Opportunity Information: Apply for L21AS00463
The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a discretionary funding opportunity focused on youth conservation work on public lands in New Mexico. Titled "NM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands" (Funding Opportunity Number L21AS00463), this program is designed to support cooperative, on-the-ground conservation projects that align with the BLM mission while creating paid work and structured learning experiences for young people. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means BLM expects to be actively involved in the project during implementation rather than simply providing pass-through funding.
The core purpose of the opportunity is to develop and administer multiple-use conservation projects on public lands while providing employment, education, and public-service opportunities. Projects must specifically benefit U.S. citizens and legal residents who are between 16 and 30 years old (inclusive), with an expanded eligibility for veterans up to age 35 (inclusive). A key emphasis is recruiting participants from local and surrounding communities, so the work both supports nearby public lands and strengthens the local workforce pipeline. While the notice does not list specific project types in the text provided, the framing around "multiple-use conservation projects" and "natural or cultural resource setting" indicates activities may involve stewardship work such as habitat restoration, invasive species treatment, trail construction and maintenance, recreation site improvements, cultural resource support, and similar conservation and public land management tasks, as long as they fit BLM priorities.
Eligibility is intentionally narrow and limited to qualified youth conservation corps. Applicants must be a youth or conservation corps established by a state or local government, the governing body of an Indian tribe, or a qualified nonprofit organization. The opportunity explicitly states that no other entities are eligible to respond. For nonprofit applicants, a Section 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter must be provided as part of the response, which serves as proof of tax-exempt status. The notice also defines what BLM considers a "qualified youth or conservation corps": the program must be capable of offering meaningful, full-time, productive work in a natural or cultural resource setting; it must provide participants with a mix of work experience, basic life skills, education, training, and support for BLM's mission; and it must create opportunities for participants to develop transferable life skills and work ethic through their work on BLM lands that can carry over into their communities and future careers.
From a funding standpoint, the opportunity falls under the Natural Resources activity category and is associated with CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) number 15.243. The award ceiling listed is $1,200,000, indicating the maximum potential amount for an award under this opportunity. The posting shows an original closing date of June 7, 2021, with a creation date of May 7, 2021. The expected number of awards is not clearly stated in the provided data, which suggests awards could vary depending on available funding, project scope, and the quality and competitiveness of applications received.
Overall, this grant opportunity is structured to blend conservation outcomes with workforce development. The BLM is looking for partners that can run credible corps-style programming: placing youth and eligible veterans into structured, supervised conservation work that produces measurable public land benefits while also delivering training, personal development, and pathways to future employment. The emphasis on full-time, meaningful work and on combining field experience with life skills and education suggests BLM is seeking programs that are more comprehensive than short-term volunteer events, with a strong focus on participant growth alongside stewardship results.Apply for L21AS00463
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management NM 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 2021-05-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-06-07. (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 $1,200,000.00 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.
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FAQs: NM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands (BLM) - Funding Opportunity Number L21AS00463
What is the official name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "NM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands" (Funding Opportunity Number L21AS00463), announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
What is this grant meant to accomplish?
The purpose is to support cooperative, on-the-ground, multiple-use conservation projects on public lands in New Mexico while creating paid work and structured learning experiences for young people. It is designed to blend conservation outcomes with workforce development through employment, education, and public-service opportunities.
What kind of funding mechanism is being used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This generally means BLM expects to be actively involved during project implementation, rather than only providing pass-through funding.
What geographic area does this opportunity focus on?
The opportunity is focused on youth conservation work on public lands in New Mexico.
Who is supposed to benefit from the program?
Projects must specifically benefit U.S. citizens and legal residents who are ages 16 through 30 (inclusive). Veterans have expanded eligibility up to age 35 (inclusive).
What are the participant age requirements?
Participants must be between 16 and 30 years old (inclusive). Veterans are eligible up to age 35 (inclusive).
Does the opportunity emphasize local hiring or recruitment?
Yes. A key emphasis is recruiting participants from local and surrounding communities so the work supports nearby public lands and strengthens the local workforce pipeline.
What types of projects are expected to be supported?
The information provided does not list specific project types, but it frames eligible work as "multiple-use conservation projects" in a "natural or cultural resource setting" aligned with BLM priorities. Examples consistent with that framing may include habitat restoration, invasive species treatment, trail construction and maintenance, recreation site improvements, cultural resource support, and similar stewardship and public land management tasks, as long as they align with BLM's mission and priorities.
What does BLM mean by "multiple-use conservation projects" in this context?
Based on the description provided, "multiple-use" points to conservation work that supports the BLM mission on public lands and may involve stewardship activities that improve or maintain land and resource conditions while supporting public land management needs. Projects should be on-the-ground and tied to natural or cultural resource settings.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to qualified youth conservation corps. Applicants must be a youth or conservation corps established by a state or local government, the governing body of an Indian tribe, or a qualified nonprofit organization. The opportunity explicitly states that no other entities are eligible to respond.
Are organizations other than youth or conservation corps allowed to apply?
No. The opportunity explicitly states that no other entities are eligible to respond besides qualified youth conservation corps as described.
What makes a youth or conservation corps "qualified" for this opportunity?
The notice defines a qualified youth or conservation corps as a program that can offer meaningful, full-time, productive work in a natural or cultural resource setting; provides participants with a mix of work experience, basic life skills, education, training, and support for BLM's mission; and creates opportunities for participants to develop transferable life skills and work ethic through work on BLM lands that carry over into their communities and future careers.
What documentation is required for nonprofit applicants?
Nonprofit applicants must provide a Section 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter as part of the response to demonstrate proof of tax-exempt status.
Is the program intended to be paid work or volunteer service?
The description emphasizes paid work and structured learning experiences, and it highlights full-time, meaningful, productive work rather than short-term volunteer events.
Does BLM expect projects to include training or education components?
Yes. The qualified corps definition includes providing work experience along with basic life skills, education, training, and support for BLM's mission, with an emphasis on transferable skills and work ethic.
How involved will BLM be after an award is made?
Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, BLM is generally expected to be actively involved during implementation of the project.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 15.243 and falls under the Natural Resources activity category.
What is the maximum award amount available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $1,200,000, which indicates the maximum potential amount for an award under this opportunity.
How many awards will BLM make?
The expected number of awards is not clearly stated in the information provided. Awards may vary depending on available funding, project scope, and the quality and competitiveness of applications received.
What were the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The posting shows a creation date of May 7, 2021, and an original closing date of June 7, 2021.
What is BLM looking for in a partner organization?
BLM is looking for partners that can run credible corps-style programming by placing youth and eligible veterans into structured, supervised conservation work that produces measurable benefits on public lands while delivering training, personal development, and pathways to future employment.
Are projects required to occur on BLM-managed lands?
The opportunity is focused on public lands and repeatedly references work "on BLM lands" and alignment with the BLM mission, indicating that projects are intended to take place on public lands connected to BLM priorities in New Mexico.
Is there an emphasis on measurable outcomes?
The description emphasizes conservation outcomes and workforce development, and it references producing measurable public land benefits alongside participant growth through structured work and learning experiences.
Is this opportunity focused more on short-term events or longer, structured experiences?
The description indicates a preference for comprehensive, structured programming with full-time, meaningful work and a combination of field experience, life skills, and education, rather than short-term volunteer events.
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