BLM-CO Expanding Recreational Opportunities on Colorado's Public Lands | L20AS00089

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00089

The BLM-CO Expanding Recreational Opportunities on Colorado's Public Lands grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L20AS00089) is a discretionary funding program run by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado State Office, aimed at strengthening recreation and visitor services on BLM-managed public lands and waters across Colorado. The opportunity is built around BLM's long-standing reliance on partnerships, recognizing that volunteers and collaborating organizations are central to delivering sustainable recreation experiences while also supporting local economies that depend on outdoor tourism and public-land access.

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, which generally means BLM expects to be actively involved with recipients during the project (for example, through coordination, technical input, shared planning, or other substantial federal participation). The program falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.225. The posted award ceiling is $40,000 per award, with approximately 5 awards anticipated under this announcement. The opportunity was created on March 31, 2020, with an original closing date of June 1, 2020.

The core purpose of the grant is to expand, improve, and better manage recreational opportunities on Colorado's public lands and waters. Projects are expected to align with BLM's Recreation and Visitor Services Program strategic goals, which emphasize practical, on-the-ground improvements as well as planning and management work that supports long-term sustainability. Priority activities include increasing and enhancing access to public lands and waters, expanding hunting and fishing opportunities, and improving or creating recreational shooting opportunities where appropriate. The opportunity also supports foundational work like recreation inventory, assessment, and planning efforts that help BLM and partners understand current conditions, visitor use patterns, and resource needs.

Beyond access and opportunity expansion, the grant encourages proposals that strengthen day-to-day recreation management and oversight, such as improving administration and monitoring of public lands and waters to ensure recreation remains sustainable and compatible with resource protection. Visitor-facing improvements are also central: enriched visitor services, public information, interpretation, and education efforts are specifically called out, reflecting an interest in helping visitors navigate public lands safely and responsibly while better understanding the landscapes they are recreating on.

Community connection is another clear theme. BLM is looking for community-supported partnerships that can improve tourism and marketing tied to public lands, suggesting that eligible projects may involve collaboration with local communities and organizations to promote responsible recreation, highlight destinations, and distribute visitor use in ways that benefit communities without overwhelming sensitive areas. Visitor health and safety is explicitly included as a program goal, so proposals that address safety concerns, risk reduction, and safer visitor experiences can fit well within the scope.

Accessibility is also a stated priority. The opportunity seeks projects that improve recreational access for persons with disabilities, which can include accessible facility upgrades, improved information for accessible routes and amenities, or design and maintenance work that reduces barriers to participation. Finally, trails are a major focus area, covering both motorized and non-motorized trail systems. Eligible trail-related work can include construction and maintenance, as well as broader travel and transportation inventory and assessment, planning, management, and monitoring efforts that support comprehensive trail system stewardship.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of public, nonprofit, tribal, and educational entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and 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 and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). Overall, the opportunity is designed to fund partner-driven projects that measurably improve recreation access, quality, safety, and sustainability on BLM lands in Colorado, while reinforcing the economic and community benefits that come from well-managed outdoor recreation.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-CO Expanding Recreational Opportunities on Colorado's Public Lands" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.225.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 31, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2020. (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 $40,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 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), 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.

Apply for L20AS00089

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