2025 Chesapeake Gateway Grants

The 33rd Annual Native American Festival in Vienna, Maryland, hosted by the Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians, Inc., was supported in part by a grant from NPS Chesapeake Gateways.

NPS Chesapeake Gateways/London Cobb

This year, NPS Chesapeake Gateways has awarded $1.2 in grants to support 23 high-impact projects and events across the Chesapeake region. These strategic investments strengthen tourism infrastructure, expand public access, and drive local economic growth through nature, culture, history, and outdoor recreation-based initiatives.

This year’s funding supports 14 events and 9 projects that will attract visitors, boost small businesses, and generate lasting regional economic benefits. Projects include new kayak launches, trails, ecotourism experiences, and interpretive exhibits that link outdoor recreation with local economies. Events such as festivals and heritage programs—many of which are tied to major national and regional commemorations, like America’s 250th anniversary—increase visitation and community engagement, while initiatives like tourism ambassador training and Indigenous place-marking enhance the visitor experience.

Since launching its annual competitive grants in 2023, NPS Chesapeake Gateways has awarded $4.7 million to over 57 partners across 5 states and Washington, D.C., advancing the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 and delivering measurable economic impact.

Enduring Impact

With over 25 years of ongoing service and $32 million in total investment across 446 grants and other agreements, NPS Chesapeake Gateways continues to support the 41-million-acre Chesapeake Bay watershed and the communities that depend on it.