The U.S. Forest Service has announced that they are accepting proposals for potential grant funding. There are $575,000 in new funds that are available for Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMA) in the Great Lakes Basin. The deadline for approval is January 6, 2017 at grants.gov. The goal of the program is to detect, prevent, eradicate and/or control invasive plants to promote diverse benefits on Federal, State or private land.

This funding is available to CWMA and similar organizations that work in the Great Lakes Basin. These groups are organized partnerships of Federal, State and local government agencies, tribes, individuals and various interested groups that manage invasive species. These groups operate within a defined geographic area, involve a broad cross-section of landowners and natural resource managers within the CWMA boundaries, are governed by a steering committee, have a long-term commitment to cooperation, usually through a formal agreement among partners, a comprehensive plan that addresses the management of invasive species within their boundaries, and facilitate cooperation and coordination across jurisdictional boundaries. If an organization has most of these characteristics and a history of cooperative invasive plant work they are very likely to be eligible.

Many organizations are already completing to work to be eligible for funding through this program. Consider submitting a proposal to receive funding to the U.S. Forest Service for work organizations are already completing.

For more information contact Ellen Clark (EllenA.Clark@Wisconsin.gov), Urban Forestry Communication Specialist, at 608-267-2774.