Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP19AC00172
The Northwest Indiana Regional Exhibit Development - INDU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NPS NOIP19AC00172) is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement. Its central purpose is to strengthen how visitors are introduced to and understand the natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of Northwest Indiana, with a particular emphasis on Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (now known as Indiana Dunes National Park) and the broader Lake Michigan shoreline region. The project is framed as a shared effort between the National Park Service and Dunes Tourism to improve the visitor experience while also building a stronger ethic of stewardship among residents, partners, and travelers.
At its core, the project supports exhibit development and related visitor-facing improvements that help people plan meaningful trips and better appreciate what the region offers. That includes interpreting the dunes and shoreline ecosystems, cultural and historical stories, and recreational opportunities, while also encouraging responsible use and long-term protection of resources. The opportunity explicitly ties visitor information and regional tourism promotion to conservation outcomes, aiming to connect people not just to destinations, but to the idea of shared environmental stewardship spanning natural, cultural, and historic preservation.
A key setting for this work is the Dorothy Buell Visitor Center, located within the Porter County Visitor and Convention Bureau building. The facility became the park's primary visitor center in 2011 and functions as a major gateway for the region, positioned along Interstate 94, a heavily traveled corridor between Chicago and Detroit. The description notes that more than 100,000 people stop there each year to plan their visits, which underscores why the space is strategically important for exhibits, orientation materials, and interpretation. The partnership model described is practical: the park leases space in the building, while Dunes Tourism provides additional public-area access that allows park staff and park-related displays to reach a wider audience than leased space alone might allow. The project is presented as a continuation of a long-standing working relationship intended to deliver a high-quality, "NPS-class" visitor experience while also protecting resources.
Administratively, the opportunity falls under CFDA 15.954 and lists county governments as eligible applicants, aligning with the regional and community development focus. The funding is capped at an award ceiling of $130,274, with the expectation of a single award. The notice was created on June 12, 2019, with an original closing date of June 22, 2019. Overall, the grant is designed to help strengthen regional exhibits and visitor communication in a way that ties tourism, education, and conservation together, using the Dorothy Buell Visitor Center as a high-traffic platform for telling Northwest Indiana's story and guiding public use of parks and protected areas.Apply for NPS NOIP19AC00172
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the community development, education, environment, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Northwest Indiana Regional Exhibit Development- INDU" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 12, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 22, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $130,274.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments.
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