Opportunity Information: Apply for E12AC3H2000
Apply for E12AC3H2000
- The National Park Service in the education environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mississippi River Trail Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.943 Challenge Cost Share.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 7, 2012 and posted on Aug 7, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $80,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $40,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Mississippi River Trail Projects grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number E12AC3H2000) is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding announcement issued as a notice of intent to award. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the NPS expects to be substantially involved in carrying out the work rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The opportunity is tied to education and environmental goals and is framed around increasing public engagement with the Mississippi River corridor while strengthening community connections to recreational and conservation assets along the river.
The intended recipient named in the notice is Mississippi River Trails, Inc., and the work centers on two related efforts. The first is the "Summer of Paddling" project, which focuses on purchasing the materials needed to host a series of paddling tours, water trail dedications, and other park or river-related events. The practical aim is to get more people outdoors on the river, build awareness of recreation options, and highlight natural resources associated with the Mississippi River. In short, it supports programming and on-the-ground events that encourage direct public use and appreciation of the river as a recreational and natural asset.
The second effort is the "Mississippi River Communications Package," described as an educational packet designed to help river communities improve local marketing for community-based, long-distance trails. A key theme is using trails and related outdoor tourism as an economic development tool. The packet is also meant to connect communities more effectively to nearby public lands and sites, including national park units, wildlife refuges, state parks, and other natural or cultural destinations. As part of this communications effort, the project would create a "Mississippi River Connections" website, promote collaboration among river communities, and emphasize shared responsibility for protecting regional resources and cultures, while generally improving outreach and marketing capacity.
Financially, the opportunity lists an estimated total funding amount of $80,000 with an expectation of two awards. Each award is shown with a $40,000 floor and a $40,000 ceiling, indicating awards were anticipated to be made at a fixed amount of $40,000 each. The funding includes a challenge cost share component, meaning cost sharing or matching is required. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
The opportunity was posted on August 7, 2012, with an original and current closing date of September 7, 2012, and an archive date of October 7, 2012. Additional details were available through Grants.gov, and the listed point of contact for access issues is Katie Schroeder, Grants Management Specialist at the NPS Midwest Regional Office (phone 402-661-1640). The notice also references a single-source determination based on "Unique Qualifications" under 505 DM 2.14 B(4), which signals that the agency intended a targeted award rather than an open competitive selection process.
Mississippi River Trail Projects Grant (E12AC3H2000) - FAQs
What is the Mississippi River Trail Projects grant opportunity?
The Mississippi River Trail Projects opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number E12AC3H2000) is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding announcement issued as a notice of intent to award. It is framed around education and environmental goals, with an emphasis on increasing public engagement with the Mississippi River corridor and strengthening community connections to recreational and conservation assets along the river.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the National Park Service (NPS).
Is this a competitive grant opportunity?
Based on the notice language, it is not presented as an open competitive opportunity. The announcement is a notice of intent to award and references a single-source determination under "Unique Qualifications" (505 DM 2.14 B(4)), indicating a targeted award rather than a broad competition.
Who is the intended recipient named in the notice?
The intended recipient identified in the notice is Mississippi River Trails, Inc.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means the NPS expects to be substantially involved in carrying out the work, rather than only providing funds with minimal involvement.
What are the main project components funded under this opportunity?
The work centers on two related efforts: (1) the "Summer of Paddling" project and (2) the "Mississippi River Communications Package."
What is the "Summer of Paddling" project?
"Summer of Paddling" focuses on purchasing materials needed to host a series of paddling tours, water trail dedications, and other park- or river-related events. The practical aim is to get more people outdoors on the river, build awareness of recreation options, and highlight natural resources associated with the Mississippi River.
What kinds of activities are included in "Summer of Paddling"?
Activities described include paddling tours, water trail dedications, and other events connected to parks or the river corridor, supported by the purchase of necessary materials to host those events.
What is the "Mississippi River Communications Package"?
The "Mississippi River Communications Package" is described as an educational packet intended to help river communities improve local marketing for community-based, long-distance trails. It emphasizes trails and related outdoor tourism as an economic development tool and is meant to strengthen connections between communities and nearby public lands and sites.
What is the goal of the Communications Package for river communities?
The goal is to improve outreach and marketing capacity for community-based, long-distance trails, and to help communities connect more effectively to destinations such as national park units, wildlife refuges, state parks, and other natural or cultural sites, while promoting collaboration and shared responsibility for protecting regional resources and cultures.
Does the Communications Package include a website?
Yes. As part of the communications effort, the project would create a "Mississippi River Connections" website.
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $80,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity states an expectation of two awards.
What is the expected award amount per award?
Each award is shown with a $40,000 floor and a $40,000 ceiling, indicating awards were anticipated to be made at a fixed amount of $40,000 each.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The funding includes a challenge cost share component, meaning cost sharing or matching is required.
Who is eligible to receive this funding?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
No. The eligibility statement excludes institutions of higher education.
What are the key themes or outcomes the NPS is trying to support?
The opportunity is tied to education and environmental goals. It aims to increase public engagement with the Mississippi River corridor, encourage direct public use and appreciation of the river as a recreational and natural asset, and strengthen community connections to recreational and conservation resources along the river.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 7, 2012.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date listed is September 7, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date is October 7, 2012.
Where were additional details available?
Additional details were available through Grants.gov.
Who is the point of contact for Grants.gov access issues?
The listed point of contact for access issues is Katie Schroeder, Grants Management Specialist at the NPS Midwest Regional Office. The phone number provided is 402-661-1640.
What does "notice of intent to award" mean in this context?
In this announcement, "notice of intent to award" signals that the NPS had already identified an intended recipient and planned to make an award, rather than inviting broad, open-ended competition.
What does the single-source determination reference imply?
The notice references a single-source determination based on "Unique Qualifications" under 505 DM 2.14 B(4). This implies the agency justified making a targeted award to a specific organization due to qualifications it considered unique, instead of selecting from multiple competing applicants.
What geographic focus does the project emphasize?
The project emphasizes the Mississippi River corridor and river communities, especially in relation to recreation, conservation assets, and connections to public lands and sites along the river.
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