Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00017
The "Local Youth Employment in Southern Arizona" grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00017) is a discretionary National Park Service funding initiative designed to create paid internship and employment pathways for youth in Tucson and nearby communities. The program is rooted in a community-focused goal of alleviating poverty by connecting young people to paid, career-building experiences tied to public lands, conservation, and the practical work of managing national park resources. A central emphasis is expanding access for youth from under-represented areas of Tucson, especially those who may not typically see park management, conservation, or public land careers as realistic or welcoming options.
The core activity supported by this opportunity is the recruitment and placement of youth interns who will work directly alongside National Park Service staff across a wide range of park operations. Rather than limiting participants to a narrow job function, the internships are intended to expose youth to "all areas of park management," allowing them to build marketable skills and a clearer understanding of professional roles within the public lands sector. This experience is meant to translate into long-term benefits for participants, whether they pursue continued education, entry-level employment, or longer career tracks related to natural resources, recreation management, interpretation, maintenance, resource protection, or other park-related fields.
Beyond on-the-job learning, the program is structured to provide participants with professional development and essential life skills training. The description specifically calls out resume building and public speaking, which are practical tools that help interns compete for future jobs and scholarships. It also highlights community engagement, suggesting that interns will practice interacting with the public and local partners, and conservation projects on public lands in Southern Arizona, indicating hands-on work that contributes to real stewardship outcomes. In addition, the opportunity includes exposure to outdoor recreation and experiences in other national parks in Arizona, which broadens participants perspectives on the range of park settings and can help build enthusiasm and confidence in navigating outdoor and professional environments.
From an administrative standpoint, funding is offered through a Cooperative Agreement under the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, within the Natural Resources activity category and CFDA number 15.954. The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $35,000 and anticipated making one award. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and city or township governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public or Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category). The posting shows a creation date of December 1, 2016, with an original closing date of January 5, 2017, placing it as a time-limited competition intended to quickly stand up a local youth internship effort in Southern Arizona.
Overall, the grant is best understood as a community-based workforce development and conservation engagement project: it funds a local partner or partners to recruit youth, place them in paid internships connected to National Park Service operations, and provide a blend of job experience, mentorship, and career-readiness training, while also increasing equitable access to public land careers and outdoor experiences for youth from historically under-served parts of Tucson.Apply for P17AS00017
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Local Youth Employment in Southern Arizona" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 01, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 05, 2017. (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 $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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.
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Local Youth Employment in Southern Arizona (P17AS00017) - FAQs
What is the "Local Youth Employment in Southern Arizona" grant?
It is a discretionary National Park Service (NPS) funding opportunity intended to create paid internship and employment pathways for youth in Tucson and nearby Southern Arizona communities. The program is community-focused and aims to alleviate poverty by connecting young people to paid, career-building experiences tied to public lands, conservation, and national park operations.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P17AS00017.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).
What type of award is this?
Funding is provided through a Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates active involvement by the federal partner (here, NPS) in the supported project activities.
What is the CFDA number and activity category listed for the opportunity?
The opportunity lists CFDA number 15.954 and places the work in the Natural Resources activity category.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The core goal is to recruit and place youth in paid internships where they work alongside NPS staff across a broad range of park operations. The program is designed to expand access to conservation and public lands careers, particularly for youth from under-represented areas of Tucson who may not typically view these fields as welcoming or realistic options.
Where is the program intended to operate?
The program focuses on Tucson and nearby communities in Southern Arizona, with work connected to public lands and national park resources in the region.
Who is the program meant to serve?
The program targets youth in Tucson and surrounding communities, with a central emphasis on expanding access for youth from under-represented areas of Tucson and those who may not typically see park management, conservation, or public land careers as viable pathways.
What activities does the grant support?
The grant supports recruiting youth interns and placing them to work directly alongside NPS staff. It also supports professional development and essential life skills training, community engagement, conservation projects on public lands in Southern Arizona, and exposure to outdoor recreation and experiences in other national parks in Arizona.
What kind of work will youth interns do?
Internships are intended to expose participants to "all areas of park management" rather than a single narrow job function. The description points to hands-on park operations and stewardship-related tasks connected to managing national park resources and conservation projects on public lands.
Does the program limit interns to one park job area?
No. The opportunity emphasizes broad exposure to all areas of park management to help interns build marketable skills and understand the variety of professional roles within the public lands sector.
What career fields or park functions might interns learn about through this program?
The description indicates exposure that can support future paths related to natural resources, recreation management, interpretation, maintenance, resource protection, and other park-related fields.
Is the experience intended to lead to long-term benefits for participants?
Yes. The internship experience is described as building marketable skills and clearer understanding of public lands careers, with intended long-term benefits whether participants pursue continued education, entry-level work, or longer career tracks in park- and conservation-related fields.
What professional development components are included?
The opportunity specifically calls out resume building and public speaking, along with community engagement. These components are meant to strengthen career readiness and help interns compete for future jobs and scholarships.
Does the program include community engagement?
Yes. Community engagement is explicitly highlighted, suggesting interns will practice interacting with the public and local partners as part of their development and project work.
Are conservation projects part of the program?
Yes. The program includes conservation projects on public lands in Southern Arizona, indicating hands-on work that supports real stewardship outcomes.
Does the program include outdoor recreation or travel to other parks?
Yes. The opportunity includes exposure to outdoor recreation and experiences in other national parks in Arizona, intended to broaden participants perspectives on park settings and build confidence in outdoor and professional environments.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $35,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making one award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are broad and include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Other tribal organizations
- Public or Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (with the note that this category is eligible as long as the applicant is not an institution of higher education within that nonprofit category)
Is this a competitive, time-limited funding opportunity?
Yes. The posting reflects a time-limited competition intended to quickly establish a local youth internship effort in Southern Arizona.
What were the key dates listed for the opportunity?
The posting shows a creation date of December 1, 2016, with an original closing date of January 5, 2017.
What is the overall approach or model of the project?
It is best described as a community-based workforce development and conservation engagement project. It funds a local partner (or partners) to recruit youth, place them in paid internships connected to NPS operations, and deliver a blend of job experience, mentorship, and career-readiness training while expanding equitable access to public land careers and outdoor experiences.
How does the program address equity and access?
A central emphasis is expanding access for youth from under-represented areas of Tucson, especially those who may not typically see conservation, park management, or public land careers as realistic or welcoming.
What makes this opportunity different from a standard job placement program?
The program is structured around paid placements that directly connect youth to NPS staff and real park operations, paired with specific career-readiness training (such as resume building and public speaking), community engagement, conservation projects, and exposure to outdoor recreation and other Arizona national parks.
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