Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
🏛 National Park Service (DOI-NPS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for outdoor recreation and heritage tourism organizations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Applicants must be non-federal members of the Chesapeake Gateways Network (Places, Experiences, Communities, or Programmatic Partners). Eligible entities include nonprofits, government agencies, community organizations, and tourism boards operating within Chesapeake Bay watershed counties.
Projects must enhance outdoor recreation and cultural tourism that connects visitors and residents to the watershed. Activities include trail development, heritage site interpretation, museum programs, visitor facilities, and tourism marketing that demonstrate economic impact on gateway communities.
Only projects within the 64-county Chesapeake watershed qualify. Foreign entities and projects outside the United States are not eligible. Applicants and key personnel must not be listed in the SAM.gov Exclusions database.
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Program description
Goal: Encourage outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism that expands access to and awareness of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and fosters economic development of communities.ObjectivesNPS Chesapeake Gateways is offering this competitive grant opportunity to strengthen a community’s ability to offer or enhance outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism that connects visitors and residents to the Chesapeake Bay watershed as detailed in the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998.Through this grant opportunity, NPS Chesapeake Gateways will:Enhance outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural tourism in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.Support projects that link outdoor and heritage tourism to economic impact.Celebrate gateway communities that welcome and invite locals and visitors to explore authentic Chesapeake Gateways Places and stories through outdoor recreation and natural, historical, and cultural experiences.Grant ThemeChesapeake Gateways is a network of places that provide opportunities to explore outdoor recreation and authentic natural, historical, and cultural experiences of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Included in this network are diverse recreational, natural, cultural, historical, and recreational sites, trails, museums, parks, wildlife refuges, interpretive and orientation facilities, and associated programs. These places, and Chesapeake Gateways as a whole, serve as entry points and the key guide for experiencing the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Chesapeake Gateways Network membership confirmation
- Project narrative describing outdoor recreation or heritage tourism enhancement
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Letters of support from partners or community stakeholders
- Economic impact analysis or projections
Program contact
- 👤 National Park Service
- 📧 monica_marcus@ios.doi.gov
- 📞 202-697-2035
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.930 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,557,295
-
$418,481
-
$344,423
-
$215,500
-
$200,000
-
$181,809
-
$160,175
-
$159,897
-
$153,019
-
$150,000
Top States by Funding
- MD 28 awards $2.7M
- VA 18 awards $1.8M
- PA 7 awards $0.7M
- DC 4 awards $0.3M
- WV 2 awards $0.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.930). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $1,525,653 | |
| 2020 | $2,123,583 | |
| 2021 | $2,069,670 | |
| 2022 | $1,237,353 | |
| 2023 | $2,556,104 | |
| 2024 | $1,283,854 | |
| 2025 est. | $1,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $1,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Non-federal Chesapeake Gateways Network members. You must first self-nominate as a Place, Experience, Community, or Programmatic Partner through the network portal.
What geographic area is eligible?
Only projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed (64 counties across multiple states). Projects outside the watershed cannot be funded.
What types of activities are supported?
Outdoor recreation enhancements, heritage tourism development, trail creation, interpretive facilities, museum programs, and visitor experiences that connect people to the bay and generate economic benefits.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. This grant does not require matching funds or cost-sharing from applicants.
What is the funding range and when is the deadline?
Awards range from $10,000 to $50,000. The deadline is November 4, 2026 (fixed date).
💡 Tips for applicants
- Join the Chesapeake Gateways Network as a formal member before applying. Self-nomination is required and takes time—do this early.
- Focus your project on demonstrable economic benefits to your gateway community. NPS prioritizes tourism's role in community development.
- Emphasize how your project connects visitors and residents to authentic Chesapeake Bay experiences through outdoor recreation and heritage storytelling.
- Verify your location. Double-check that your project falls within one of the 64 eligible Chesapeake watershed counties using the provided map.
- Partner with other local organizations (parks, trails, museums, wildlife agencies). Strong coalitions show community buy-in and increase competitiveness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying outside the Chesapeake watershed boundary—always verify your county is included. Failing to join the Chesapeake Gateways Network before submitting; this is a hard requirement, not optional. Weak connection to economic development; proposals must clearly link tourism activities to community economic benefits.
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