Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions have been collected from potential grantees regarding grant priorities for Chesapeake Gateways Grants. Learn more about grant opportunities by visiting the Chesapeake Gateways Grants page.
The grant has two categories:
a) Linking Tourism and Economic Development Grants
Proposals submitted should demonstrate that the projects reflect a community need; link local recreation, culture, history, and/or nature tourism to economic impact of the community; and involve a collaboration among community partners. Projects should link nature-based and cultural tourism with economic initiatives for local resilience and community sustainability, especially tied with sectors closely linked with Chesapeake heritage, such as historical or cultural crafts and trades, working lands, or maritime activities.
Award Range: $25,000 to $50,000
b.) Event Support Grants
Proposals should demonstrate how the event or festival celebrates the rich cultural, historical, natural, or recreational legacy and ongoing story of Chesapeake Gateways communities. Public events and festivals should encourage exploration and enjoyment of the wealth of cultural, historical, natural, and recreational experiences available in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The events encourage new and enhanced opportunities to connect with underrepresented communities through inclusive and welcoming events, festivals, places, and programming.
Award Range: $10,000-$25,000
A list of sample activities under each category can be found in section A.4. Grant Categories of the Notice of Financial Opportunity (NOFO). However, this is not a complete or prescriptive list. If your project/program will occur in the Chesapeake watershed, supports local economic development, and can be accomplished within the available funding and timeframe, then your proposal should be considered.
a) Linking Tourism and Economic Development Grants
Proposals submitted should demonstrate that the projects reflect a community need; link local recreation, culture, history, and/or nature tourism to economic impact of the community; and involve a collaboration among community partners. Projects should link nature-based and cultural tourism with economic initiatives for local resilience and community sustainability, especially tied with sectors closely linked with Chesapeake heritage, such as historical or cultural crafts and trades, working lands, or maritime activities.
Award Range: $25,000 to $50,000
b.) Event Support Grants
Proposals should demonstrate how the event or festival celebrates the rich cultural, historical, natural, or recreational legacy and ongoing story of Chesapeake Gateways communities. Public events and festivals should encourage exploration and enjoyment of the wealth of cultural, historical, natural, and recreational experiences available in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The events encourage new and enhanced opportunities to connect with underrepresented communities through inclusive and welcoming events, festivals, places, and programming.
Award Range: $10,000-$25,000
A list of sample activities under each category can be found in section A.4. Grant Categories of the Notice of Financial Opportunity (NOFO). However, this is not a complete or prescriptive list. If your project/program will occur in the Chesapeake watershed, supports local economic development, and can be accomplished within the available funding and timeframe, then your proposal should be considered.
A single proposal cannot be submitted for both a project ($50K) and an event ($25K). The smaller event grants are meant to support events or festivals that celebrate the rich cultural, historical, natural, or recreational legacy and ongoing story of Chesapeake Gateways communities. The larger project grant can have an event be included in the project, but it would need to be included as part of the $100K. However, an applicant can submit two separate proposals: one for a project and one an event. They would be reviewed separately.
The review panel will evaluate and consider how well each proposal addresses the following criteria. Each criterion will be rated on a scale of 0 to 5 with a weighting factor. To be competitive, the project narrative should provide detailed information related to each criterion:
• Connection to Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act (22%)
• Connection to Economic Impact (34%)
• Investments in Community Collaborations (22%)
• Clarity of Project’s Operational Plan and Team’s Capacity (22%)
A more detailed definition of each criterion is in section E1. Criteria of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
• Connection to Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act (22%)
• Connection to Economic Impact (34%)
• Investments in Community Collaborations (22%)
• Clarity of Project’s Operational Plan and Team’s Capacity (22%)
A more detailed definition of each criterion is in section E1. Criteria of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
After a staff review for eligibility and application compliance, a review panel of NPS personnel and outside technical experts will review all proposals. All proposals for funding will be considered using the criteria outlined in section E1. Criteria of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
A detailed description of the review and selection process is included in section E2. Review and Selection Process of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
A detailed description of the review and selection process is included in section E2. Review and Selection Process of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
The review panel will be composed of NPS personnel and outside technical experts who will be randomly assigned proposals to review.
Yes, whether pursuing a project grant or an event grant, both will need to be focused on encouraging local tourism and showing economic impact. One review criterion is focused on economic impact and detailed in the NOFO.
Through the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network (Chesapeake Gateways), NPS Chesapeake Gateways administers a competitive grant opportunity to advance the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 within the full 41-million-acre Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Last updated: August 27, 2026