Roadside Pollinator Program

Program Overview

The Pollinator-Friendly Practices on Roadsides and Highway Rights-of-Way Program (also referred to as the Roadside Pollinator Program) is an annual competitive grant program that awards grants to eligible entities to carry out activities that benefit pollinators on roadsides and highway rights-of-way, including the planting and seeding of native, locally appropriate grasses and wildflowers, including milkweed (23 U.S.C. 332(a)).

Program Goals

The intent of the program is to fund the implementation or improvement of existing pollinator friendly practices plans and projects, as well as encourage the use of best management practices for improving, restoring, creating, or protecting pollinator habitat in roadsides and rights-of-way.

Eligible Entities

Eligible applicants for Roadside Pollinator Program discretionary grants are State Departments of Transportation, Indian Tribes, and Federal Land Management Agencies.

Use of Funding and Eligible Activities

An eligible entity that receives funding shall use the funds for the implementation, improvement, or further development of a Pollinator-friendly practices plan (23 U.S. Code § 332(f)). A qualifying plan must describe pollinator-friendly practices that have been implemented or will be implemented (23 U.S.C. 332(d)(1)).

The pollinator-friendly practices should seek to create, enhance, restore, sustain, or maintain pollinator species and pollinator habitat on roadsides and highway right-of-way. Eligible activities and practices included in the statutory language are listed under 23 U.S. Code § 332(d).

Grant Application

DOT uses Grants.gov for receipt of all applications for this program's Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applicants must register and use the system to submit applications electronically. Applicants are encouraged to register in advance of the submission deadline and to register to receive notifications of updates/amendments to this NOFO. Approval of user registrations for the site may take multiple weeks. It is the Applicant's responsibility to monitor Grants.gov for any updates to this Notice.

The deadline for FY 2023 funding applications is June 18th, 2024.

This FHWA website DOES NOT accept any applications.

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Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

To view the NOFO please visit https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/353446.

Grant Resources

• DOT Navigator - Grant Application Resources
• FHWA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Website
• USDOT Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Website

Webinars

How to Apply for the Roadside Pollinator Program: General Overview
April 29th, 2024, at 2:30-4:00 PM ET (please register here).
(Presentation Slides and Recording Coming Soon)

Technical Resources

The Roadside Pollinator Program has compiled list of FHWA resources that may be helpful for pollinator-friendly project development. There are additional resources available on FHWAs Environmental Review Toolkit Pollinators website.

Pollinator Specific Resources:

• Roadside Best Management Practices that Benefit Pollinators: Handbook for Supporting Pollinators through Roadside Maintenance and Landscape Design
• Pollinators and Roadsides: Best Management Practices for Managers and Decision Makers

Vegetation Management Resources:

• Roadside Use of Native Plants
• Roadside Revegetation: An Integrated Approach to Establishing Native Plants and Pollinator Habitat
  • Ecoregional Revegetation Application (ERA)
  • Native Revegetation Resource Library

Training, Videos & Presentations

• AASHTO & FHWA's Eco-Logical Community of Practice Webinar: Pollinator Habitat Programs
• National Academy of Science's Transportation Research Board: Pollinator Habitat Conservation Along Roadways Regional Guides (Regional and State Specific Guides)