NPS FY18 Great Falls Youth Corp Grant

This is to provide a public notice of the NPS’s intention to award financial assistance for the following project.

This Announcement is NOT a request for applications. This is to provide a public notice of the NPS’s intention to award financial assistance for the following project.

The NJCDC started the Youth Corps before the establishment of Paterson Great Falls NHP. NJCDC then had a Cooperative Agreement (CA P09AC00195) with the NPS to coordinate and manage Paterson Great Falls NHP’s “Great Falls Youth Corp” (GFYC). After the first CA expired, CA P15AC01007 was finalized in 2015 in order for NJCDC to continue its work of coordinating and managing PAGR’s GFYC. This proposed TA for 2018 is a continuation of the successful work that NJCDC has accomplished in previous years. The NJCDC is well-established in the City of Paterson, NJ. Before the 2009 CA, the NJCDC had 12 years of experience managing AmeriCorps programs in Paterson. They have proven that they have the expertise to handle a youth corps of this complexity. They also currently run several other youth programs, including ones geared to high school students. A. Project Goals – This project will address and correct deferred maintenance of trails that are within the boundaries of Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (NHP), but not owned by the NPS. (DOI Priority 8.c.3) Paterson Great Falls NHP is a partnership park and has a legislated boundary that includes land not owned by the NPS. The improved trails will improve access to outdoor recreation opportunities for an urban population (DOI Priority “Other” 4), while creating jobs in the American economy by hiring fourteen local youths and one program coordinator to serve as the park’s “Great Falls Youth Corps” (GFYC) (DOI Priority “Other” 3).

The improved trails will demonstrate the park’s desire to be a better neighbor to the Paterson, New Jersey and environs communities by improving land that is not owned by the federal government (DOI Priority 3.a). Additionally, working back and forth on the project with the Recipient and the youths’ parents and guardians will expand the lines of communication with the local communities (DOI Priority 3.b).

The expected end result of this project will be improved and safe walking trails and other landscape improvements, the employment of fourteen local youths and one coordinator, improved recreational opportunities through the improved trails, and improved relationships and communications with the local community. The steps toward accomplishing the project’s goals include hiring and training local youth, improving trails and landscape, and maintaining an on-going dialogue with the community.