Opportunity Overview
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has opened the 2026-2027 Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) pre-application cycle. GOSP provides Conserve Georgia grants and loans for local parks and trails of state or regional significance, stewardship of state parks and other state lands, and protection or acquisition of critical conservation lands.
Funding and Match
For local parks and trails projects, Conserve Georgia grant or loan requests must be between $500,000 and $3,000,000. State stewardship and state acquisition projects do not have a published minimum or maximum award under the governing Georgia rule. Applicants must provide at least 25% of total project cost as match; match may include cash, in-kind goods and services, or volunteer labor. State-agency match is subject to appropriations, and the Board of Trustees may make exceptions as authorized by rule.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include qualified Georgia local governments, constituted recreation authorities, state agencies, and nongovernmental entities whose core mission is conservation. Local-government applicants must be in good standing under Georgia Department of Community Affairs requirements.
Eligible Project Types
Eligible proposals include projects supporting state parks and trails; local parks and trails of state and regional significance; stewardship of conservation land; and acquisition or protection of critical lands for clean water, wildlife, hunting, fishing, military-installation buffering, or natural-resource-based outdoor recreation.
Application Process and Timeline
All eligible applicants must submit an online Pre-application. Following competitive review, successful pre-applicants will be invited to a Second Level application. DNR’s current cycle schedule is: pre-application opened August 3, 2026; pre-application closes October 16, 2026; successful applicants are expected to be notified in spring 2027; the Second Level application window will then open and closes May 28, 2027; final project agreement approvals are anticipated in summer 2027.
The live DNR cycle page reviewed September 22, 2026 does not state an exact October 16 closing clock time or deadline-specific time zone, so Atlas does not infer either.
Project Administration
Georgia’s governing GOSP rule states that selected projects generally have 24 months from the signed Project Agreement to complete the project. Selected applicants must attend a financial workshop, execute a Project Agreement with DNR, maintain complete project financial records, and submit required progress reporting.
Atlas Assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 85/100. This is a large, current Georgia state funding opportunity with significant project value, clear applicant classes, a defined minimum match, and strong fit for eligible local governments and conservation organizations with mature park, trail, land-acquisition, or conservation-stewardship projects. Applicant-specific readiness, project significance, matching resources, and DCA status remain critical.
N9+ Fit: 0/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. Do not force healthcare technology into this conservation and outdoor-recreation program.
Official sources: Georgia DNR GOSP current cycle page and Georgia Rule 391-5-13-.11.