Deferred Maintenance at New Mexico NPS Units using American S | P19AS00095

Opportunity Information: Apply for P19AS00095

The grant opportunity titled "Deferred Maintenance at New Mexico NPS Units using American S" (Funding Opportunity Number P19AS00095) was a National Park Service cooperative agreement designed to complete deferred maintenance work at National Park Service units in New Mexico while expanding paid conservation corps opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth. Issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, the program focused on combining hands-on natural and cultural resource stewardship with workforce development, using American Sign Language (ASL) as a central accessibility and inclusion feature.

The core project was to be led by Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in partnership with two educational institutions serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing students: the New Mexico School for the Deaf in Santa Fe and the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy in Albuquerque. Between June and August 2019, the project planned to hire 12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth participants along with four youth leaders, forming two ASL inclusion conservation crews, one crew based in Santa Fe and the other in Albuquerque. Across a cumulative 10 weeks of work, these crews were expected to carry out priority deferred maintenance tasks at local NPS units. The on-the-ground work was described as including, but not limited to, trail restoration, historic structure conservation, and fencing projects, all of which directly support upkeep and safety needs within park infrastructure and resources.

Beyond the work crews themselves, the project also aimed to engage the broader Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in New Mexico through additional programming hosted at an NPS unit and facilitated by Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. This community-facing component emphasized building stronger connections between the National Park Service and communities that are often underrepresented in conservation and public lands careers, while also encouraging shared stewardship and public participation in park resources.

The stated public purpose centered on the government objective of providing youth with environmental education and practical job skills through paid, supervised work in national parks. A major rationale for targeting Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants was the persistent barrier this community can face in accessing employment opportunities; the program positioned the crews as a pathway to professional development, job readiness, and real-world experience in conservation and maintenance fields. At the same time, the National Park Service would benefit from the completion of critical maintenance and conservation projects that help address deferred maintenance backlogs and protect park assets.

This opportunity aligned with several Department of the Interior priorities. It supported "Creating Jobs in the American Economy" by providing paid employment and leadership roles for a population that often experiences employment gaps. It supported "Supporting DOI Infrastructure Needs" by focusing the majority of project time on deferred maintenance work whenever possible. It also advanced the priority of being a better neighbor to communities closest to public lands by improving dialogue, relationships, and engagement with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community and nearby rural New Mexican communities.

Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, reflecting an expectation of active involvement or partnership between the agency and the award recipient. The funding activity categories were listed as Employment, Labor and Training and Natural Resources, under CFDA number 15.931. Eligible applicants were limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. The opportunity was created on April 8, 2019, with an original closing date of April 17, 2019. The award ceiling was $60,000, and the National Park Service anticipated making one award.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the employment, labor and training, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Deferred Maintenance at New Mexico NPS Units using American S" 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 Apr 08, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2019. (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 $60,000.00 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.

Apply for P19AS00095

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