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Enhancing Recreation Opportunities Near Military Installations through the 2024 Readiness and Recreation Initiative

In partnership with the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, the Department of Defense's (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program is pleased to announce the release of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Readiness and Recreation Initiative Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). For the FY 2024 Readiness and Recreation Initiative, the National Park Service will provide $40 million in funding from unobligated LWCF balances as a potential match for REPI Program funding to support projects that will provide outdoor recreation opportunities to military families and the public while also promoting military readiness and resilience.

Established by Congress in 1964 and permanently funded by the 2020 Great American Outdoors Act, LWCF has provided more than $5 billion in matching grants for projects in every state and territory to safeguard natural areas, water resources, and cultural heritage sites, and provide recreation opportunities for the public. Now in its second year, the Readiness and Recreation Initiative seeks to fund projects that will acquire and enhance lands within REPI Partnership Opportunity Areas that aim to:

• Provide public outdoor recreation opportunities.
• Promote or support compatible uses on lands in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to, a military installation or airspace, and/or maintain or enhance climate resilience of one or more military installations.

Eligibility Requirements:

Eligible projects must occur within REPI Partnership Opportunity Areas, defined as a military installation or range’s priority area for REPI projects. Please refer to the REPI Interactive Map to determine eligibility locations. Projects will be selected through a National Park Service-led competition amongst projects solicited and nominated by each LWCF State Lead Agency. Eligible applicants seeking a grant under the Readiness & Recreation Initiative must contact their LWCF State Lead Agency to get details about their state’s process for identifying and selecting projects for submission under this competition. Each State Lead Agency will release its state-specific NOFOs before the national-level NOFO deadline of July 12, 2024. A list of the lead agencies can be found at www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/contact-list.htm.

Questions specific to REPI Program funding for the 2024 Readiness and Recreation Initiative can be directed to osd.repi@mail.mil.

Save the Date: 2024 Readiness and Recreation Initiative Help Session

Interested applicants can join the REPI Program and National Park Service for a 2024 Readiness and Recreation Initiative Help Session Webinar on February 28 from 1:00 – 2:00 Eastern Time to learn more about the opportunity, ask questions, and workshop potential projects.

Newly Updated: REPI Resilience Project Funding Guide Released

Interested in learning more about upcoming complementary Federal funding opportunities? Explore the newly updated REPI Resilience Project Funding Guide for a comprehensive program calendar. Updated quarterly, the guide provides a program calendar featuring key application opening dates and deadlines across all programs. Every program includes a summary of funding opportunities, eligibility requirements, and application information. To download the program calendar or learn more about program eligibility, click here.