FY2027 Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Funding Cycle

FY2027 Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Funding Cycle is sponsored by Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP). The ACFHP requests project applications to restore and conserve habitat necessary to support coastal, estuarine-dependent, and diadromous fish species along the U. S.

Atlantic Coast. Projects should be geared toward meeting ACFHP's conservation objectives.

FY2027 Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Funding Cycle – Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on December 23, 2024. 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. Available funding: We anticipate funding to support 2-3 projects ranging from $35,000 – $100,000 , although funds awarded per project are typically lower than $100,000.

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. Projects that are approved but not selected due to limited funding availability will receive an endorsement letter from ACFHP. Timeline: Applicants will be notified of their projects’ funding status as that information becomes available.

The RFP closes Friday, September 25, 2026. Funding decisions will not be made until a federal budget is passed for FY2027. FY2027 starts on October 1, 2026, and awards are typically processed the following summer (i.e., May – July 2027).

For reference, FY2026 project funds were received in late May 2026.

For complete information and guidelines please review the funding instructions : FY27 ACFHP Project Funding Instructions The following is required to apply: Photographs and Photograph Release Form The following is suggested but not required: Copies of any permit letters received to date from authorizing agencies Applications must be received by 5:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, September 25 th , 2026 .

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: FY27 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!