Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- P27AS00032
- Agency
-
National Park Service
Department of the Interior
- Applications due
- Award size
- $10,000 to $50,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Community Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- For Profit Organizations
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Independent School Districts
- City/Township Governments
- State Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Small Businesses
- County Governments
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- Special District Governments
- Points of contact
-
- Monica Marcus monica_marcus@ios.doi.gov
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Park Service seeks applicants for competitive grants supporting outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by November 4, 2026, with approximately $1 million distributed across an estimated 26 awards. Applicants must be non-federal Chesapeake Gateways Network members (Place, Experience, Community, or Programmatic Partner) or pursuing self-nomination; projects must occur within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and cannot take place outside it. Cost sharing is not required.
Eligible applicant categories include state and local governments, county governments, tribal governments (federally recognized and not federally recognized), nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), higher education institutions (public and private), small businesses, for-profit organizations, special district governments, independent school districts, and public or Indian housing authorities. Foreign entities and projects conducted outside the United States are ineligible. NPS reviews all applicant entities and key project personnel against the SAM.gov Exclusions database prior to award.
Two funding categories are available: Linking Tourism and Economic Impact Projects ($25,000 to $50,000) and Network/Community Events including America at 250 celebrations ($10,000 to $20,000). The anticipated project performance period runs May 1, 2027, to April 30, 2029. Merit review applies four weighted criteria: connection to the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (22% weight), connection to economic impact (34% weight), investments in community collaborations (22% weight), and clarity of project operational plan and team capacity (22% weight), each scored on a 0–5 scale. Applications must include an 8-page project narrative, SF-424 and SF-424A forms, project abstract, and detailed budget narrative. Recipients must submit federal financial reports and program performance reports within 120 days of project completion. The program operates under CFDA 15.930 and is authorized by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998.
Synopsis
Goal: Encourage outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism that expands access to and awareness of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and fosters economic development of communities.ObjectivesNPS Chesapeake Gateways is offering this competitive grant opportunity to strengthen a community's ability to offer or enhance outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism that connects visitors and residents to the Chesapeake Bay watershed as detailed in the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998.Through this grant opportunity, NPS Chesapeake Gateways will:Enhance outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.Support projects that link outdoor and heritage tourism to economic impact.Celebrate gateway communities that welcome and invite locals and visitors to explore authentic Chesapeake Gateways Places and stories through outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural experiences.Grant ThemeChesapeake Gateways is a network of places that provide opportunities to explore outdoor recreation and authentic natural, historical, and cultural experiences of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Included in this network are diverse recreational, natural, cultural, historical, and recreational sites, trails, museums, parks, wildlife refuges, interpretive and orientation facilities, and associated programs. These places, and Chesapeake Gateways as a whole, serve as entry points and the key guide for experiencing the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Eligibility
PLEASE NOTE: Projects that take place outside the watershed are not eligible for consideration. A link to all the counties in the watershed can be found in Appendix A. A full map can be found here.Chesapeake Gateways Network Requirement: The applicant must be a non-federal Chesapeake Gateways Network member (Place, Experience, Community, or Programmatic Partner). To become a Chesapeake Gateways Network member, prospective applicants need to submit a self-nomination through the Chesapeake Gateways Network portal: Join the Chesapeake Gateways Network - Chesapeake Bay Watershed (U.S. National Park Service). Foreign Entities or Projects: This program does not provide funding to foreign entities or for projects conducted outside the United States.Excluded Parties:NPS conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The NPS cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294070.pdf | ||
| 02-P27AS00032-Announcement Appendices.pdf | ||
| 01-P27AS00032-Full Announcement.pdf |
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