Opportunity Information: Apply for F23AS00069
F23AS00069, titled "Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment," is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) funding opportunity offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement (CFDA 15.676) within the Natural Resources category. The core idea is to support paid, structured work and learning experiences that put young people and veterans to work on real conservation and public lands projects, while also strengthening the pipeline into conservation and public service careers. This opportunity sits under the legal authority of the Public Lands Corps Act (16 USC 1721-1726, as amended, including the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005) and is framed as part of FWS efforts to build and retain a workforce that better reflects the diversity of the United States across culture, language, socioeconomic background, and lived experience.
A major emphasis of this NOFO is that it is tied to Justice40 (Executive Order 14008). FWS PLC programs are considered covered programs under Justice40, meaning the Service is working toward the federal goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments reach disadvantaged communities that are underserved, overburdened by pollution, or otherwise marginalized. The NOFO connects this work to broader national investment categories like climate and clean energy, clean transit, workforce development and training, pollution remediation, and clean water and wastewater infrastructure. In practice, applicants should expect that projects demonstrating clear benefits to underserved communities, equitable access to jobs and training, and inclusive recruitment and support structures will align strongly with the intent of the program.
The program being funded is not a generic youth grant. It specifically supports projects run through FWS Public Lands Corps (PLC) programs operating under the FWS Youth Corps umbrella (formerly the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps). The target participant group is youth ages 16 to 30, with eligibility extended up to age 35 for veterans. Participants work on public lands in areas such as natural and cultural resource conservation, habitat improvement, restoration, scientific research support, and public education. A key feature is that qualifying PLC participants may earn a Public Lands Corps non-competitive hiring authority, typically valid for up to two years, which can give them a meaningful advantage when applying for certain federal jobs they are otherwise qualified for. The NOFO also notes that PLC participation can allow individuals to seek forbearance on Stafford loans, which is relevant for participants managing student debt.
This NOFO is explicit about partnership structure and eligibility. The funding is meant to support collaborative projects that have already been developed between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and an existing, designated FWS Youth Corps member organization (generally a "qualified youth or conservation corps"). The notice is not intended to create brand-new partnerships. Unsolicited applications, or proposals that are not collaboratively developed with an existing FWS Youth Corps member and FWS, are considered ineligible and will be returned. Because of that, one of the most important practical steps is early coordination: prospective applicants are directed to consult with a local FWS office before developing or submitting an application. The cooperative agreement format also signals that FWS expects substantial involvement in project design, oversight, technical guidance, or shared implementation rather than a hands-off pass-through grant.
The opportunity is designed to help FWS accomplish conservation work in a cost-effective way on eligible lands, especially projects that would not otherwise be performed by existing government employees. At the same time, it aims to deliver participant-focused outcomes: exposure to public service, hands-on skill-building, increased understanding of natural and cultural resources, and a stronger interest in conservation careers. Beyond individual benefits, the program also supports governments and Tribes by enabling research and public education work connected to natural and cultural resources, which can expand local capacity and strengthen community relationships with public lands.
Several example program models are described to show the kinds of activities that may be supported under the PLC umbrella. The Public Lands Transportation Fellows Program places transportation-related fellows (often recent graduates or sometimes current students) into federal land units to work on visitor transportation challenges, such as planning, implementation, and alternative transportation solutions that protect resources and improve visitor experience. The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is described as a summer employment program, typically 8 to 10 weeks, generally non-residential, paying at least minimum wage for a 40-hour week, and focused on meaningful stewardship work that builds environmental ethic and civic responsibility. The Career Discovery Internship Program (CDIP), built with the Student Conservation Association, is aimed at introducing culturally and ethnically diverse college freshmen and sophomores to conservation careers through paid internships, field station placements, mentoring by Service staff, and a structured orientation with training on topics like cultural awareness and practical conservation challenges.
The NOFO also highlights newer or expanding pathways, including the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC), which is specifically designed to benefit Tribal members through conservation crews, resource assistant roles, and apprenticeships, while expanding education and job training opportunities and increasing exposure to conservation careers. Another area described is the FWS Fire Management Program focus on fuels work and project leadership, with expectations like providing sufficient work to employ a crew module for multiple months, ensuring safety and quality control, and offering educational opportunities about refuge management, ecology, and wildland fire. In addition to non-competitive hiring authority pathways, the notice references direct-hire style pipelines such as the Directorate Fellows Program (DFP), connected to the Department of the Interior Resources Assistant Internship Program framework, emphasizing targeted recruitment and rigorous internships (minimum 11 weeks) to help diversify and strengthen entry-level hiring pipelines into science and natural resource careers.
