FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Youth Conservation Corps | L25AS00149

FAQs: FY25 IIJA/IRA BLM Idaho (ID) Youth Conservation Corps (Funding Opportunity Number L25AS00149)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for Idaho, using a cooperative agreement structure. It supports partnerships between BLM Idaho offices and qualified youth and conservation corps organizations authorized under the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC).

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is L25AS00149.

3) Who is offering and administering the award?

The awarding agency is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The opportunity is specific to BLM Idaho offices, with projects developed collaboratively with BLM staff (including the BLM State Youth Program Lead and District/Field Office project coordinators).

4) What is the main purpose of the program?

The core purpose is to put young people and eligible veterans to work (in paid positions) on real conservation and stewardship needs on BLM-managed public lands in Idaho, while building career pathways and practical skills in natural and cultural resources management through hands-on training and mentorship from BLM professionals.

5) What makes this a cooperative agreement rather than a typical grant?

Projects are intended to be developed collaboratively with BLM program leads and local office coordinators, reflecting active agency involvement in planning and implementation, which is characteristic of cooperative agreements.

6) Who is the program designed to serve (participant age ranges)?

The program targets participants ages 16 to 30 (inclusive), and veterans up to age 35 (inclusive). The notice explicitly includes tribal members.

7) Are veterans eligible, and is there a different age limit for them?

Yes. Veterans are eligible up to age 35 (inclusive).

8) Is the program focused on paid work or volunteer service?

A major emphasis is paid employment, along with hands-on training and mentorship so participants leave with workforce experience and stronger connections to public lands stewardship.

9) What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations and public entities capable of operating youth and conservation corps programs under the PLC framework. Eligible applicant types listed include:

• State, county, and local governments
• Special district governments
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Federally recognized tribal governments
• Other tribal organizations
• Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status)

10) Who is not eligible to apply?

Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible.

11) What legal authority or program authority is referenced for these awards?

The opportunity is grounded in the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC). It also highlights that youth corps applicants are expected to apply only for projects developed under CFDA 15.243 (BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands), which is identified as the appropriate authority and program channel for these awards.

12) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $250,000.

13) When was the opportunity posted and when does it close?

The posting (creation) date is 2024-11-21. The original closing date shown is 2025-02-03.

14) How many awards will be made?

The listing does not clearly state the number of expected awards. The intent described is to support multiple projects or partnerships that can place youth crews or interns into meaningful conservation roles across Idaho BLM units.

15) Where will the work take place?

Work is intended to occur on BLM-managed public lands in Idaho, in coordination with BLM Idaho offices (District and Field Offices).

16) What types of projects are eligible under this opportunity?

Supported projects are broad but centered on tangible public land improvements and stewardship outcomes. The notice includes recreation work, natural resource monitoring/field science, restoration and protection activities, planning and public education deliverables, and cultural and historic resource work.

17) What are examples of recreation-focused projects?

Examples include trail construction, trail maintenance and restoration, and upgrades to visitor facilities such as kiosks, campgrounds, and signage.

18) What are examples of natural resource monitoring and field science activities?

Examples include tracking riparian vegetation and hydrologic function, gathering soil and stream data, and timber stand improvement projects aimed at wildlife habitat and overall forest health.

19) What are examples of restoration and protection activities?

Examples include invasive species reduction, tree planting, fencing removal or installation, and riparian restoration.

20) Are planning and education deliverables allowed?

Yes. The opportunity supports planning and public education deliverables such as developing stewardship plans and visitor-facing educational materials.

21) What kinds of cultural and historic resource projects are eligible?

Supported cultural and historic resource activities can include resource inventories, archival and historical research, archaeological excavation or stabilization, oral history work, historic preservation, habitat surveys tied to cultural landscapes, and preservation of cultural resources such as historic structures.

22) Are projects related to wildfire risk reduction or post-disaster restoration included?

Yes. The opportunity includes seed collection to support restoration after natural disasters and efforts to reduce wildfire risk to communities and watersheds.

23) Are interpretive materials and public-facing programs eligible?

Yes. The notice includes creating interpretive materials and programs about natural, cultural, and paleontological resources.

24) Are internships allowed under this opportunity?

Yes, certain in-house projects like science, policy, or program internships are allowed, but they must clearly benefit natural or cultural resources.

25) Is there a minimum field-work requirement for internships supported by this funding?

Yes. Internships must include at least 120 hours of field work, to ensure participants gain direct, on-the-ground experience rather than only office-based exposure.

26) Does this opportunity connect to any national initiatives or priorities?

Yes. Proposed work is tied to national priorities under the American Climate Corps (ACC), meaning projects are expected to help advance climate resilience, stewardship, and community-focused conservation outcomes.

27) How does the opportunity address equity, inclusion, and tribal engagement?

Recruitment is expected to focus on local communities, prioritize engaging young and diverse participants, and explicitly includes tribal members. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate goals aligned with the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) initiative by doing outreach to Indian tribes and tribal-serving youth corps organizations. The notice highlights improving equitable access to conservation jobs and addressing racial inequity by expanding opportunities for qualified youth, including youth connected to federally recognized tribes and other tribal communities.

28) What is BLM looking for in terms of recruitment approach?

The notice states recruitment is expected to focus on local communities and to prioritize engaging young, diverse participants, positioning the program as both a conservation workforce initiative and a workforce diversification strategy.

29) What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?

The program is structured to deliver immediate, measurable stewardship outcomes on public lands while building a paid and trained pipeline of young conservation workers aligned with climate resilience, community benefit, hands-on training, and inclusive recruitment goals.

30) Do projects need to be developed with BLM, or can applicants propose fully independent projects?

The notice indicates projects are developed collaboratively with the BLM State Youth Program Lead and District/Field Office project coordinators, rather than being generic or fully independent proposals.