National Park Service · Department of the Interior

Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

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In short: National Park Service expects to make 26 awards of $10,000 to $50,000. Open to many kinds of groups. See who can apply.

Deadline: Due Nov 4, 2026 · 26 days left
The funder says: “Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date.”
Award size: $10K – $50K
Total available: $1M · about 26 awards
Match ?: Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply: Private college or university, Larger business, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Tribal organization, Tribal government, School district, City or town government, State government, Public college or university, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Small business, County government, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), and others named in the official notice
Where: Check the official notice for location limits

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How this fits you

Location limits unclear. Check who can apply
No match required

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About this grant

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.

Who can apply, from the official notice

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.

Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/9f741915-4d11-4856-91a4-4f71d69937c9 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/e1464f4a-781e-4f15-91cb-6bd544420bf6

View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar

Ask a partner for a letter

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

Oct9
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov
Oct14
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters.
Oct28
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft.
Nov1
Submit
Suggested: submit a few days early. Agency portals can slow down near deadlines.
Nov4
Deadline
From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.

Writing the need statement? Davidson County facts with citations.

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the official notice 01-P27AS00032-Full_Announcement.pdf (33 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.

Registrations you need first (5)

SAM.gov · p. 5

“NPS conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award.” Open page 5
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 5

“GET READY TO APPLY Required System Registrations Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov Registration Before applying, all applicants except individuals applying as a natural person must be registered in SAM.gov.” Open page 5
Grants.gov · p. 6

“GRANTS.GOV This program accepts applications through Grants.gov so once you receive your UEI return to Grants.gov to register with Grants.gov.” Open page 6
GrantSolutions · p. 22

“AWARD NOTICES Notices of Federal Award are sent electronically via GrantSolutions or e-mail.” Open page 22
ASAP.gov (payments) · p. 26

“Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), unless approved for a waiver by NPS.” Open page 26

The deadline is in 26 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Get-ready checklist

What to submit

Form SF-424 · p. 12

“FORMS/ASSURANCES/CERTIFICATIONS SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Note:” Open page 12
Form SF-424A · p. 12

“Required from all applicants SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (online form included in the application) Required from all applicants SF-424C:” Open page 12
Form SF-424C · p. 12

“Required from all applicants SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (online form included in the application) Required from all applicants SF-424C:” Open page 12
Form SF-LLL · p. 12

“SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Required if requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds and the applicant has used or plans to use funds other than Federal appropriated funds for lobbying related to the proposed project.” Open page 12
Letters of support or commitment · p. 14

“Is the commitment and support of the partner(s) mentioned in the project narrative (letters of support are not required)?” Open page 14
Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 14

“Optional Resumes (Do not count towards 8-page limit.) Proposals may include resumes of key project contacts (no more than 3 pages per resume).” Open page 14
Budget narrative / justification · p. 14

“Budget Narrative Applicants must describe and justify items and costs listed in their budget.” Open page 14
Audit or financial statements · p. 16

“U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and non- profit organizations expending $1,000,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for…” Open page 16

Length limits

Page limit (see quote): 8 pages max · p. 13

“The 8-page limit includes all text, figures, references.” Open page 13
Resumes: 8 pages max · p. 14

“Resumes do not count toward the 8-page limit.” Open page 14
Optional Resumes: 8 pages max · p. 14

“Optional Resumes (Do not count towards 8-page limit.) Proposals may include resumes of key project contacts (no more than 3 pages per resume).” Open page 14
Proposals: 3 pages max · p. 14

“Optional Resumes (Do not count towards 8-page limit.) Proposals may include resumes of key project contacts (no more than 3 pages per resume).” Open page 14

Formatting rules

1-inch margins · p. 13

“(See Merit Review Criteria) The proposal text must be no longer than 8 pages, no smaller than font size 11, and have 1-inch margins.” Open page 13

Cost share or match

Cost share / match · p. 5

“No Non-Federal cost sharing is not required to be eligible for an award under this NOFO.” Open page 5
Cost share / match · p. 33

“Non-Federal Share of Budget (Not required through this NOFO.” Open page 33

Dates in the notice

November 4, 2026 · p. 16

“Applications must be received by Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 11:59PM Eastern.” Open page 16
11/04/2026 · p. 16

“Submission Dates and Times Closing Date for Applications: 11/04/2026 Closing Date Explanation:” Open page 16

Mistakes that get applications rejected (4)

Could get your application rejected: Hyperlinks to external information will not be considered. · p. 13

“Hyperlinks to external information will not be considered.” Open page 13
Could get your application rejected: Project Location within the watershed (Please note: projects outside the watershed will not be considered.) 4. · p. 13

“Project Location within the watershed (Please note: projects outside the watershed will not be considered.) 4.” Open page 13
Unresolved civil-rights or legal findings: We are prohibited from making an award if a recipient or any key personnel are found ineligible,... · p. 18

“We are prohibited from making an award if a recipient or any key personnel are found ineligible, prohibited, restricted, or otherwise excluded from receiving or participating in an award, as their ineligibility condition applies to this program.” Open page 18
Outside what the program funds: If an applicant fails to meet the requirements or objectives of the NOFO, or does not provide sufficient... · p. 20

“If an applicant fails to meet the requirements or objectives of the NOFO, or does not provide sufficient information for review, the applicant will be considered non-responsive and eliminated from further review. b.” Open page 20

About the federal program

Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, also called “Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network”
Program number 15.930 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service · Cooperative agreement (a grant with close agency involvement)

How applications are judged

Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov. Specific priorities include: � Supporting implementation of new water access sites along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, with a priority on sites on the lower James and York Rivers, lower Potomac River and lower Susquehanna River segments. � Providing interpretation, media, visitor services, and educational programming (especially on-water programming) focused on Chesapeake Bay natural and cultural resources at visitor contact stations and associated sites on the lower James and York Rivers, lower Potomac River and lower Susquehanna River segments as well as through the mobile Roving Ranger program. � Fostering public engagement in conservation, recreation, and resource stewardship through the mobile Roving Ranger offered at partner parks and sites. � Supporting increased visibility of the Chesapeake�s special places through expansion of Find Your Chesapeake and related web media. � Providing front-line staff and interpretive guide training and resources on Chesapeake themes. � Expanding youth engagement through the Chesapeake Youth Corps program through teams in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia and Kids in Kayaks program. � Advancing local, state, private, and federal collaborative conservation in the watershed through activities and initiatives that support Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement outcomes, including supporting the Chesapeake Conservation...

Match

For awards made under section 502(b) of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, 50% Recipient cost share is required.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal year 2025: 1) Water access and outdoor recreation infrastructure: Funding can build or improve paddle craft facilities and trailheads so people can reach cultural, historic, and natural sites by water. Support can add kayak and canoe launches within new public spaces, co?designed with residents, giving tens of thousands of people safe river access for recreation and stewardship. 2) Heritage interpretation, exhibits, and museums: Funding can help museums install long?term exhibits based on oral histories, archaeology, and community input�bringing to life rural heritage, farming, maritime work, and social change for visitors of all ages. Grants can back traveling exhibitions and milestone anniversary programs that deepen connections to the region�s heritage while supporting local economic development through cultural tourism. Funding can also expand visitor services at central heritage hubs, improving orientation, interpretation, and the overall experience so travelers stay longer and explore more. 3) Education, eco?tours, and storytelling: Funding can create immersive, small?group expeditions�by boat, kayak, and on land�that showcase the area�s natural and cultural...

This program on SAM.gov

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Key facts