Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions have been collected from potential grantees regarding award information for Chesapeake Gateways Grants. Learn more about grant opportunities by visiting the Chesapeake Gateways Grants page.
Approximately $1,000,000 in total funding is available to award as grants.
The amount of funding available per award will be determined as part of the application review process based on applications received and funding made available through appropriations.
Pending the annual appropriations process, NPS Chesapeake Gateways intends to host an annual application for Chesapeake Gateways Network grants.
Two funding levels are available for this grant opportunity:
- Linking Tourism and Economic Development Grants ($50K-$100K): approximately 7-8 grants expected
- Event Support Grants ($10K-$25K): approximately 8-12 grants expected
The NPS Chesapeake Gateways Office seeks to make this effort as accessible as possible to all eligible applicants. There are NO cost share or match requirements for these grants.
The deadline for application is 11:59pm on October 21, 2024. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Agreement terms for periods of performance for funded projects may range between one to two years, depending on the complexity and negotiated project statement of work. Agreement terms are not effective until fully executed through a Notice of Award from the NPS Financial Assistance Awarding Officer.
Periods of performance will run 1-2 years, depending on the project scope. The expected start and length of the period of performance will be confirmed in the Notice of Award.
Notification of awards is expected in early Summer 2025. Awards are anticipated to have periods of performance starting in early Summer.
NPS uses ASAP (Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) (treasury.gov)) to disburse grant payments. Requests for payments can be made as often as needed and disbursements tend to be made within a 2-3 days turnaround time. You can also request an advance payment for an immediately pending payment. By policy, funds waiting to be spent should remain in your ASAP account until needed. Grantees should only withdraw funds to cover immediate reimbursements or pending payments and try to make all needed requests and payments within the same financial reporting period.
NPS uses ASAP (Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) (treasury.gov)) to disburse payments. Disbursements tend to be made within a week turnaround time. Any exceptions regarding advance payments to contracts will be confirmed in the award letter.
The review committee will seek to identify a slate of projects up to our total available funding. However, as part of their review, they may recommend breaking up a proposed project scope into a more manageable size, with a decreased grant award, if the larger project is not fundable. The goal, though, is to fund the projects with the budgets submitted. We do not expect to leave any available grant funds unawarded.
There is a chance our budget negotiation process could prioritize a grant with a May start, but it is not guaranteed. Your best bet is to start your timelines in June/July.
Through the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network (Chesapeake Gateways), the Chesapeake Office of the National Park Service (NPS Chesapeake Gateways) administers a competitive grant opportunity to advance the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 within the full 41-million-acre Chesapeake Bay watershed.
NPS Chesapeake Gateways is advancing a bold new strategy to strengthen Chesapeake Gateways; gather and share the full diversity of Chesapeake stories; expand land conservation; provide equitable access to recreation, history, and nature; support local and working economies at a community level; and engage an inclusive and deep Chesapeake stewardship and resiliency movement benefitting all.
See the categories to the right for additional commonly asked questions regarding Chesapeake Gateways Grants.
Last updated: July 31, 2024