The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting applications for its Arizona Youth and Conservation Corps to engage individuals between the ages of 16 and 30 (inclusive) and veterans up to age 35 (inclusive) including tribal members.
Donor Name: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
State: Arizona
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/23/2023
Size of the Grant: $200,000
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
The focused projects may be organized as crews in which participants work collectively and intensely together under supervision of trained and experienced crew leaders or conservation professionals; or may be organized as individuals or small teams working on specific individual tasks requiring dedicated attention; or projects may be organized in both formats. Regardless of the format, trained and experienced crew leaders or staff from partner organizations shall directly supervise participants. While BLM conservation professionals will provide project guidance and mentoring, they cannot serve as direct supervisors.
Recruitment efforts should focus on young, diverse people from local communities to assist with conservation projects that protect and promote multiple-use on public lands.
Proposed projects within this funding opportunity notice will support the Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) and the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) initiatives. These initiatives offer an opportunity to address climate change and address racial inequity by providing training opportunities for young people of color and others from historically disenfranchised communities.
These project will include but not limited to the following:
- Enhancement of recreation opportunities through trail building, maintenance and restoration, and other improvements to visitor and recreation facilities (e.g. kiosks, campgrounds, signage etc.).
- Monitoring riparian area vegetation and hydrological functions, collecting soil and stream data, timber stand improvement projects for wildlife habitat and overall forest health.
- Habitat restoration and wildlife protection, including reduction of invasive species, tree planting, fence removal/installation, riparian area restoration, etc.
- Development and implementation of natural and cultural resource stewardship plans or educational and informational materials for visitors.
- Performance of studies such as resource inventories, historic or archival research, archaeological excavation or stabilization, oral histories, historic preservation, habitat surveys, etc.
- Preservation of cultural resources, including historic structures.
- Seed collection for restoration of lands affected by natural disasters such as catastrophic wildfires and landslides; as well as protection, conservation, and restoration of threatened, endangered, and special status species with the goal of preventing or de-listing of species.
- Reduction of wildfire risk to communities, watersheds, and other public land ecosystems.
- Production of materials and programs on natural, cultural, and/or paleontological resources, communication, education, and interpretation of natural and cultural resources.
- Performance of in-house projects, such as science, policy, or program internships, with a clear benefit for natural or cultural resources. In-house projects to include a field component of at least 120 hours.
Expected Program Outcomes:
Projects may vary in length, but none should last longer than three years. Projects may be located in different geographic locations on BLM administered lands. The overall project success shall be validated and tracked by the BLM project coordinator using various criteria such as:
- Expose young people to public service, furthering their understanding and appreciation of the nation’s natural and cultural resources, while implementing Secretarial Orders and priorities.
- Stimulate interest in conservation careers by working with BLM conservation professionals and providing qualified conservation projects that will allow corps members to be certified for twoyear noncompetitive hiring status upon completion of the projects and 640 hours.
- Promote job creation to strengthen America’s economy and foster relationships with organizations advocating for balanced stewardship and use of public lands.
- Promote and stimulate public purposes by providing education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, and productive community involvement in the care and enhancement of natural and cultural resources.
- Assist qualified conservation corps to enhance and maintain public lands and waters by engaging youth in conserving or developing natural and cultural resources.
- Engage young people within the local area or within the states to provide opportunities to stimulate interest in conservation activities.
- Individual project awards will also identify outcomes specific to those particular projects.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Funding: $1,200,000
- Maximum Award: $200,000
- Minimum Award: $50,000
Project Period
Agreement terms for funded projects are estimated to range between one and no more than five years and are determined based on the period of performance as stated on the recipient’s project proposal.
Eligibility Criteria
- City or township governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Special district governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- State governments
- County governments
- Private institutions of higher education.
Additional Information on Eligibility
- Individuals and For-Profit Organizations are ineligible to apply for awards under this NOFO.
- This program NOFO does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, 16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II Public Lands Corps, is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to “hire” interns under this authority. Therefore, eligible Youth Conservation Corps may only apply for projects developed under NOFO 15.243 – BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
