Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
About This Grant
Goal: Encourage outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism that expands access to and awareness of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and fosters economic development of communities.ObjectivesNPS Chesapeake Gateways is offering this competitive grant opportunity to strengthen a community's ability to offer or enhance outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism that connects visitors and residents to the Chesapeake Bay watershed as detailed in the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998.Through this grant opportunity, NPS Chesapeake Gateways will:Enhance outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.Support projects that link outdoor and heritage tourism to economic impact.Celebrate gateway communities that welcome and invite locals and visitors to explore authentic Chesapeake Gateways Places and stories through outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural experiences.Grant ThemeChesapeake Gateways is a network of places that provide opportunities to explore outdoor recreation and authentic natural, historical, and cultural experiences of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Included in this network are diverse recreational, natural, cultural, historical, and recreational sites, trails, museums, parks, wildlife refuges, interpretive and orientation facilities, and associated programs. These places, and Chesapeake Gateways as a whole, serve as entry points and the key guide for experiencing the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Grant Summary
Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed is a National Park Service grant providing $10K to $50K for university, small business, nonprofit. Applications are due 2026-11-04 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
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Focus Areas
Eligibility
- PLEASE NOTE: Projects that take place outside the watershed are not eligible for consideration. A link to all the counties in the watershed can be found in Appendix A. A full map can be found here.Chesapeake Gateways Network Requirement: The applicant must be a non-federal Chesapeake Gateways Network member (Place, Experience, Community, or Programmatic Partner). To become a Chesapeake Gateways Network member, prospective applicants need to submit a self-nomination through the Chesapeake Gateways Network portal: Join the Chesapeake Gateways Network - Chesapeake Bay Watershed (U.S. National Park Service). Foreign Entities or Projects: This program does not provide funding to foreign entities or for projects conducted outside the United States.Excluded Parties:NPS conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The NPS cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.
How to Apply
$10K–$50K
2026-11-04
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed from National Park Service, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to National Park Service before the deadline.
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Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed?
Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed is offered by National Park Service and is generally open to university, small business, nonprofit, tribal government, school district, municipality. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed provide?
Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed provides between $10K and $50K per award from National Park Service. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed deadline?
Applications for Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are due 2026-11-04 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, National Park Service, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed?
To apply for Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from National Park Service.