Opportunity Information: Apply for P21AS00222
The LWCF State Assistance Formula Grants - Construction - FY21 Cycle I opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P21AS00222, CFDA 15.916) is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary grant program under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, originally created in 1964. The core purpose is to help preserve, develop, and ensure public access to outdoor recreation resources so communities have the kinds of parks and facilities needed for active recreation and overall public health and well-being. In practice, this funding supports projects that either acquire land and water for public parks and outdoor recreation or develop new facilities and renovate existing ones, strengthening the long-term availability and quality of recreation opportunities for residents and visitors.
This cycle emphasizes construction and development-type activities that expand or improve public outdoor recreation amenities. Eligible project types are broad and can include community parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, campgrounds, trails, swimming pools, and sports fields, along with certain supportive indoor infrastructure that directly serves outdoor recreation users, such as restroom buildings. A key condition is that funded sites and facilities must be publicly owned and open to the general public; they cannot be restricted to exclusive memberships or limited to special groups. The overall intent is to ensure that improvements funded through LWCF provide lasting, widely accessible recreation benefits.
Eligibility and the application pathway are structured around state administration. Only the official LWCF state lead agency is allowed to submit an application to NPS under this announcement, as required by federal statute (54 U.S.C. 200305(a)). Applications submitted by any other entity are automatically eliminated, even if the project itself would otherwise be eligible. In this context, "State" includes not only the 50 states but also American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While only the state lead agency can apply directly to NPS, awarded funds may be sub-awarded by the state to other eligible partners, including other state or territorial agencies, local units of government, and Indian tribes. The definition of local political subdivisions is expansive and covers entities such as counties, municipalities, towns and townships, parishes, school districts, special districts (including park districts), local public authorities, councils of governments, and similar local or regional governmental bodies.
Nonprofits, individuals, and private organizations are generally not eligible applicants for these funds. However, the program allows limited exceptions where a nonprofit is publicly chartered under state or local law to serve a clear public purpose, such as managing a park or park district. Another important threshold requirement is that a state must have a current, NPS-approved Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The SCORP functions as the statewide blueprint for outdoor recreation priorities, and proposed projects are expected to align with those identified needs and goals.
The selection process starts at the state or territory level, not with NPS. Interested communities, agencies, and tribes must contact their state LWCF lead agency to learn about available funding, timelines, state-specific priorities, and the criteria used to score and rank projects. States run their own competitive selection process, typically guided by an Open Project Selection Process, to identify proposals that best address the priorities documented in the SCORP. The state lead agency screens proposals for basic completeness and eligibility, evaluates them for consistency with SCORP priorities, ranks them, and then submits the top projects (within the amount of funding available to the state) to NPS. NPS then conducts its review and makes the final award decisions, but the initial gatekeeping and project nomination are state-driven.
Once an award is made, NPS issues the grant to the state lead agency, which serves as the primary grantee and is responsible for ensuring funds are used correctly and in compliance with LWCF requirements. If the state sub-awards funds to a local government or tribe, the state still retains oversight responsibility for day-to-day grant implementation and for ensuring the project complies with the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual, along with other applicable federal requirements. The state lead agency is also accountable for monitoring performance and ensuring the project’s intended recreation outcomes are achieved.
For basic opportunity details, this FY21 Cycle I announcement was created on March 29, 2021, had an original closing date of April 30, 2021, listed an award ceiling of up to $5,000,000, and identifies state governments as the eligible direct applicants because the NPS can only award directly to the state lead agency under LWCF. The practical takeaway for prospective project sponsors is that the correct first step is to work through the state LWCF lead agency (contact list provided by NPS) and compete in the state’s selection process rather than applying directly to NPS.Apply for P21AS00222
- The National Park Service in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "LWCF State Assistance Formula Grants - Construction - FY21 Cycle I" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.916.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-30. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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FAQs: LWCF State Assistance Formula Grants - Construction - FY21 Cycle I (NPS)
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the LWCF State Assistance Formula Grants - Construction - FY21 Cycle I, a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary grant program under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program. The LWCF program was originally created in 1964 to help preserve, develop, and ensure public access to outdoor recreation resources.
What is the main purpose of the LWCF program in this announcement?
