grants may be used to pay for the costs of lawyers, accountants, and consultants, lease-breaking, moving costs, technology integration, severance, collateral materials (new business cards, signs, etc.), and other one-time costs for activities necessary to complete the transactions. Grants may not be used to cover staff time.

Exploration grants are available to support the one-time third-party costs associated with exploring the feasibility of a proposed transaction. Exploration grants may be used to pay for external facilitators, consultants, offsite meetings for relevant Board members and staff, etc. Grants may not be used to cover staff time.

Seed grants fund the organizations to convene key parties and/or retain outside experts to educate those parties on the general technical and logistical aspects of collaboration. Seed grants may also be awarded to provide consulting expertise to an organization’s leadership through the process of defining ideal collaboration partners, creating a target list and approaching partners for opportunities. These grants will not exceed $2,500, but will be eligible to cover up to 100% of the associated costs Arizona Together for Impact will make these grants only in situations that it believes are reasonably likely to lead to a follow-on exploration grant (see below).

Projects selected to receive a BEIF grant are also eligible to receive technical assistance through PDAP to support development activities aimed at facilitating their successful implementation and reinforcing their long-term sustainability and proper operation.