Opportunity Information: Apply for L23AS00256
The FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern States (ES) Recreation and Visitor Services opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L23AS00256) is a discretionary federal funding program administered by the Department of the Interior through the BLM. It is designed to support recreation and visitor service-related work on public lands managed by BLM in its Eastern States jurisdiction, and it is funded under the broader framework of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which typically means the BLM expects to have substantial involvement in the project during implementation (for example, coordinating technical input, approving key deliverables, or jointly managing aspects of the work rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back).
The program falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.225. Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities: state, county, and local governments (including cities, townships, and special districts); independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (so long as they are not higher education institutions when applying under the nonprofit category). Two categories are explicitly barred from applying: individuals and for-profit organizations.
A major restriction highlighted in the notice is that this specific NOFO does not support projects that involve hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The notice emphasizes that the Public Lands Corps Act (16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II) is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under that framework, and this particular funding opportunity is not the vehicle for that type of engagement. As a result, even eligible youth-focused entities such as Youth Conservation Corps are directed away from this opportunity if their project concept involves Public Lands Corps-style internships or crews. Instead, youth conservation and corps-style proposals must be pursued through a different, dedicated funding opportunity: NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands. In practical terms, applicants to L23AS00256 should focus their project designs on recreation and visitor services outcomes without structuring the work around PLC intern hiring or PLC crews.
Key administrative details include an award ceiling of $30,000 per award and an original application closing date of April 17, 2023. The opportunity record shows a creation date of February 15, 2023. While the summary information provided does not list the expected number of awards, the relatively modest ceiling suggests the program is geared toward smaller, targeted projects that can produce clear on-the-ground improvements or visitor-facing benefits within BLM Eastern States-managed recreation areas, consistent with recreation and visitor services priorities, and implemented in partnership with eligible governmental, educational, tribal, or nonprofit organizations.Apply for L23AS00256
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Eastern States (ES) Recreation and Visitor Services" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.225.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-02-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-17. (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 $30,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY23 IIJA BLM Eastern States Recreation and Visitor Services opportunity?
It is a discretionary federal funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Eastern States (ES). The funding is intended to support recreation and visitor services-related work on public lands managed by BLM within its Eastern States jurisdiction and is part of the broader Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) framework.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L23AS00256.
What type of award will be made (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards are made as cooperative agreements. This generally means BLM expects substantial involvement during project implementation, such as coordinating technical input, approving key deliverables, or jointly managing aspects of the work rather than simply issuing funding and stepping back.
Which federal agency and office administers this funding?
The program is administered by the Department of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), specifically the BLM Eastern States (ES) jurisdiction.
What kinds of projects is this opportunity designed to support?
The opportunity is designed to support recreation and visitor services-related work on BLM-managed public lands in the Eastern States jurisdiction. The program is aligned with natural resources funding activities and is aimed at producing visitor-facing benefits and/or on-the-ground improvements tied to recreation and visitor services.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.225.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments (including cities, townships, and special districts); independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions when applying under the nonprofit category).
Are nonprofit organizations required to have 501(c)(3) status to apply?
No. Nonprofit organizations are eligible with or without 501(c)(3) status, provided they are not applying as higher education institutions under the nonprofit category.
Are individuals allowed to apply?
No. Individuals are explicitly barred from applying.
Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?
No. For-profit organizations are explicitly barred from applying.
Can a youth-focused organization apply if the project involves Public Lands Corps interns or crews?
No. This notice specifically does not support projects that involve hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. Even otherwise eligible youth-focused entities (including Youth Conservation Corps) are directed away from this opportunity if their project concept is structured around Public Lands Corps-style internships or crews.
Why are Public Lands Corps (PLC) intern or crew projects not allowed under this NOFO?
The notice emphasizes that the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II) is the legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under that framework, and this particular funding opportunity is not the vehicle for that type of engagement. As a result, proposals centered on PLC intern hiring or PLC crews are not supported under L23AS00256.
If our project is a youth conservation or corps-style proposal, where should we apply instead?
Youth conservation and corps-style proposals should be pursued under a different, dedicated funding opportunity: NOFO 15.243, titled "BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands."
Does this mean youth-related activities are never allowed under this opportunity?
The restriction stated is specific to projects that involve hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act framework. Applicants to L23AS00256 should design projects focused on recreation and visitor services outcomes without structuring the work around PLC intern hiring or PLC crews.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $30,000 per award.
Is this opportunity intended for large or small projects?
Based on the $30,000 award ceiling and the way the opportunity is described, it appears geared toward smaller, targeted projects that can deliver clear recreation and visitor services benefits on BLM Eastern States-managed public lands.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was April 17, 2023.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of February 15, 2023.
Does the summary information state how many awards will be made?
No. The summary information provided does not list the expected number of awards.
What does "substantial involvement" by BLM typically look like under a cooperative agreement?
The description notes examples such as BLM coordinating technical input, approving key deliverables, or jointly managing aspects of the work during implementation. This is different from a more hands-off approach sometimes associated with standard grant awards.
Where must project work take place?
The program is intended to support work on public lands managed by BLM within its Eastern States jurisdiction.
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| FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Headquarters (HQ) Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program Apply for L23AS00255 Funding Number: L23AS00255 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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| IIJA Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management Idaho Good Neighbor Authority Apply for L23AS00245 Funding Number: L23AS00245 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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| FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management Apply for L23AS00265 Funding Number: L23AS00265 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
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| F23AS00171 Zoonotic Disease Initiative - States and Territories Apply for F23AS00171 Funding Number: F23AS00171 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $775,000 |
| FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Nevada Youth and Conservation Corps. Apply for L23AS00144 Funding Number: L23AS00144 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| IIJA Bureau of Land Management California Youth and Conservation Corps. Apply for L23AS00276 Funding Number: L23AS00276 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS FY2023 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT For AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES Apply for G23AS00483 Funding Number: G23AS00483 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $279,000 |
| WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS FY2023 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT For PER – AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) Apply for G23AS00484 Funding Number: G23AS00484 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $279,000 |
| WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS FY2023 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT (104g General) Apply for G23AS00485 Funding Number: G23AS00485 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $310,000 |
| F23AS00257_FY 2023_Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG) Program_Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for F23AS00257 Funding Number: F23AS00257 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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