The Pulling Together Initiative (PTI) seeks proposals that will assist in the control of invasive plant species (terrestrial and aquatic), primarily through the work of public/private partnerships such as Cooperative Weed Management Areas.

Applicant Eligibility

PTI applications are accepted from the following:

• Private non-profit (501)(c) organizations.

• Local, county, and state government agencies.

• Field staff of federal government agencies.

• Individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible to receive PTI grants, but are encouraged to work with eligible applicants to develop and submit applications to PTI.

Proposal Eligibility

PTI grants provide an opportunity to initiate working partnerships and demonstrate successful collaborative efforts such as the development of permanent funding sources for Weed Management Areas.

To be eligible, a project must:

• Prevent, manage, or eradicate invasive and noxious plants through a coordinated program of public/private partnerships; and
• Increase public awareness of the adverse impacts of invasive and noxious plants.

Successful PTI projects

• Focus on a particular well-defined area, such as a watershed, ecosystem, landscape, county or Weed Management Area.
• Target a high priority noxious and invasive weed: state or federally listed.
• Incorporate on-the-ground weed management, eradication, or prevention.
• Target a specific and measurable conservation outcome (i.e. number of acres treated) and describes the methodology used to measure the outcome.
• Are supported by private landowners, state and local governments, and the regional/state offices of federal agencies.
• Have a project Steering Committee composed of local cooperators who are committed to working together to manage invasive and noxious plants across their jurisdictional boundaries.
• Have a clear long-term weed management plan, extending beyond the grant period of performance, which is based on an integrated pest management approach using the principles of ecosystem management.
• Include a specific, ongoing, and adaptive public outreach and education component.
• Integrate an Early Detection/Rapid Response approach to respond to invasives.
• Although not required, we encourage applicants to make connections with the conservation species and habitats as listed on the NFWF website. These species and habitats are identified in business plans located on the right hand side of the following webpage:            http://www.nfwf.org/results/Pages/home.aspx