National Park Service Ground Work USA Grant: Supporting Community Groundwork Trust Establishment

16 U.S.C. 4601 et seq. Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963 promotes the coordination and development of effective programs relating to outdoor recreation and for other purposes.

16 U.S.C. 4601 et seq. Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963 promotes the coordination and development of effective programs relating to outdoor recreation and for other purposes.

16 U.S.C. 4601 et seq. Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963 promotes the coordination and development of effective programs relating to outdoor recreation and for other purposes.

Establishment of a new Groundwork Trust involves a multi-step process as outlined below (timeframes are approximate) to determine the needs, opportunities, capacity, and level of commitment to establish a Groundwork Trust in the applicant community, and if appropriate, to receive federal funding and technical assistance to start and support the organization in its first critical years of operation.

Community participation in the Groundwork Program should be sponsored by a locally convened “Groundwork Steering Committee” with broad and diverse representation from the community’s local government, civic leaders, business interests, neighborhood representatives and other organizations and individuals interested in the potential for establishing a Groundwork Trust in their community.

Interested communities may request assistance with this process from their regional NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. RTCA Program and staff contact information is available at www.nps.gov/rtca.

Step 1 – Letter of Interest (due December14, 2012 COB)

Interested communities submit a Letter of Interest from the local Groundwork Steering Committee to the National Park Service that explains how the Groundwork Program might address the environmental, social and economic needs of the community. See the Guidelines for the Groundwork USA Letter of Interest in Section II B for the format and recommended content of this letter. Approximately ten (10) communities will be selected to participate in the assessment process below.

Step 2 – Assessment/Proposal (February 1, 2013 – May 31, 2013 due date for final proposal will be June 28, 2013)

Based on the Letter of Interest, representatives of NPS and Groundwork USA will meet with the local Groundwork Steering Committee and other community members as appropriate to explain the Groundwork Program in detail; visit local potential Groundwork project sites; learn more about the community’s interest in the Groundwork Program; answer questions and react to initial ideas about the potential for the Groundwork Program in the community. These meetings should involve regional representatives of EPA’s Brownfield’s Program.

Based on the assessment, NPS (in consultation with EPA and GW USA) will invite selected communities to submit a Proposal for Groundwork Pilot Funding and Technical Assistance. The local Groundwork Steering Committee submits the proposal in partnership with the chief local elected official. The proposal must include a commitment letter from the Mayor or chief elected official to provide the local match ($25,000 per year for the first three (3) years of the Groundwork Trust if established).

(Proposal guidelines will be provided directly to the selected communities and NPS and Groundwork USA staff will be available by phone to answer questions regarding proposal preparation.)

Step 3 – Feasibility Study (9 to 12 months)

Based on the proposals one (1) to three (2) communities will be selected to develop a Groundwork Feasibility Study and Strategic Plan under the auspices of the local Groundwork Steering Committee with technical assistance from the National Park Service. The purpose of the Feasibility Study is to assess whether the Groundwork Program is a “fit” for the community and if so how a local Groundwork Trust would be established and sustained over time. Groundwork USA will work closely with the selected communities to develop the Feasibility Study, and may provide $4-5,000 to the local Steering Committee to support this work.

Upon completion of the Feasibility Study and Strategic Plan the Groundwork Steering Committee and chief local elected official will decide whether to proceed with establishment of the local Groundwork Trust. Letters in support of the community’s decision are required by NPS, EPA and GW USA to admit the new Trust to the national Groundwork network and to provide the federal funds to help start up the new Groundwork Trust.

Step 4 – Start-Up (12 – 18 months)

NPS provides funding in the amount of $80,000 along with technical assistance to support the start-up of the new Groundwork Trust in the host community. The funds are disbursed over the period of 12 to 18 months based on the accomplishment of a work plan negotiated between the Groundwork Trust and NPS. These funds may be used to hire staff; secure office space; engage partners; initiate projects and programs such as youth development initiatives, community outreach, creation of conceptual plans, coordination of volunteer events, etc.; and to cover other operational expenses. The funds are tied to deliverables that illustrate how the tasks were completed and how they added to the capacity of the organization. The funds may not be used for project construction or fundraising.

PLEASE NOTE: IF THE DECISION IS MADE TO ESTABLISH A GROUNDWORK TRUST, THE APPLICANT COMMUNITY’S LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM $25,000 CASH MATCH EACH YEAR FOR THE TRUST’S FIRST THREE YEARS OF EXISTENCE. ADDITIONAL CASH AND IN-KIND RESOURCES ARE ENCOURAGED FROM THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE COST OF START-UP INCLUDING PROJECTS, PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS.

Step 5 – Building Capacity (3 years)

Upon successful completion of the work plan in Step 4, a full year of operation including incorporation and 501 (c) 3 application, and a 1-year operations review with GW USA, the local Groundwork Trust is eligible to receive funds (as available to the Groundwork USA Program) up to $100,000 (in $25,000, $50,000, and $25,000 increments) over three (3) years. These funds can be used for purposes similar to those funded in start-up. The Groundwork Trust must provide a 25% match in cash or ‘in-kind’ to access these funds.