The core purpose is to support parks and outdoor recreation resources that communities need for active recreation and broader public health and well-being. In practice, the funding supports acquiring land and water for public recreation and developing new recreation facilities or renovating existing ones to strengthen long-term public recreation opportunities.
What types of projects does FY21 Cycle I emphasize?
This cycle emphasizes construction and development-type activities that expand or improve public outdoor recreation amenities. It focuses on developing new facilities and renovating existing recreation infrastructure that serves the public.
What are examples of eligible project types?
Eligible project types are broad and can include community parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, campgrounds, trails, swimming pools, and sports fields. Certain supportive indoor infrastructure may also be eligible when it directly serves outdoor recreation users, such as restroom buildings.
Are funded sites required to be publicly owned and open to everyone?
Yes. A key condition is that funded sites and facilities must be publicly owned and open to the general public. They cannot be restricted to exclusive memberships or limited to special groups. The intent is to ensure lasting, widely accessible public recreation benefits.
Who is allowed to submit an application to NPS under this announcement?
Only the official LWCF state lead agency is allowed to submit an application to NPS under this announcement, as required by federal statute (54 U.S.C. 200305(a)). Applications submitted by any other entity are automatically eliminated, even if the project itself would otherwise be eligible.
If a city, county, or tribe has a good project, can they apply directly to NPS?
No. Interested communities, agencies, and tribes must work through their state LWCF lead agency. The state runs its own selection process and submits selected projects to NPS. The practical first step is contacting the state lead agency rather than applying to NPS.
What does "State" mean for purposes of eligibility in this program?
In this context, "State" includes the 50 states as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Can the state pass funds to other entities after an award is made?
Yes. While only the state lead agency can apply directly to NPS, awarded funds may be sub-awarded by the state to other eligible partners, including other state or territorial agencies, local units of government, and Indian tribes.
What kinds of local governments count as eligible partners for sub-awards?
The definition of local political subdivisions is expansive and includes entities such as counties, municipalities, towns and townships, parishes, school districts, special districts (including park districts), local public authorities, councils of governments, and similar local or regional governmental bodies.
Are nonprofits eligible applicants?
Nonprofits, individuals, and private organizations are generally not eligible applicants for these funds. The program allows limited exceptions where a nonprofit is publicly chartered under state or local law to serve a clear public purpose, such as managing a park or park district.
Are individuals or private organizations eligible to apply?
No. Individuals and private organizations are generally not eligible applicants for this funding under the information provided.
Is a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) required?
Yes. A state must have a current, NPS-approved Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The SCORP serves as the statewide blueprint for outdoor recreation priorities, and proposed projects are expected to align with the needs and goals identified in the SCORP.
How does the selection process work?
The selection process starts at the state or territory level. Interested sponsors contact their state LWCF lead agency to learn about funding availability, timelines, state-specific priorities, and scoring and ranking criteria. States use their own competitive selection process (typically guided by an Open Project Selection Process) to identify proposals that best address SCORP priorities. The state screens proposals, evaluates them for SCORP consistency, ranks them, and submits top projects (within available state funding) to NPS. NPS then reviews the submissions and makes final award decisions.
Does NPS select projects directly from local applicants?
No. NPS makes final award decisions after reviewing projects submitted by the state lead agency, but the initial gatekeeping, competition, and project nomination are state-driven.
Who receives the grant award from NPS?
NPS issues the grant to the state LWCF lead agency, which serves as the primary grantee.
If a local government or tribe receives a sub-award, who oversees compliance?
The state lead agency retains oversight responsibility for day-to-day grant implementation and for ensuring the project complies with LWCF requirements, including the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual, along with other applicable federal requirements. The state is also accountable for monitoring performance and ensuring intended recreation outcomes are achieved.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P21AS00222 and the CFDA number is 15.916.
When was this FY21 Cycle I announcement created and when did it close?
This announcement was created on March 29, 2021, and had an original closing date of April 30, 2021.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The announcement lists an award ceiling of up to $5,000,000.
What is the recommended first step for a prospective project sponsor?
The recommended first step is to work through the state LWCF lead agency (using the NPS contact list) and compete in the state selection process, rather than attempting to apply directly to NPS.
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