The Invasive Species Grant Program is designed to advance projects across the state that help prevent, detect, respond to, and restore sites impacted by both terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. Since it’s inception the grant program, now in it’s fourth round, has funded over 100 unique projects. Round 4 includes four individual funding categories intended to support all phases of management for invasive species spanning from early detection, to response, and finally restoration. Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply with projects that further efforts to protect New York’s lands and waters from invasive species.
Awards History
2024 Grant Awards
In January, 2024, DEC awarded more than $2.9 million from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to fund 43 projects for Round 3 of the Invasive Species Grant Program.
- 2024 Grant Awards (PDF)
Request For Applications
The Invasive Species Grant Program (Round 4) Request for Applications (RFA) (PDF) provides details on the project objectives, bid process, eligible expenditures, evaluation criteria, and contractual requirements.
Bid Deadline
Bids for Round 4 are due Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Bid Limit
Bidders can submit up to two bids for Round 4. Multiple bids can not be made for the same project or project location.
Matching Funds Requirement
Round 4 of this grant program has a 25% match requirement. For example, a $50,000 grant would require $12,500 in match for a total project cost of $62,500; $50,000 funded by grant.
Eligible Project Types for Round 4
- Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Spread Prevention or Boat Decontamination
- Bidders may apply for projects that deploy watercraft stewards and/or decontamination equipment to conduct voluntary boat inspections and deliver education and outreach to recreational boaters to prevent the spread of AIS.
- Projects in areas that have a high public benefit impact will score higher in the evaluation process.
- Evaluation criteria of AIS Watercraft Spread Prevention projects will consider the objectives listed in the RFA.
Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Species Rapid Response and Control
Bidders may apply for projects to directly control, manage and respond to invasive species introductions and infestations. Both terrestrial and aquatic habitats and species are eligible for the bids. Invasive Species Early Detection/ Rapid Response and Control proposals allow for multiple project types including:
- Physical and Mechanical Removal;
- Chemical Treatment; or
Biocontrol Release.
All projects should include survey and monitoring components within their objectives. As appropriate, these efforts should utilize the NYS Invasive Species Database iMapInvasives to collect and report data for presence, treatment, and post-project monitoring. Evaluation criteria of Invasive Species Early Detection/ Rapid Response and Control (Terrestrial and Aquatic) projects will consider the objectives listed in the RFA.
Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Species Research
Effective management of invasive species on New York's lands and waters requires methodologies that are developed and supported by scientific research. Goals of this grant category are to:
- Support projects that provide a foundation for new approaches to invasive species management;
- Document the impacts of invasive species on ecosystem function;
- Develop and test new management tools; and
- Synthesize and communicate research results to improve upon applied invasive species management.
Restoration and Resiliency of Sites Impacted by Invasive Species
In many cases, invasive species infestations lead to the direct loss of native species, shifts in species composition, and habitat degradation within both terrestrial and aquatic environments. While management and control efforts commonly seek to remove or reduce the dominance of invasive species, the end goal is to reestablish healthy, resilient, and ecologically functional ecosystems that support native species and are more resistant to invasive species establishment. These scenarios highlight a need for effective restoration and resiliency measures at sites impacted by invasive species. This grant category supports projects that achieve one or more of the following goals:
- Native species recovery: facilitate the successful re-establishment of specific native species that were reduced or lost due to invasive species infestation.
- Habitat restoration: restore the habitat structure and/or ecological function at sites degraded by invasive species to increase ecosystem health and support the establishment of native communities.
- Ecosystem resiliency: implement measures to enhance an ecosystem’s ability to withstand and recover from disturbance from invasive species and other stressors (i.e. reduce vulnerability to invasive species, restore natural processes that limit invasive species establishment, and reduce competition to support native biodiversity).
Restoration and Resiliency of Sites Impacted by Invasive Species project bids are encouraged to include the strategies listed in the RFA.
Application Requirements
Eligible bidders for the Invasive Species Grant Program include:
- Municipalities;
- Academic Institutions; and
- 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations whose projects are located within the eligible geographic boundaries defined in this Request For Applications.
Other groups, such as unincorporated lake associations, must apply through a municipality, not-for-profit, or academic institution as the designated lead.
How to Apply
Round 4 of this grant are now open! All bids must be filed through NYS SFS Grants Management System. Register at SFS Grants Management to apply.
The NYS SFS Grants Management system offers a Vendor User Manual, training videos and webinars for bidders requiring assistance.
Bidders are strongly encouraged to submit well in advance of the application deadline. Late bids will not be accepted.
If you do not have a login and if you are new to the SFS Vendor portal and would like to establish an account for the purposes of doing business with the State of New York, contact the SFS Help Desk at 518-457-7717, 855-233-8363 or [email protected] for more information.
General Questions
Email questions about the Invasive Species Grant Program to [email protected] and include “Invasive Species Grant” in the subject line.
