To aid State and local governments, local communities, nonprofit organizations and the private sector in conserving, restoring and interpreting important historic, cultural, recreational and natural resources within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.

credit: Wikipedia

Examples of Funded Projects

Developed an 80 mile water trail on the Juniata River in Pennsylvania with a map and guide and 14 interpretive signs; an interpretive plan and new decoy exhibit for the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum; an interpretive exhibit on the working waterman at Smith Island; tidal wetland restoration with public involvement at the Blackwater NWR; interpretive map of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and its three major environments in a park at the National Aquarium in Baltimore; improving access to and interpretation of the Thomas Point Lighthouse; interpretive signage for city trail and development of stewardship messages in Baltimore; science education curriculum for grades 6 through high school at Pickering Creek Audubon Center; orientation video for the USS Constellation; interpretive signs and access to the Bay at Watermens Museum in Virginia.

Grants for this Program

• Enhancing the Capt. John Smith Chesapeake NHT in Lancaster and York Counties
• Widewater and Westmoreland State Parks’ Visitor Center CAJO Exhibits & Interpretive Trailhead Signage
• Enhanced Visitor Programs and Services at Pilot CAJO Visitor Contact
• CAJO Contact Point and Programming Initiative
• Partnership for Enhancing CAJO Visitor Experience at the Sultana Education Foundation’s Education Center in Chestertown, Maryland and Through Regional Educational and Public Programming

More Grants for this Program...

From 2000-2006 requests for grants totaled $10,092,487 and $7,226,291 in requests were funded, or 71 percent.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Gateways grants assist projects at designated Gateways in the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.

Only projects related to a currently designated Gateway are eligible for assistance.

Gateways can be sites, water trails, land trails, byways, regional information centers or hubs and are designated through a separate nomination process.

Information on the nomination process can be found at www.baygateways.net.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are limited to designated Gateways, their managing organizations or partners acting on their behalf including state and local governments and non-profit organizations.

Only projects related to a currently designated Gateway are eligible for assistance.

Gateways are designated through a separate nomination process.

Beneficiary Eligibility

General Public.

Credentials/Documentation

Applications may be submitted by managing organization for a designated Gateway or partners acting on behalf of a designated Gateway, including state and local governments and non-profit organizations.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None required, but it is suggested that applicants contact the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network program office and discuss the proposed project to aid in the applicants proposal process.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

The grant opportunity and SF 424 application package will be posted on www.grants.gov. Additional information can be found at the Chesapeake Bay Gateways network web site, www.baygateways.net. The application package includes information about the application process and project activities that may receive priority attention.

Award Procedures

The application request is reviewed by a panel made up of representatives of the Gateways Network Working Group and National Park Service (NPS) staff. The members independently review and rank each proposal, meet as a panel to discuss the proposals and recommend to the Superintendent, NPS Chesapeake Bay Program Office, proposals to be funded. The NPS makes the final decision on funding. Applicants selected for funding are then contacted regarding next steps.

Deadlines

For public information, deadlines are displayed at www.grants.gov and at the Gateways website, www.baygateways.net. The application deadline is typically set for May, June, or July.

Authorization

Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1993, Public Law 105-312, Section 501-2.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

It typically takes 45 to 60 days after the application deadline for selection and award or disapproval.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

None.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Per Public Law 105-312, Section 501 requested funds shall not exceed 50 percent (50 percent) of eligible project costs and shall be made on the condition that nonfederal sources, including inkind contributions of services or materials, provide the remainder of eligible project costs. This means that Federal funds must be matched by an equal or greater amount of nonfederal funds which may include in-kind contributions of services or materials including volunteer labor, cash or revenue sources dedicated to the same project. Applicants should read the grant program guidelines for details on the various kinds and qualifications of matching funds.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The project period is typically for a time period not to exceed 18 months.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

All Gateway projects and activities are monitored for progress and compliance with the use of Quarterly and Final Narrative Reports, a Financial Status Report and an SF 269.

Recipients are also required to submit an SF 270 for reimbursement payments.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and NonProfit Organizations, non-federal entities that receive 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

The recipient must maintain a complete, detailed accounting system to report expenditures of funds and accomplishments achieved under the award. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for 3 years after submission for final request for reimbursement.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1042-0-1-303.

Obigations

FY 07 $480,350; FY 08 est $550,000; and FY 09 est $600,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Awards range from $5,000 to $150,000. The average awards in past years are: FY 06 est $60,346.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Gateways grant guidelines, qualifications, and application instructions for applicants are all available for free on the Gateways program web site www.baygateways.net.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

John Maounis, Chesapeake Bay Program Office, NPS, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403. Telephone: (410) 267-5720, Fax: (410) 267-5777, E-mail: jmaounis@chesapeakebay.net.

Headquarters Office

Chrysandra Walter, Acting Regional Director, National Park Service, Northeast Region, 200 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106; Telephone: (215) 597-7013, Fax: (215) 597-0815, E-mail: chrysandra_walter@nps.gov. Program inquiries should be directed to Peggy Wall at peggy_wall@nps.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Grant proposals are reviewed by Gateways Network Working Group members and National Park Service staff. Proposals are evaluated on the basis of their: Contributions/measurable results toward established Gateways Network goals; Appropriateness to specific program priorities; Clarity of project objectives and deliverables, and the plans for sustaining them over time; Clarity and credibility of the projects scope of work, timeline and budget; importance in enhancing a Gateways effectiveness Consideration is given to project cost effectiveness, matching share and geographic distribution.