Refuge Enhancement/Infrastructure Partnerships Initiative

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. We are the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of these important natural resources for the American public.

The National Infrastructure Partnerships initiative of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) encourages National Wildlife Refuge System field stations to partner with local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations, other land management groups, state and tribal partners, and others to accomplish projects that:

i. promote the stewardship of resources of the refuge through habitat maintenance, restoration, and improvement, and

ii. support the operation and maintenance of the refuge through constructing, operating, maintaining, or improving the facilities and services of the refuge.

The goals of the initiative are to enable local communities to play a more active role in increasing outdoor recreation opportunities on refuge lands and waters, to be more focused and deliberate in using partnerships to help FWS address infrastructure repair and improvement needs such as proactive maintenance and the maintenance backlog, and to enhance wildlife habitat.

Deadline: Sep. 10, 2023