Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands | L21AS00304

Opportunity Information: Apply for L21AS00304

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon/Washington, offered this discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L21AS00304) to support youth conservation work on public lands through a cooperative agreement. The core goal is to partner with qualified youth or conservation corps to design and carry out multiple-use conservation projects that directly support BLMs natural and cultural resource mission while also creating structured, paid, real-world service opportunities for young people in nearby communities. The projects are meant to be practical on-the-ground efforts on BLM-managed lands in Oregon and Washington, with an emphasis on conservation outcomes paired with workforce development.

A central requirement is that the work must provide employment, education, and public-service opportunities for participants who are U.S. citizens or legal residents. Eligible participants are youth ages 16 through 30 (inclusive), and military veterans may participate up to age 35 (inclusive). The opportunity places clear importance on recruiting from local and surrounding communities, meaning applicants should be prepared to explain how they will reach, enroll, and support participants from the areas near the BLM lands where projects will take place. In addition to paid work, the program is expected to deliver training and educational components that help participants build transferable skills.

Eligibility is narrowly defined. Only qualified youth conservation corps may apply, and the notice explicitly states that no other entities are eligible to respond. A qualified youth or conservation corps, for purposes of this opportunity, is a program established by a state or local government, the governing body of an Indian tribe, or a nonprofit organization. To count as qualified, the corps must be capable of offering meaningful, full-time, productive work in a natural or cultural resource setting. The corps must also provide a blend of work experience, education, and training, along with basic and life-skills development and participant support. The expectation is that participants will gain work ethic, responsibility, and practical experience that carries beyond the project itself and benefits their broader community and future employment.

For nonprofit applicants, documentation requirements are emphasized. Responding nonprofit organizations must provide a copy of their IRS Section 501(c)(3) determination letter. The source data lists several applicant categories (including various government entities, tribal entities, housing authorities, and higher education institutions), but the narrative description controls eligibility by limiting applicants to qualified youth conservation corps and stating that other entities are not eligible. In practice, that means an organization would need to fit the definition of a youth or conservation corps and be established by an eligible governmental, tribal, or nonprofit sponsor, rather than simply being any organization in a broadly listed category.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the performance of the project. In other words, the BLM is not just issuing funds and stepping back; it is looking to work jointly with the awardee in planning, implementing, and overseeing conservation projects on public lands. The activity category is Natural Resources under CFDA 15.243, reflecting that the primary purpose is stewardship and management support for public land resources, paired with a youth employment and training model.

Key timing and funding details included an original closing date of July 12, 2021, and an award ceiling of $100,000. The opportunity record notes an expected awards field, but it is not populated in the provided data. The listing was created March 12, 2021. Overall, the grant was designed to fund corps-based conservation crews and associated training structures that help the BLM accomplish priority work on Oregon and Washington public lands while building a pipeline of young workers with hands-on conservation experience, life skills, and job readiness.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.243.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-07-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

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