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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Northwest Indiana Regional Exhibit Development - INDU grant opportunity?
It is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) discretionary funding opportunity focused on developing exhibits and related visitor-facing improvements that strengthen how people are introduced to and understand Northwest Indiana's natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources. A major emphasis is on Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (now known as Indiana Dunes National Park) and the broader Lake Michigan shoreline region.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS NOIP19AC00172.
What type of federal award is being offered?
The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, reflecting a shared effort between the National Park Service and Dunes Tourism to improve the visitor experience and encourage stewardship.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior, is offering this discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the central purpose of the project?
The central purpose is to improve how visitors are oriented to and learn about the region, while also building a stronger ethic of stewardship among residents, partners, and travelers. The project connects visitor information and regional tourism promotion to conservation outcomes, linking trip planning and interpretation with long-term protection of resources.
What kinds of activities does the grant support?
Based on the description, the grant supports exhibit development and related visitor-facing improvements that help people plan meaningful trips and better appreciate what the region offers. This includes interpretation that explains dunes and shoreline ecosystems, cultural and historical stories, and recreational opportunities, with an emphasis on responsible use and protection of resources.
How does the project tie tourism promotion to conservation?
The opportunity is framed to connect people not just to destinations, but to shared environmental stewardship spanning natural, cultural, and historic preservation. Visitor communication and exhibits are intended to encourage responsible recreation and promote long-term protection of the area's resources.
Where is the primary setting for the exhibit and visitor communication work?
A key setting is the Dorothy Buell Visitor Center, which is located within the Porter County Visitor and Convention Bureau building and serves as a major gateway for the region.
Why is the Dorothy Buell Visitor Center considered strategically important?
The description notes that it became the park's primary visitor center in 2011 and is positioned along Interstate 94, a heavily traveled corridor between Chicago and Detroit. More than 100,000 people stop there each year to plan their visits, making it a high-traffic platform for exhibits, orientation materials, and interpretation.
How is the partnership between the National Park Service and Dunes Tourism described?
The partnership model is described as practical and long-standing. The park leases space in the building, and Dunes Tourism provides additional public-area access that helps park staff and park-related displays reach a wider audience than leased space alone might allow.
What is meant by delivering an "NPS-class" visitor experience?
Within the context provided, this refers to delivering a high-quality visitor experience consistent with National Park Service expectations, while also supporting the protection of natural, cultural, and historic resources.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?
The opportunity lists county governments as eligible applicants.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 15.954.
What is the maximum amount that can be awarded?
The award ceiling is $130,274.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of a single award.
When was the notice created?
The notice was created on June 12, 2019.
What was the original closing date for the opportunity?
The original closing date was June 22, 2019.
What geographic area does the project focus on?
The focus is Northwest Indiana, particularly Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (now Indiana Dunes National Park) and the broader Lake Michigan shoreline region.
What visitor outcomes does the grant aim to improve?
The project aims to help people plan meaningful trips, better understand the region's resources, and engage with exhibits and information that support responsible recreation and stewardship.
What broader community outcomes does the grant aim to support?
The description emphasizes strengthening a stewardship ethic among residents, partners, and travelers, and reinforcing long-term protection of natural, cultural, and historic resources through improved visitor communication and interpretation.
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