The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management is seeking applications for its Montana/Dakotas Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands program to provide employment for participants and opportunities to learn about and gain work experience in public lands and natural resources management while promoting long-term interest in public lands stewardship and the BLM.

The Montana/Dakotas Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices have collaborated with Qualified Youth and Conservation Corps, as authorized by the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC), to accomplish conservation projects for numerous years.

The BLM Youth Program partners with qualified youth and conservation corps to engage individuals between the ages of 16 and 30 (inclusive) and veterans up to age 35 (inclusive) including tribal members. Young people are recruited from local communities to assist with conservation projects that protect and promote multiple-use on public lands.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Funding: $ 320,000
• Maximum Award: $ 100,000
• Minimum Award: $ 5,000

Program Outcomes

• Expose young people to public service, furthering their understanding and appreciation of the nation’s natural and cultural resources, while implementing Secretarial Orders and priorities.
• Stimulate interest in conservation careers by working with BLM conservation professionals and providing qualified conservation projects that will allow corps members to be certified for two year noncompetitive hiring status upon completion of the projects and 640 hours.
• Promote job creation to strengthen America’s economy and foster relationships with organizations advocating for balanced stewardship and use of public lands.
• Promote and stimulate public purposes by providing education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, and productive community involvement in the care and enhancement of natural and cultural resources.
• Assist qualified conservation corps to enhance and maintain public lands and waters by engaging youth in conserving or developing natural and cultural resources.
• Engage young people within the local area or within the states to provide opportunities to stimulate interest in conservation activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Applicants:      
  • Special district governments
  • City or township governments
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Independent school districts
  • County governments
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • State governments
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Additional Information on Eligibility:
  • This opportunity is open to any qualified youth conservation corps established by a state or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a qualified nonprofit organization interested in working cooperatively with the BLM to develop and administer multiple-use conservation projects. Conservation projects must focus on providing employment, education, and public-service opportunities for U.S. citizens and legal residents (between ages 16 and 30 inclusive and veterans up to age 35 inclusive) recruited from local and surrounding communities to assist with projects on public lands.
  • No other entities are eligible to respond. All responding non-profit entities must provide a copy of their Section 501(c) (3) status determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service.
  • The term "qualified youth or conservation corps" means any program established by a state or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a nonprofit organization that:
    • Is capable of offering meaningful, fulltime, productive work for individuals between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, and veterans up to age 35 in a natural or cultural resource setting;
    • Provides participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support BLM’s mission; and
    • Provides participants opportunities to develop life skills and work ethics through their work on BLM lands that transfer to their community and the United States.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.