NGA OUTDOOR RECREATION LEARNING NETWORK

DOI Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Programs  

State and Local Grant Funding – Land and Water Conservation Fund (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) (*probably the largest source of federal funds for implementing projects)

The State-side of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) provides 50:50 matching grants to States and through the States to local units of government for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities consistent with a required 5-year statewide plan articulating priority needs.

The Great American Outdoors Act, approved by Congress in 2020 established permanent, dedicated and mandatory funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at the authorized amount of $900 million annually (a 30% increase). Prior to the passage of GAOA, funding for LWCF relied on annual Congressional appropriations.

Since 1965 the LWCF has provided more than $5.2 billion through more than 44,000 grants for a wide variety of projects such as parks, sports and playfields, swimming and boating areas, trails, campgrounds, and similar. The Stateside LWCF program is comprised of two programs.

LWCF State-side Formula Grants are apportioned to each State, Territory, and Washington, D.C., based on a formula in the Act. Each State is responsible for administering competitions, selecting projects, and then submitting project applications to NPS for review and final decision on award. The grants are managed in each state by Governor appointed State Liaison Officers or by state statute. They can be used for land acquisition, development, acquisition/development, major rehabilitation and/or renovation.

To be eligible for funds, states must create recreation plan every 5 years and must hold and open project selection. A minimum 50% non-federal match is required, and lands must be open to the public permanently and without discrimination. On-going maintenance, operation and assurance of public access, and assurances of perpetual public access are the responsibility of state and local grantees. The state is required to conduct 5-year inspections.

The LWCF’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grants program  is also funded through LWCF and is a separate and complementary grant program to the State-side formula grants program. Although funding similar kinds of activities, projects should target improving recreation opportunities for economically disadvantaged communities in larger urbanized areas that are under-served in terms of parks and other outdoor recreation resources.

To be eligible, a jurisdiction must have a population of at least 50,000 people and be located within an Urbanized Area as designated from the 2010 Census. Project sponsors must match the grant award 1:1 with non-federal dollars. States may apply for the grants, whether on behalf of themselves or eligible urban jurisdictions. The pre-applications will be submitted through the State lead agencies for LWCF. Interested jurisdictions should contact their state lead agency for LWCF.

Deadline for Application: May 31, 2023

NOFO: View Opportunity | GRANTS.GOV

Other Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Programs:

• American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) : ABPP Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants (BLAG), as authorized by 54 U.S.C. §308103 and 54 U.S.C. §200305, are available to States and local governments to acquire and preserve eligible American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefield lands. Battlefield Interpretation Grants are awarded for projects that deploy technology to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation and education at eligible Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefield sites. These grants support critical stewardship functions by expanding access and engagement to these nationally significant sites and open spaces through more inclusive narratives and technologies. Battlefield Restoration Grants are awarded for restoration and resource management projects at eligible Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefield sites. These grants support sustainable, community-led efforts to preserve and protect natural and cultural resources at nationally significant sites.
• Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) Land Acquisition Grants: CESCF Grants provide funds to States and Territories to work with private landowners, conservation organizations, and other non-Federal partners to protect and conserve Federally listed threatened and endangered species and the habitats on which these species depend.  LWCF funds two CESCF grant programs: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants and Recovery Land Acquisition Grants.
• Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program: In 2004, Congress passed the Highlands Conservation Act, authorizing DOI, through FWS, to provide grant funding to eligible State agencies in the Highlands Region (CT, NJ, NY, PA) to purchase and conserve land from willing sellers. Land acquisition projects in the 3.4 million-acre Highlands Region prioritize the conservation of wildlife habitat for at-risk and threatened species as well as lands with important water, recreational, cultural, forest, and agricultural resources. This funding is appropriated annually under LWCF, and each grant is matched dollar for dollar by the recipient. The State Agency is the applicant and is the holder of the land or conservation easement.
• Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance: NPS-RTCA assists communities and public land managers in developing or restoring parks, conservation areas, rivers, and wildlife habitats, as well as creating outdoor recreation opportunities and programs that engage future generations in the outdoors. NPS-RTCA does not provide financial assistance or monetary grants. As a collaborative partner, we provide professional services to help you achieve your conservation and outdoor recreation project vision. Through an annual application process, community groups, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, national parks, and local, state and federal agencies can apply for NPS-RTCA technical assistance.

USDA published a resource guide of their programs at Recreation Economy at USDA Economic Development Resources for Rural Communities This resource contains a complete list of programs at Rural Development, Forest Service, and National Institute for Food and Agriculture (description and links to individual programs) that can be used to support recreational economies in rural America. The guide addresses key factors necessary to build a sustainable recreational economy including natural resource management, conservation activities, infrastructure investment, business development and more.U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Community Development Initiative The Community Facilities Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) USDA is seeking grant applications for projects to improve housing, community facilities, and community and economic development in rural areas. These grants are awarded to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and economic development projects. Application period closed April 19, 2022 : https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/rural-community-development-initiative-grants

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The RTP is an assistance program of the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Federal transportation funds benefit recreation including hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, all-terrain vehicle riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off-road motorized vehicles.

