Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP20AC00098
The Teaching Traditional Building/Landscape Skills Training Project - SLBE is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) discretionary funding opportunity designed to connect at-risk and adjudicated youth to hands-on training and service-learning work at Sleeping Bear Dunes. The project is built around a partnership with Youth Works - Child and Family Services, a local nonprofit that already serves underserved and under-engaged young people in northwest Lower Michigan. By using Youth Works as the primary conduit, the park can reach participants who might not otherwise have access to conservation, preservation, or workforce development pathways, and then involve them directly in meaningful projects that support park resources.
The core purpose of the grant is workforce development through practical instruction in traditional building and cultural landscape trades. Participants, generally described as youth and young adults ages 14 to 35, would gain exposure to the park environment while learning skills tied to historic preservation, facility stewardship, and landscape management. Training and project work is expected to cover a wide range of legacy and conservation-oriented crafts, including timber framing; stone and brick masonry repair; wood window repair and glazing; blacksmithing; roofing and siding; and landscape-focused skills such as pruning, horticulture, and cultural landscape management. The program emphasizes learning by doing, with participants contributing to tangible improvements and maintenance work while building foundational employability skills and career awareness.
A key outcome the project seeks is long-term preservation of traditional trades by helping participants see these skills as realistic vocational options. The opportunity explicitly frames the training as a way to begin teaching, learning, and preserving these practices, with an eye toward future employment at Sleeping Bear Dunes, in nearby communities, or in similar jobs nationwide. In other words, the grant is not only about completing discrete park projects; it is also about cultivating future stewards and expanding career pathways for individuals who face barriers to employment and education.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the National Park Service expects to be actively involved in project implementation rather than serving only as a pass-through funder. The eligible applicant pool is limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.931 and aligns with multiple public benefit categories, including community development, education, employment and labor training, environment, and natural resources. The funding opportunity number is NPS NOIP20AC00098, and it was created on January 13, 2020 with an original closing date of January 23, 2020. The award ceiling is $81,000, and the National Park Service anticipated making one award under this announcement.Apply for NPS NOIP20AC00098
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the community development, education, employment, labor and training, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Teaching Traditional Building/Landscape Skills Training Project- SLBE" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 23, 2020. (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 $81,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Teaching Traditional Building/Landscape Skills Training Project - SLBE?
It is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) discretionary funding opportunity focused on connecting at-risk and adjudicated youth to hands-on training and service-learning work at Sleeping Bear Dunes. The project is structured to provide practical instruction in traditional building trades and cultural landscape skills while completing meaningful work that supports park resources.
Who is offering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Park Service (NPS), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What park or location is this project associated with?
The project work is tied to Sleeping Bear Dunes, with participants involved directly in projects that support resources at that site.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose is workforce development through practical instruction in traditional building and cultural landscape trades, combined with service-learning work that contributes to preservation, facility stewardship, and landscape management needs at the park.
Who is the intended participant group for the training?
The project is designed to connect at-risk and adjudicated youth to training and service-learning. The description also references youth and young adults generally described as ages 14 to 35.
How does the project plan to reach underserved or under-engaged young people?
The project is built around a partnership with Youth Works - Child and Family Services, a local nonprofit in northwest Lower Michigan that already serves underserved and under-engaged young people. Youth Works is described as the primary conduit for reaching participants who might not otherwise have access to conservation, preservation, or workforce development pathways.
What types of training or trades are expected to be included?
Training and project work is expected to cover a range of legacy and conservation-oriented crafts and skills, including timber framing; stone and brick masonry repair; wood window repair and glazing; blacksmithing; roofing and siding; and landscape-focused skills such as pruning, horticulture, and cultural landscape management.
Is the program primarily classroom-based or hands-on?
The program emphasizes learning by doing. Participants are expected to gain skills through hands-on training and service-learning work, contributing to tangible improvements and maintenance activities while developing employability skills and career awareness.
What outcomes is the project trying to achieve beyond completing park projects?
A key outcome is long-term preservation of traditional trades by helping participants view these skills as realistic vocational options. The opportunity frames the training as a way to begin teaching, learning, and preserving these practices, with an eye toward future employment at Sleeping Bear Dunes, in nearby communities, or in similar jobs nationwide.
How is this opportunity structured administratively (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates the National Park Service expects to be actively involved in project implementation rather than acting only as a pass-through funder.
Who is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?
The eligible applicant pool is limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
Are colleges or universities eligible to apply?
No. The eligibility description excludes institutions of higher education.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The listing is under CFDA 15.931.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is NPS NOIP20AC00098.
When was this funding opportunity created?
It was created on January 13, 2020.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed is January 23, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $81,000.
How many awards did the National Park Service anticipate making under this announcement?
The National Park Service anticipated making one award.
What public benefit categories does this opportunity align with?
The opportunity aligns with multiple public benefit categories, including community development, education, employment and labor training, environment, and natural resources.
Does the project include conservation and preservation components?
Yes. The training and work are tied to historic preservation, facility stewardship, and cultural landscape management, and are intended to support and maintain park resources.
How does the project relate to career pathways and employment?
The project is intended to expand workforce development pathways by building foundational employability skills, increasing career awareness, and positioning traditional trade skills as realistic vocational options that may lead to employment at Sleeping Bear Dunes, in nearby communities, or in similar roles nationwide.
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