The Coastal Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides technical and financial assistance to coastal communities and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on public and private lands.

The Coastal Program is not a conventional grants program, in that it

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does not solicit projects through a request for proposals.

Instead, projects are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) field biologists.

The Coastal Program - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding is available to coastal areas within the U. S. portion of the Great Lakes basin which includes parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Substantial involvement on the part of the Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the activities to be funded.

In particular, the Service will be/expects to be responsible for the following:
Service biologists will be directly involved in developing and implementing projects with partners.

This could include helping plan and implement specific project activities, completing permitting and other environmental compliance, working with contractors and partners in implementing on-the-ground actions, and coordinating/facilitating meetings.