Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment

YEEEP
CFDA 15.676 Active Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$28M FY2026
$9.8M
FY19
$15.3M
FY20
$17M
FY21
$17.6M
FY22
$28.7M
FY23
$24M
FY24
$26M
FY25*
$28M
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2024 Placed 347 Public Lands Corps Act participants resulting in 261,450 hours of creditable public service hours.
FY2025 Place 300 Public Lands Corps Act participants resulting in 240,000 hours of creditable public service hours.
FY2026 Place 300 Public Lands Corps Act participants resulting in 240,000 hours of creditable public service hours.

Program Objective

This program seeks to partner with qualified non-profit Youth or Conservation Corps, State Conservation Corps, Indian Tribes, Universities, or veteran serving organizations to carry out appropriate natural and cultural resource conservation, education, and fire management projects on Department of the Interior managed lands through authorized U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Interstate
  • Intrastate
  • Local governments
  • Public nonprofits
  • Other public organizations
  • State
  • Private nonprofits
  • Other private organizations

State Government, County Government, City or Township Government, Special District Government, Regional Organization, U.S. Territory or Possession, Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education, Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized), Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized), Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization, Nonprofit with 501C3 IRS Status (Other than institution of Higher Education), Nonprofit without 501C3 IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education), Private Institution of Higher Education, Hispanic Serving Institution, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.

How to Apply

Application Procedure

F24AS000129 grants.gov/search-results-detail/350838

Award Procedure

Proposals for collaboratively developed projects received in response to Directed Announcements on https://www.grantsolutions.gov are reviewed based on a competitive, merit-based review process stated in the announcements. Award amounts vary depending upon funding availability.

Decision Timeline

  • Approval: From 60 to 90 days

Awards should be issued within 90 days of application receipt in GrantSolutions.

Program details & compliance

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Funds are provided for Public Lands Corps Act projects that perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate conservation projects on eligible lands where such projects will not be performed by existing government employees.  Projects will:  assist in performing research and public education tasks associated with natural and cultural resources on eligible lands, expose young people to public service while furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s natural and cultural resources, stimulate interest among the Nation’s youth in the FWS and conservation careers by exposing them to conservation, scientific research, and other professionals in the FWS, and offer them the opportunity to receive non-competitive hiring eligibility for Federal positions for which they qualify upon meeting program requirements.

Matching Requirements

Under 16 USC CHAPTER 37, SUBCHAPTER II: PUBLIC LANDS CORPS , “the Secretary is authorized to pay not more than 75 percent of the costs of any appropriate conservation project carried out pursuant to this subchapter on public lands by a qualified youth or conservation corps. The remaining 25 percent of the costs of such a project may be provided from nonfederal sources in the form of funds, services, facilities, materials, equipment, or any combination of the foregoing. No cost sharing shall be required in the case of any appropriate conservation project carried out on Indian lands or Hawaiian home lands under this subchapter.”

Reporting & Compliance

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Patrick Schulze — Visitor Services Youth and Veteran Program Lead
(703)358-2567
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, Division of Realty, Budget, Performance and Workforce, Falls Church, VA 22041
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2025-07-31. Spec v1.0. Last synced: 2026-05-30 02:32:25.