To provide experiential, education, and employment program opportunities for youth of all ages (pre-K through early adult life, including students, associates, fellows, interns, members, and volunteers) to participate in conservation activities conducted by the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service and/or

credit: Upworthy

in collaboration with other Department of the Interior bureaus, e.g., Bureau of Lands Management, National Park Service, U.S.

Geological Survey; other federal agencies, i.e., Agriculture, Commerce, Corporation for National and Community Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and Labor; and non-Federal entities.

The intent of these education, career and leadership development programs is to engage, educate, and employ youth participants to fields of natural resources conservation.

A goal of these programs is to promote intra-agency and external partnership that support or enhance youth conservation initiatives and potential career and employment opportunities.

Fiscal Year 2012: Collectively these programs received 350 applications and issued 285 awards. Fiscal Year 2013: Collectively these programs anticipate receiving 400 applications and issuing 300 awards. Fiscal Year 2014: Collectively these programs anticipate receiving 400 applications and issuing 300 awards.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Recipients will use the assistance in rural and urban settings to fulfill the need for exposure of youth of all ages to nature and conservation; stewardship of our lands, waters and wildlife; as well as to enhance and sustain cultural heritage.

The intent of these education, career and leadership development programs is to engage, educate, and employ youth participants in the various fields of natural resources conservation - fisheries management, habitat restoration, invasive species, pollinators, marine biology, migratory birds, strategic planning and lands management - consistent with the Service s mission.

These activities and projects are conducted by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service often in collaboration with other Department of the Interior bureaus, e.g., Bureau of Lands Management, National Park Service, U. S. Geological Survey; other federal agencies, i.e., Agriculture, Commerce, Corporation for National and Community Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and Labor; and non-Federal entities.

Refer to Program Guidelines attached to the Application Package of the funding opportunity posted, as appropriate, to www.grants.gov.

Yes.

75 percent are discretionary funds.

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United Way of Washtenaw County Unveils Virtual Volunteer Center

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Comprehensive Job Training Benefits Youth with Autism

Child Care Federal Subsidies Imperiled by Government Shutdown

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants may be state agencies, local governments, Tribal organizations, interstate, Intrastate, public nonprofit institution/organization, other public institution/organization, private nonprofit/organization, or any other organization subject to the jurisdiction of the United States with interests that support the mission of the Service.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Applicants may be state agencies, local governments, Tribal organizations, interstate, Intrastate, public nonprofit institution/organization, other public institution/organization, private nonprofit/organization, or any other organization subject to the jurisdiction of the United States with interests that support the mission of the Service.

Credentials/Documentation

NONE. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Submit an Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424), Budget Narrative, and other standard forms as specified in the funding opportunity posted, as appropriate, to www.grants.gov.

Award Procedures

The program posting a funding opportunity to www.grants.gov, as appropriate, adheres to the award review, selection and award procedures described in its authorizing legislation.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Powers and Duties of the Secretary of the Interior (16 U.S.C. 460 Sec. 460l (lower case "L")-1(d) and (f); Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended by the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 742a-754j-2, as amended; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661); National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-360); National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997; National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 ( 16 U.S.C. 742j); Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, as amended 2005 (16 U.S.C. 1721-1726, P.L. 109-154); Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1972 (P.L. 93-408).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Refer to the Application Guidelines attached to the funding opportunity posted, as appropriate, to www.grants.gov.

Appeals

NONE.

Renewals

None. Recipients may request funding for a subsequent year/cycle of a currently funded project. However, these requests are subject to the same submission, review, and approval requirements as all new applications. This program will fund any approved renewal application as new award, not as an amendment to an existing award. Recipients may request approval for budget and project plan revisions of funded projects, including period of performance and reporting due date extensions, in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements. Refer to the Application Guidelines attached to the funding opportunity posted, as appropriate, to www.grants.gov.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Refer to the Application Guidelines attached to the funding opportunity posted, as appropriate, to www.grants.gov. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request awarded funds as needed and in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation/regulation or special award terms. Program will include any special award terms and conditions in the notice of award.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required.

No cash reports are required.

Recipients must submit a final performance report no later than 90 calendar days after the award end date.

Recipients of awards with performance periods longer than 12 months will be required to submit interim reports.

Program may require recipients to submit interim reports annually, semiannually, or quarterly.

Program will detail all performance reporting requirements, including frequency and due dates, in the notice of award letter.

Recipients must report expenditures using the SF 425, Federal Financial Report form.

Recipients must submit a final report no later than 90 calendar days after the award end date.

Recipients of awards with performance periods longer than 12 months will be required to submit interim reports.

Program may require recipients to submit interim reports annually, semiannually, or quarterly.

Program will detail all financial reporting requirements, including frequency and due dates, in the notice of award letter.

Recipients are responsible for monitoring performance for each award and sub-award under this program in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Recipients that are states and local governments will maintain records in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C (section 12.82). All other recipients will maintain records in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F (section 12.953). Program-specific legislation/regulation may dictation additional records retention requirements. Program will detail all non-standard records retention requirements in the notice of award.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1611-0-1-302; 14-1125-0-1-302.

Obigations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 12 $2,500,000; FY 13 est $4,000,000; and FY 14 est $4,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$750.00 - $200,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

43 CFR Part 12.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

Denise Wagner 4401 NORTH FAIRFAX DRIVE
, Arlington, Virginia 22203 Email: denise_wagner@fws.gov Phone: (405) 635-4784

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Criteria for selection vary and are dependent upon authorizing legislation and/or program-specific guidelines posted with the funding opportunity posted, as appropriate, on www.grants.gov.