Wetland Mitigation Banking Program Fiscal Year (FY) 2026

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is offering 3 million dollars in competitive grant funds through the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program for Fiscal Year 2026. This program is designed to support the development and establishment of wetland mitigation banks specifically for agricultural producers who must comply with the wetland conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985. Individual awards range from 100,000 to 1 million dollars, with a project duration of one to four years and an estimated start date of December 2026. Priority consideration will be given to projects located in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, as well as applicants who have already secured a mitigation site. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on September 8, 2026. The evaluation process is based on bank development and operation, project management, and geographic scope, with a strong emphasis on the ability to make mitigation credits available within 24 months of project initiation. Required documentation includes a project narrative limited to 10 pages, a one-page project abstract, and various standard federal forms such as the SF-424 and SF-424A. Eligible entities include small businesses, nonprofits, state or local governments, tribal governments, and institutions of higher education, all of which must maintain an active SAM.gov registration.