Bureau of Land Management Oregon Washington Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands | L22AS00209

Opportunity Information: Apply for L22AS00209

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon and Washington office is offering a discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L22AS00209) to support youth conservation projects on public lands through cooperative agreements. The overall aim is to partner with eligible youth conservation corps to plan, develop, and administer multiple-use conservation projects that advance BLMs natural and cultural resource mission while also creating structured employment and service pathways for young people. Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to take place on BLM-managed public lands in Oregon and Washington and to be implemented in a way that combines conservation outcomes with workforce development.

A core requirement of the opportunity is that funded projects must focus on providing employment, education, and public-service opportunities for participants who are U.S. citizens or legal residents. The participant age range is clearly defined: individuals ages 16 through 30 are eligible, and military veterans may participate up to age 35. Recruitment is expected to draw from local and surrounding communities, meaning applicants should be prepared to demonstrate how they will engage nearby populations and provide accessible pathways into conservation work. The BLM is looking for programs that do more than offer short-term labor; the intent is to provide meaningful, full-time, productive work in natural or cultural resource settings and to pair that work with learning, training, and personal development.

Eligibility is tightly limited to qualified youth or conservation corps. In practical terms, that means a program established by a state or local government, by the governing body of an Indian tribe, or by a qualified nonprofit organization that can run a corps-style program. The notice emphasizes that no other entities are eligible to respond. While the source data lists a wide set of applicant types in the standard eligibility fields, the narrative eligibility language is the controlling guidance here: applicants need to fit the definition of a qualified youth or conservation corps and be capable of administering corps members in the field. Nonprofit applicants must be able to document their status, and the opportunity specifically states that responding nonprofits must provide a copy of their IRS Section 501(c)(3) determination letter as part of their submission.

The opportunity also defines what it means to be a qualified youth or conservation corps in terms of program design and participant experience. Applicants must be capable of delivering meaningful conservation-related work while also providing a mix of work experience, basic life skills, education, training, and support that aligns with BLMs mission. In other words, BLM is not only buying project outputs (like restoration work, trail improvements, or cultural resource support) but also investing in a structured developmental model. Successful projects should create an environment where participants build work ethic and transferable life skills that help them succeed beyond the project itself, in their communities and in future employment.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates an active partnership role for the BLM rather than a hands-off grant. Applicants should expect coordination with BLM staff on project planning, safety, resource protection requirements, and performance expectations, particularly because the work occurs on public lands and may involve sensitive natural or cultural resources. The activity category is Natural Resources, and the listed CFDA number is 15.243, which is associated with BLM assistance programs.

Key dates and funding parameters are straightforward in the posting. The opportunity was created on February 4, 2022, with an original closing date of April 11, 2022. The stated award ceiling is $250,000. The posting indicates expected awards but does not provide a specific number, suggesting that the number of awards may depend on available funding, proposal quality, and program priorities. Overall, the opportunity is designed for established corps operators who can combine on-the-ground conservation delivery with robust youth development, and who can meet the eligibility and documentation requirements while collaborating closely with the BLM in Oregon and Washington.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bureau of Land Management Oregon Washington Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.243.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-02-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-04-11. (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 $250,000.00 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.

Apply for L22AS00209

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