Eligibility for applicants is broad in the sense that many entity types can apply, including state, county, city or township governments, special districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Tribes, Tribal organizations, and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status. The practical limitation, though, is that applicants must be positioned within the existing FWS Youth Corps partnership ecosystem, because only designated member organizations can certify participants for PLC purposes. The notice also mentions that other eligible organization types may include 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(5) organizations such as labor unions or neighborhood associations, particularly those that reach or represent underserved communities, as long as they meet the PLC-related eligibility and membership requirements laid out in the attachments.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity number is F23AS00069, the agency is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, and the listed award ceiling is $2,000,000. The original closing date shown in the source data is September 10, 2023, and the opportunity was created November 7, 2022. Applicants are repeatedly encouraged to coordinate early with local FWS contacts and to submit projects through the specified submission system (the notice references GrantSolutions for certain regionally run YCC financial assistance submissions). Overall, the grant is best understood as a workforce development and conservation delivery mechanism at the same time: it funds on-the-ground stewardship and research capacity for FWS while creating paid, mentored, career-launching experiences for young people and veterans, with a strong equity and Justice40 lens guiding who benefits and how those benefits are delivered.Apply for F23AS00069
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F23AS00069 Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.676.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-11-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-10. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): F23AS00069 - Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment (FWS Public Lands Corps)
What is funding opportunity F23AS00069?
F23AS00069 is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) funding opportunity titled "Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment." It is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement (CFDA 15.676) in the Natural Resources category. The focus is on paid, structured work and learning experiences that place youth and veterans on real conservation and public lands projects while strengthening career pathways into conservation and public service.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The purpose is twofold: (1) complete needed conservation and public lands work in a cost-effective way on eligible lands, especially work that would not otherwise be performed by existing government employees, and (2) deliver participant outcomes such as hands-on skill-building, exposure to public service, deeper understanding of natural and cultural resources, and increased interest in conservation careers.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the awarding agency.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement. That signals substantial involvement by FWS in the project (for example: project design, oversight, technical guidance, or shared implementation), rather than a hands-off, pass-through grant.
What is the legal authority for the program?
The opportunity is offered under the Public Lands Corps Act (16 USC 1721-1726, as amended, including the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005).
Is this a general youth workforce grant?
No. The funding specifically supports projects run through FWS Public Lands Corps (PLC) programs operating under the FWS Youth Corps umbrella (formerly the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps). Projects are expected to align with PLC/YCC/CDIP/IYSC and related FWS Youth Corps models described in the notice.
Who can participate in the funded projects?
The target participant group is youth ages 16 to 30. Eligibility is extended up to age 35 for veterans.
What types of activities can participants work on?
Participants work on public lands projects such as natural and cultural resource conservation, habitat improvement, restoration, support for scientific research, and public education. The notice also describes specialized models that may be supported, such as transportation fellows placements, youth summer conservation crews, career discovery internships, Tribal-focused conservation pathways, and fuels/fire-related work.
What are examples of program models mentioned in the notice?
The notice describes several example PLC-related models, including:
- Public Lands Transportation Fellows Program: places fellows into federal land units to address visitor transportation challenges (planning, implementation, alternative transportation solutions that protect resources and improve visitor experience).
- Youth Conservation Corps (YCC): typically a summer program (often 8 to 10 weeks), generally non-residential, paying at least minimum wage for a 40-hour week, focused on meaningful stewardship work.
- Career Discovery Internship Program (CDIP): paid internships (with the Student Conservation Association) aimed at introducing culturally and ethnically diverse college freshmen and sophomores to conservation careers via placements, mentoring, and structured orientation/training.
- Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC): designed to benefit Tribal members through conservation crews, resource assistant roles, and apprenticeships, expanding education and job training opportunities.
- Fire Management / Fuels focus: fuels work and project leadership, including employing crew modules for multiple months, ensuring safety and quality control, and providing education about refuge management, ecology, and wildland fire.
- Directorate Fellows Program (DFP): a pipeline-style model aligned with the DOI Resources Assistant Internship framework, with targeted recruitment and rigorous internships (minimum 11 weeks) to strengthen and diversify entry-level hiring pipelines.
What is Justice40 and how does it relate to this opportunity?
The notice states this opportunity is tied to Justice40 (Executive Order 14008). FWS PLC programs are treated as covered programs under Justice40, meaning FWS is working toward the federal goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments reach disadvantaged communities that are underserved, overburdened by pollution, or otherwise marginalized.
