Technical Assistance

Peter Turcik

We help partners put into practice the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 by providing technical assistance to create the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network (Chesapeake Gateways). The National Park Service offers an annual technical assistance opportunity to effectively support partners, leverage the full resources of the NPS for the benefit of the partnership network, and better understand the needs throughout the watershed.

Apply for Chesapeake Gateways Technical Assistance

NPS Chesapeake Gateways welcomes technical assistance applications from active and aspiring members of Chesapeake Gateways in cooperation with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. Technical assistance does not provide financial assistance or monetary grants. Through this offering, NPS Chesapeake Gateways serves as a collaborative partner providing professional services to help you achieve your vision.

Explore the 2025 Chesapeake Gateways Framework to understand the Network and the services offered by NPS Chesapeake Gateways:

• Identify and conserve special places for inclusion in Chesapeake Gateways.
• Develop, enhance, or connect trails, tour roads, scenic byways, or watertrails for inclusion in Chesapeake Gateways.
• Interpretation or educational programming at Chesapeake Gateways.
• Restore Chesapeake Gateways or enhance public access.
• Support Chesapeake Gateways Communities.
• Connect Chesapeake Gateways Places and Partners.

Who’s Eligible to Apply

• Active and aspiring Chesapeake Gateways Places and Partners

How To Apply

• Complete the NPS Chesapeake Gateways Technical Assistance application
  (Download a PDF version to prepare your application before submitting)

Application Process and Timeline

• Proposals for the 2025 Technical Assistance Process are due by May 1, 2025.
• NPS Chesapeake Gateways staff will review, rank, and select proposals by June 30, 2025.
• Projects can begin as early as July 1, 2025, and should not extend beyond April 30, 2026.

Our Focus Areas

Our projects typically fall within five focus areas, although we consider other projects that fall outside of these categories:

• Identify and conserve special places for inclusion in Chesapeake Gateways.

• Develop, enhance, or connect trails, tour roads, scenic byways, or watertrails for inclusion in Chesapeake Gateways.

• Interpretation or educational programming at Chesapeake Gateways.

• Restore Chesapeake Gateways or enhance public access

• Support Chesapeake Gateways Communities              

• Connect Chesapeake Gateways Places and Partners

Our Services

Our assistance is tailored to your needs. Examples of the types of assistance we provide are listed below. While NPS Chesapeake Gateways cannot independently take on or lead projects for partners, we can support, assist, facilitate, or coach partners with National Park Service, or other subject matter experts.

• Planning:

  • Defining project vision and goals

  • Identifying and analyzing key issues and opportunities

  • Setting priorities and build consensus

• Convening and Networking:

  • Engage collaborative partners and stakeholders

  • Development of community outreach and participation strategies

  • Coach teams, groups, and partnership networks

  • Convene places and partners for workshops, training sessions, and other gatherings to foster sharing of expertise

• Communications

  • Crafting communications products including plans, releases, and advisories

  • Identifying and reaching audiences

  • Matching media to audience

• Branding and Marketing:

  • Utilizing the Chesapeake Gateways brand

  • Leveraging the great resources of the NPS brand

  • Designing and developing websites, mobile apps, and more

  • Connecting partner digital resources with the NPS digital assets

• Interpretation:

  • Developing interpretive plans or content reports

  • Interpretive media project management

  • Front line interpretation training and program development

  • Integrating Chesapeake Gateways themes into place specific programming

• Conservation:

  • Foster conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake watershed

  • Develop a sustainable organizational framework

  • Create strategic action plans

• Access

  • Develop concept plans to address multimodal transportation

  • Assessing urban access issues and needs

  • Addressing accessibility issues and needs

  • Assessments of, and designs for, potential access sites

• Stewardship

  • Natural and cultural resource management planning and execution

  • Convene subject matter experts in landscape conservation

  • Develop and employ strategies and programs for stimulating engagement in Chesapeake stewardship.

Communities Initiative