Austin Peay's SGI Secures $800K Grant for Alabama Seed Collection

The two-year initiative will conduct 200 native seed collections statewide to support grassland restoration efforts.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) at Austin Peay State University has received an $800,000 grant from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a comprehensive native seed collection program across Alabama. The two-year project will conduct 200 seed collections to build an inventory of locally adapted seeds for restoration projects in the state's grassland and open woodland ecosystems.

Why it matters

Restoration efforts are often delayed due to a lack of appropriate native seed availability when needed. This project aims to proactively build a seed inventory before disturbances occur, supporting more timely and effective grassland restoration across Alabama.

The details

The grant funding will support field crews, equipment, processing facilities, and long-term storage necessary to execute seed collections across Alabama's diverse ecosystems, including the Black Belt, Jackson Prairie complex, Coosa Valley, Ketona Glades, and Moulton Valley. A subset of the collections will be done in partnership with tribal programs to support culturally significant species for tribal-led seed banking efforts.

  • The two-year initiative will run from 2026 through September 2027.
  • The first year will focus on infrastructure development and primary collection activities.
  • The second year will support targeted collection efforts and final processing to meet federal deliverable requirements.

The players

Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI)

A non-profit organization based at Austin Peay State University that focuses on grassland restoration and conservation across the Southeast.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

A federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior responsible for managing the National Wildlife Refuge System and enforcing federal wildlife laws.

Dr. Dwayne Estes

The executive director and co-founder of the Southeastern Grasslands Institute.

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What they’re saying

“Restoration efforts are often delayed because appropriate native seed isn't available when it's needed most. This project addresses that critical gap by building our seed inventory before disturbances occur, whether from wildfire, controlled burns, or other management activities.”

— Dr. Dwayne Estes, Executive Director and Co-founder, Southeastern Grasslands Institute (clarksvillenow.com)

“This approach not only safeguards wild populations from over-harvesting but also allows us to develop future production crops from wild-collected seed. By increasing our seed inventory from specific regions, we're creating a more resilient foundation for restoration practitioners across Alabama and beyond.”

— Dr. Dwayne Estes, Executive Director and Co-founder, Southeastern Grasslands Institute (clarksvillenow.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This grant award highlights the critical role of proactive seed collection and inventory-building to support timely and effective grassland restoration efforts, addressing a key challenge faced by land managers and conservation practitioners across Alabama and the broader Southeast region.