OSMRE VISTA Program | S22AS00329

Opportunity Information: Apply for S22AS00329

The OSMRE VISTA Program is a discretionary federal funding opportunity run by the Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the selected recipient is expected to work in close partnership with OSMRE rather than operating entirely independently. The basic aim is to connect communities affected by legacy, pre-regulatory mining impacts with dedicated AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs) who can help build local capacity, strengthen community-led projects, and support long-term recovery and improvement efforts. The program was also created as a way for OSMRE to deepen its engagement with service-minded adults, particularly younger people, whose interests and skills align with OSMRE's mission.

At the center of the program is the placement of mission-oriented VISTA members in eligible communities for a one-year term of service. These communities are specifically described as places impacted by mining practices that occurred before modern regulatory frameworks, which often left behind environmental damage and related economic challenges. VISTAs serve through positions approved by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) or through an intermediary organization that manages AmeriCorps/VISTA placements. While the VISTAs themselves receive a living allowance and other service benefits, the grant funding supports the overall partnership and administration needed to recruit, place, and manage these positions in a way that advances OSMRE-related goals.

Program activities are intentionally broad, but they are anchored to OSMRE's mission and the needs of coalfield and other mining-impacted communities. Key focus areas include community and environmental reclamation (helping communities move projects forward that address land and water impacts), community environmental stewardship (building local programs and partnerships that protect and restore environmental resources), economic improvement (supporting community-driven economic development connected to reclamation, resilience, and local assets), educational opportunities (strengthening training, outreach, and pathways that prepare people for relevant work and civic engagement), and research (supporting learning, data gathering, and project development that helps communities make informed decisions). The grant emphasizes innovation and collaboration, with the recipient expected to work directly with OSMRE across these categories rather than treating them as separate, stand-alone initiatives.

The opportunity is open to nonprofit organizations that have IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education as direct applicants under the listed eligibility category. Even so, the notice signals a clear interest in inclusive participation by encouraging DOI-affiliated Minority Serving Institutions and similar institutions that serve high concentrations of historically underrepresented students to be involved, reflecting an emphasis on strengthening science and technology instruction and broadening participation. In practical terms, that encouragement often translates into partnerships, project roles, training components, or other forms of collaboration that align with the program's community development mission.

For VISTA members, the program also highlights the personal and professional benefits that come with national service. After successfully completing a term, VISTAs may earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be applied to higher education costs or qualified student loans, or they may choose a cash stipend in certain cases. They also gain non-competitive eligibility for certain federal jobs, which can be an important career advantage for those interested in public service.

The source details identify the opportunity as Funding Opportunity Number S22AS00329 under CFDA 15.254, categorized under Community Development. The original closing date listed was September 19, 2022, and the award ceiling was $225,000. The posting was created July 19, 2022. Overall, the program is best understood as a capacity-building and community development effort that leverages AmeriCorps/VISTA service to help mining-impacted communities advance reclamation, stewardship, education, research, and local economic improvement in close coordination with OSMRE.

• The Office of Surface Mining in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSMRE VISTA Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.254.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-07-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-19. (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 $225,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for S22AS00329

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