F24AS00129 - Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment

Background
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service) is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. The FWS operates a variety of programs that promote wildlife conservation and public land management under the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC) through engagement, employment, and education of our nation’s diverse youth and veterans.

Grant Details
The purpose of the FWS PLC Programs is to provide work and education opportunities for youth (defined as ages 16-30 inclusive, and up to age 35 for veterans) participants in the areas of natural and cultural resource conservation, development, and scientific research.
The PLC FWS Youth Corps Program allows the FWS to establish partnerships with Partner organizations (Partners), generally defined as “qualified youth or conservation corps,” using financial assistance/cooperative agreements or MOUs, to employ the next generation of conservationists in paid PLC projects and internships.
The program has various sub-programs such as Public Lands Transportation Fellows Program (PLTFP), Fish and Wildlife Service Maintenance and Infrastructure Fellows Program (MIPF), Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), Career Discovery Internship Program (CDIP), Indian Youth Service Corps Program (IYSC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Program, Directorate Fellows Program (DFP), and Small Grants.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, private institutions of higher education, and other organizations that have established Public Lands Corps Act eligibility as FWS Youth Corps member organizations such as 501(c)4 or 501(c) 5 nonprofit organizations that are labor unions, neighborhood associations, or other types of eligible organizations.

Period of Performance
The due date for applications is 09/01/2024. Expected award funding is $48,000 with an anticipated award date of November 02, 2023. The total funding is estimated at $28,000,000 with expected number of awards at 375.

Grant Value
The maximum award amount is $2,000,000 with a minimum award of $5,000.

Place of Performance
The grant opportunities are available throughout the United States.