The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, has announced a cooperative agreement opportunity under the funding opportunity number W9127N-25-2-0002. This grant initiative is specifically designed to support Natural Resource Management (NRM) education and training for adjudicated youth involved with the Lane County, Oregon, Department of Juvenile Justice. The purpose of the agreement is to engage these youths in land stewardship and restoration activities on federal lands managed by USACE in the Willamette Valley Project area.

The agreement aims to support USACE’s environmental stewardship responsibilities by facilitating the restoration and management of native prairie landscapes and wildlife habitats. The selected organization will provide work crews comprising one to five youth participants plus supervisors. These crews will be engaged in various conservation tasks including invasive vegetation removal, native plant propagation, irrigation, weeding, and general habitat restoration. Sites involved in this project include Fern Ridge, Fall Creek, Dexter, Lookout Point, and Hills Creek Lakes, with occasional activities at Dorena and Cottage Grove Lakes.

To be eligible, applicants must be non-Federal public entities or nonprofit organizations that serve the local community, particularly youth with active cases in the Lane County juvenile justice system. Participants may earn restitution, fulfill community service requirements, receive high school or GED credit, obtain vocational training, and build job readiness skills. The recipient must provide trained crew leaders to ensure proper ecological instruction and supervision.

Applicants must submit a single complete application including several required forms (e.g., SF 424 and SF 424A), a program narrative detailing goals, management plans, and past performance records, as well as appropriation certification. Proposals will be evaluated based on the alignment of goals, program management capabilities, and prior performance on similar federal projects. Submissions are to be made through Grants.gov or by email, with all materials formatted to standard letter size and font requirements.

The cooperative agreement is fully funded by USACE, with a total not-to-exceed amount of $145,000 allocated over a one-year base period and up to four optional one-year extensions. The estimated funding for each year is $29,000. The expected award date is May 2, 2025. The application deadline is April 22, 2025, and questions regarding the application are due by April 20, 2025. For assistance, applicants may contact Melanie Barrett at Melanie.A.Barrett@usace.army.mil or call 503-808-4617. An alternate contact is Raymie Briddell at Raymie.L.Briddell@usace.army.mil or 503-808-4428.