What kinds of project characteristics align with the Justice40 emphasis?
Based on the notice framing, projects that demonstrate clear benefits to underserved communities, equitable access to jobs and training, and inclusive recruitment and support structures are described as strongly aligned with program intent.
What broader investment categories does the notice connect to Justice40?
The notice links this work to broader national investment categories such as climate and clean energy, clean transit, workforce development and training, pollution remediation, and clean water and wastewater infrastructure.
What are the workforce diversity goals described in the notice?
The notice frames the opportunity as part of FWS efforts to build and retain a workforce that better reflects the diversity of the United States across culture, language, socioeconomic background, and lived experience.
Can participants receive a hiring advantage after completing qualifying service?
Yes. The notice explains that qualifying PLC participants may earn a Public Lands Corps non-competitive hiring authority, typically valid for up to two years, which can provide an advantage when applying for certain federal jobs for which the individual is otherwise qualified.
Does the notice mention any student loan-related benefit for participants?
Yes. The notice states PLC participation can allow individuals to seek forbearance on Stafford loans.
Who is eligible to apply as an organization?
The notice lists a wide range of eligible applicant types, including state, county, city or township governments; special districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribes; Tribal organizations; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status. The notice also mentions that other eligible organization types may include 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(5) organizations (such as labor unions or neighborhood associations), particularly those that reach or represent underserved communities.
If many entities are eligible, what is the biggest practical eligibility limitation?
The notice is explicit that projects must be collaboratively developed between FWS and an existing, designated FWS Youth Corps member organization (generally a qualified youth or conservation corps). This opportunity is not intended to create brand-new partnerships, and only designated member organizations can certify participants for PLC purposes.
Are unsolicited applications allowed?
No. The notice states unsolicited applications, or proposals not collaboratively developed with an existing FWS Youth Corps member and FWS, are ineligible and will be returned.
What should prospective applicants do before developing or submitting an application?
The notice directs prospective applicants to coordinate early by consulting with a local FWS office before developing or submitting an application.
What kinds of partnerships does the notice expect?
The funding is meant to support collaborative projects that have already been developed between FWS and an existing, designated FWS Youth Corps member organization. The cooperative agreement structure indicates FWS will be substantially involved rather than acting only as a funder.
How does the opportunity benefit FWS and public lands?
The notice describes the program as a way for FWS to accomplish conservation work on eligible lands in a cost-effective manner, particularly work that would not otherwise be done by existing government employees. Supported work can include stewardship, restoration, research support, and public education activities.
How does the opportunity benefit communities, governments, and Tribes?
The notice states the program supports governments and Tribes by enabling research and public education related to natural and cultural resources, which can expand local capacity and strengthen community relationships with public lands.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $2,000,000.
What is the CFDA number and category associated with this opportunity?
The notice identifies CFDA 15.676 and places the opportunity within the Natural Resources category.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close (per the source information provided)?
The opportunity was created on November 7, 2022. The original closing date shown is September 10, 2023.
Where does the notice say applications may be submitted?
The notice references submitting projects through the specified submission system and mentions GrantSolutions for certain regionally run Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) financial assistance submissions.
What is the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) schedule and pay structure described?
The notice describes YCC as typically a summer employment program lasting about 8 to 10 weeks, generally non-residential, paying at least minimum wage for a 40-hour work week, and focused on meaningful stewardship work that builds environmental ethic and civic responsibility.
What does the notice say about internship length for the Directorate Fellows Program model?
The notice describes DFP as emphasizing rigorous internships with a minimum duration of 11 weeks, as part of a targeted recruitment and pipeline approach for entry-level hiring into science and natural resource careers.
What expectations are described for fire/fuels-focused projects?
The notice describes expectations such as providing enough work to employ a crew module for multiple months, ensuring safety and quality control, and offering educational opportunities related to refuge management, ecology, and wildland fire.
Is early coordination with FWS optional or required?
Given the notice language that only collaboratively developed projects with existing designated Youth Corps member organizations are eligible (and unsolicited proposals are ineligible), early coordination with a local FWS office is presented as a critical step to ensure the project is eligible and aligned before submission.
What makes a participant "qualifying" for PLC non-competitive hiring authority?
The notice states that qualifying PLC participants may earn the non-competitive hiring authority, but it does not provide detailed qualification criteria in the information provided here. It does note that participant certification for PLC purposes is tied to designated FWS Youth Corps member organizations.
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