Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program competition for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2026
Status: Forecasted
Posted date: April 24, 2026
Archive date: July 8, 2026
Close date: June 8, 2026
Opportunity ID: 362026
Opportunity number: USDA-NRCS–NHQ-VPA-26-NOFO001448
Opportunity category: Discretionary
Agency name: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Agency code: USDA-NRCS
Award floor: $100,000
Award ceiling: $3,000,000
Cost sharing required: No
Funding Instrument Types
- Grant
Category of Funding Activity
- Agriculture
Eligible Applicants
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Categories (use these for quoted searches)
- agency_code:usda_nrcs
- category_of_funding_activity:agriculture
- cost_sharing_or_matching_requirement:false
- eligible_applicants:native_american_tribal_governments_federally_recognized
- funding_instrument_type:grant
- opportunity_category:discretionary
- status:forecasted
NRCS is announcing the availability of up to $52 million in Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) funding through One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Public Law 119-21 to create or enhance state and Tribal government programs that encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make that land available for access by the public for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation. VPA-HIP is a competitive grant program and only state and tribal governments may apply. Projects may be up to 3 years in duration. The maximum amount for a single award is $3 million. Up to 25% of the funding for each award may be used to provide incentives to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled public access program lands. For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for information about steps required before submitting an application through Grants.gov.Application deadline: Submit via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 8, 2026.