Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00380
Apply for F15AS00380
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Engagine Urban Communities" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654 Visitor Facility Enhancements Refuges and Wildlife.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 21, 2015 and posted on Jul 21, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2015 THE RECIPIENT HAS BEEN SELECTED. SEE ATTACHED NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $125,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- THE RECIPIENT HAS BEEN SELECTED. SEE ATTACHED NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Engagine Urban Communities grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00380) was a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support visitor services and urban community engagement connected to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge, located within the broader Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area, is designated as a priority urban national wildlife refuge. That designation comes with an expectation that the refuge will provide high-quality, nature-based engagement for urban audiences not only on refuge lands, but also through outreach and programming beyond the refuge boundaries. The overall purpose is to help build a larger, more diverse, and more invested base of natural resource conservation supporters by meeting people where they are and connecting them to wildlife, habitat, and conservation in practical, welcoming ways.
At its core, the opportunity focused on strengthening and expanding the refuge's visitor service operations so the refuge could both improve the experience of people who already visit and meaningfully extend its reach into surrounding urban communities. The announcement emphasized that engagement could take many forms and did not lock applicants into a single program model. Instead, it highlighted a broad menu of potential approaches and topic areas, including diversity, equity, and inclusion; connections between health and nature; public engagement and community-facing activities; special events; volunteer development; youth engagement; and the delivery of high-quality nature-based education and recreation programming both on-site and off-site. In other words, the funding was aimed at practical, hands-on work that increases participation, removes barriers to access, and helps more residents of the metro area see the refuge and conservation as relevant to their lives.
Financially, the opportunity anticipated a single award, with an estimated total funding amount of $125,000. The funding range listed an award floor of $100,000 and an award ceiling of $125,000, and it did not require cost sharing or matching funds. The activity areas aligned with community development, environment, and natural resources, and it was associated with CFDA number 15.654 (Visitor Facility Enhancements - Refuges and Wildlife). Eligibility was listed as unrestricted in general terms, meaning it was open to a wide range of entity types, although the notice also made clear that a recipient had already been selected and referred readers to an attached Notice of Intent to Award for the specific selection details.
In terms of timing and status, the notice was posted on July 21, 2015, with an original and current closing date of July 26, 2015, and an archive date of July 27, 2015. The announcement explicitly stated that the recipient had been selected, indicating the opportunity was essentially closed at the time of posting and that the public listing served as formal documentation of the intent to award rather than a long open competition period.
For additional details, the listing pointed to Grants.gov and provided a contact for assistance accessing the full announcement: Connie Sauer at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (503-872-2826, ConnieSauer@fws.gov).
Engagine Urban Communities Grant (F15AS00380) - FAQs
What is the Engagine Urban Communities grant opportunity (F15AS00380)?
Engagine Urban Communities (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00380) was a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). It was designed to support visitor services and urban community engagement connected to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.
Which federal agency offered this opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
What was the main purpose of the funding?
The overall purpose was to strengthen and expand the refuge's visitor service operations to (1) improve the experience for people who already visit the refuge and (2) extend the refuge's reach into surrounding urban communities. The broader goal was to build a larger, more diverse, and more invested base of natural resource conservation supporters by connecting urban audiences to wildlife, habitat, and conservation in welcoming, practical ways.
Which refuge was this grant connected to?
This opportunity was connected to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, located within the broader Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.
Why does the refuge's "priority urban" designation matter for this opportunity?
The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is designated as a priority urban national wildlife refuge. That designation comes with an expectation of providing high-quality, nature-based engagement for urban audiences, both on refuge lands and through outreach and programming beyond refuge boundaries. This grant supported that expectation.
What kinds of projects or activities were encouraged?
The announcement emphasized a broad range of possible engagement approaches rather than requiring one single model. Examples of topic areas and activity types mentioned included:
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Connections between health and nature
- Public engagement and community-facing activities
- Special events
- Volunteer development
- Youth engagement
- High-quality, nature-based education and recreation programming
- Programming conducted both on-site (at the refuge) and off-site (in the community)
Did projects have to take place only on refuge lands?
No. The opportunity specifically contemplated engagement not only on refuge lands, but also outreach and programming beyond the refuge boundaries, in surrounding urban communities.
What outcomes was the funding trying to achieve?
Based on the notice, the funding aimed at hands-on work that increases participation, removes barriers to access, improves visitor services, and helps more residents in the metro area see the refuge and conservation as relevant to their lives.
How much funding was available?
The opportunity anticipated a single award with an estimated total funding amount of $125,000.
What was the award range (minimum and maximum)?
The listed funding range had an award floor of $100,000 and an award ceiling of $125,000.
How many awards were expected?
The notice anticipated a single award.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
What type of funding instrument was used?
The notice described the award as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA 15.654, titled "Visitor Facility Enhancements - Refuges and Wildlife."
What activity areas did this opportunity align with?
The activity areas were aligned with community development, environment, and natural resources.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted in general terms, meaning it was open to a wide range of entity types. However, the notice also stated that a recipient had already been selected and referred readers to an attached Notice of Intent to Award for the specific selection details.
Was this an open competition at the time it was posted?
No. The announcement explicitly stated that the recipient had been selected, meaning the opportunity was essentially closed at the time of posting and functioned as formal documentation of the intent to award.
When was the opportunity posted?
The notice was posted on July 21, 2015.
What was the closing date?
The original and current closing date was July 26, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed was July 27, 2015.
Where could applicants or readers find the full announcement?
The listing pointed readers to Grants.gov for additional details.
Who was the contact for assistance with accessing the full announcement?
The contact listed for assistance was Connie Sauer at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Phone: 503-872-2826. Email: ConnieSauer@fws.gov.
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