Do we know our neighbors? Investigating how values influence preferences for future growth scenarios in a gateway community | P18AS00078

Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00078

This funding opportunity, titled "Do we know our neighbors? Investigating how values influence preferences for future growth scenarios in a gateway community," was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. It was issued as a discretionary grant in the form of a cooperative agreement, which typically means the National Park Service expected to be actively involved in the work beyond simply providing funding. The activity category is listed as "Information and Statistics," indicating the project focus is likely centered on data collection, analysis, and interpretation rather than construction, direct service delivery, or on-the-ground capital improvements.

The opportunity number is P18AS00078 and it was created on April 18, 2018, with an original application closing date of April 27, 2018. The short turnaround suggests it was likely targeted and time-sensitive, consistent with the note that applications would be accepted from a specific institution. Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and the announcement explicitly states that applications would be accepted from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. That detail effectively makes this a single-institution, invited or restricted competition rather than an open call to all eligible universities.

Financially, the award ceiling was $174,943, and the agency anticipated making one award. The listing includes a CFDA number of 15.945, which is the catalog identifier used to track the federal assistance program associated with the National Park Service. With only one expected award and a defined ceiling, the project scope was likely designed to support a specific research effort with a clear deliverable tied to understanding community perspectives.

In terms of project intent, the title signals a research study focused on "gateway communities," meaning communities located near national parks or other protected areas that often experience tourism-related development pressures and debates about land use, housing, infrastructure, and economic growth. The framing suggests the work aimed to investigate how residents' underlying values shape their preferences for different future growth scenarios, potentially using tools like surveys, scenario planning, community engagement methods, and statistical modeling to compare preferences across groups and identify drivers of support or opposition. The ultimate purpose, implied by the National Park Service sponsor and the "Information and Statistics" category, would be to generate evidence that helps park managers and local partners better understand stakeholder viewpoints and make more informed planning or collaboration decisions.

The public synopsis itself does not provide the full narrative, work plan, or required deliverables, and it directs readers to an attached document for additional details. Based on the available source fields, the essential takeaway is that this was a National Park Service cooperative agreement supporting a targeted university-led research project, capped at $174,943, intended to produce data-driven insights on how community values influence preferences about future growth in a gateway community, with the competition effectively restricted to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Do we know our neighbors? Investigating how values influence preferences for future growth scenarios in a gateway community" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 18, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 27, 2018 Applications will be accepted from the University of Illinois, Urbana - Champaign.. (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 $174,943.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for P18AS00078

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