The Economic Adjustment Assistance Strategy and Implementation Grants (EAA) program provides a wide range of technical, planning, and public works and infrastructure assistance in regions experiencing adverse economic changes that may occur suddenly or over time. These adverse economic impacts may result from a steep decline in manufacturing employment following a plant closure, changing trade patterns, catastrophic natural disaster, a military base closure, or environmental changes and regulations. The EAA program can assist state and local entities in responding to a wide range of economic challenges through:

• Strategy Grants to support the development, updating or refinement of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
• Implementation Grants to support the execution of activities identified in a CEDS, such as infrastructure improvements, including site acquisition, site preparation, construction, rehabilitation and equipping of facilities.

The EAA program is EDA’s most flexible program. Under the EAA program, EDA can fund market and environmental studies, planning or construction grants, and capitalize or recapitalize revolving loan funds (RLFs) to help provide small businesses with the capital they need to grow.

Arkansas Example 2020– FY 2020 EDA Annual Report

• Recipient: City of Fayetteville
• Title of Project: Commerce District Industrial Corridor Project
• Location: Fayetteville/Washington County EDA
• Investment: $2,000,000
• Local Match and Other Funding Sources: $500,000
• Project Summary: Fayetteville has a long history of success with major manufacturers in the toolmaking, food production, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries. This EDA investment provides critical infrastructure necessary to support expansion efforts of area manufacturers and businesses in the Commerce District corridor by constructing a 2,600-foot street extension to connect South Industrial Drive and South City Lake Road, which will provide access to approximately 47 acres of city-owned land and allow the development of five parcels. The project is expected to create 350 new jobs and leverage $10 million in private sector investment.

Technical Assistance Resources:

• Recreation Economy for Rural Communities | US EPA : Planning assistance program that helps communities identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their Main Streets. 2021 Application closed in November 2021.
• Cool & Connected | US EPA: Under this program, USDA and EPA funded teams of experts to help members of selected communities develop strategies and an action plan for using planned or existing broadband service to promote smart, sustainable community development.
• Healthy Places for Healthy People | US EPA This program helped communities create walkable, healthy, economically vibrant places by engaging with their health care facility partners such as community health centers (including Federally Qualified Health Centers), nonprofit hospitals, and other health care facilities.
• Local Foods, Local Places | US EPA: This partnership among EPA, USDA, DOT, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Appalachian Regional Commission, and Delta Regional Authority helps create more livable places by promoting local food enterprises such as farmers’ markets, food hubs, community gardens, and community kitchens on main streets in downtowns and existing neighborhoods. Local Foods, Local Places builds on the Livable Communities in Appalachia initiative, which offered technical assistance to help small towns and rural communities in Appalachia revitalize their traditional downtowns to boost the local economy and improve quality of life.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) invests in urban communities to increase quality, affordable housing, improve community living environments, and expand economic opportunities. CDBG investments are administered by local governments and must benefit people of low and moderate incomes. As such, they can be a good source of funding for equitable park investments.

Under CDBG, public and nonprofit park leaders need to partner with local community development organizations and the city agency that manages the CDBG funds. Cities must develop a Consolidated Plan that sets local investment priorities and the projects need to meet the priorities outlined in the Consolidated Plan.

Because of their flexibility, CDBG funds have been tapped by many park systems. From 2010 through 2018, CDBGs funded nearly $900 million in parks and recreation projects. CDBGs can also provide for maintenance and operations, youth employment, and other park-related investments. The 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act included $5 billion in funds for CDBG, an increase of $1.7 billion over the previous year’s funding.

CDBG provided $650,000 to acquire a neighborhood park in Denver, CO, $60,000 to revitalize a park next to an elementary school in Tucson, AZ, and $2.5 million for playgrounds in St. Paul, MN.

Apprenticeship Building America Grant Applications closed April 25, 2022. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities 

The ABA grant program builds on the Department’s previous and ongoing efforts to expand and modernize Registered Apprenticeship through expanding the number of programs and apprentices, diversifying the industries that utilize Registered Apprenticeship, and increasing access to and completion of RAPs for underrepresented populations and underserved communities. Applicants have the opportunity to apply for funding across four grant categories: (1) State Apprenticeship System Building and Modernization; (2) Expansion of RAP Opportunities for Youth; (3) Ensuring Equitable RAP Pathways Through Pre-Apprenticeship Leading to RAP Enrollment and Equity Partnerships; and (4) Registered Apprenticeship Hubs.

Full Announcement (PDF format)
Amendment One (PDF format)
Visit the grants.gov posting page