2020 Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Multistate Conservation Grant Period is Now Open

April 22, 2020

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is currently soliciting recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) grant applications for the 2020 multistate conservation grant cycle.  In December 2019, the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act was passed by Congress and expanded the multistate conservation grant program to include up to an additional $5 million annually, beginning with 2020, for Wildlife Restoration eligible grants as defined by the legislation.  This legislation expanded the purpose of the Pittman-Robertson (P-R) Fund to provide financial and technical assistance to the states for the promotion of hunting and recreational shooting and allows flexibility for state fish and wildlife agencies to use their P-R funds for the recruitment of sportsmen and women.   During the now expanded multistate conservation grant program cycle, the Association will be placing priority on projects that serve to create a solid R3 infrastructure, with an additional focus on monitoring and evaluating the long-term impact of R3 efforts created through the Act, in addition to the delivery of R3 initiatives.

“The expansion of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program , through the PR Modernization Act, will allow the Association to work with industry and our partners, beginning right now in  2020, to truly turn the tide on  hunting and shooting sports participation,” said Secretary Kelly Hepler of South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “We need these important investments for the future of conservation delivery and the tradition of sustainable hunting across our great nation.”

The deadline for submission of initial proposals is May 22, 2020.  Please submit proposals and questions to syaroschuk@fishwildlife.org.  Information about this multistate conservation grant program, along with 2020 strategic priorities, initial proposal guidelines and template can be found here.

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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.