Deadline: 20-Sep-22
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funded San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) Request for Applications (RFA) to fund projects that have measurable positive impacts in underserved communities, particularly those facing climate change stressors in the San Francisco Bay and its watersheds.
Priorities
Examples of EJ program priority projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Community visioning aimed at developing conceptual plans for shoreline projects to improve climate change resilience
- Installation of green stormwater infrastructure features to treat stormwater
- Public education and training programs to build community capacity in the water quality sector
- Building community/volunteer networks to support project implementation, including planting of native plants, removing invasive plants, and trash cleanups
- Community representation in implementation of multi-benefit shoreline projects
- Watershed and urban infrastructure improvements in EJ communities
- Organizational capacity building and career development to benefit the Estuary and its communities
- Contaminant investigations in local communities
- Technical trainings and outreach programs to improve tribal traditional knowledge in the environmental field, etc.
- Solutions that reduce water quality impacts associated with people and communities experiencing homelessness
- Fish consumption outreach programs, etc.
Funding Information
- The amount of funding per award is estimated to range from approximately $200,000 to $1,000,000. EPA anticipates awarding 15 to 20 grants and/or cooperative agreements under this solicitation.
- Duration: The amount of funding per award is estimated to range from approximately $200,000 to $1,000,000. EPA anticipates awarding 15 to 20 grants and/or cooperative agreements under this solicitation.
Outcomes
The term “outcome” means an environmental result, effect or consequence that will occur from carrying out project activities and/or completing outputs related to an environmental goal. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature, but must be quantitative. Applications must include a description of project outcomes even if the outcomes will not be achieved within the assistance agreement funding period. For projects that are implementing activities called for in a plan such as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or a restoration plan with an extended timeframe (e.g. 20 years), applicants should explain the degree to which the activities move towards the stated long-term goal or outcome. Outcomes expected as a result of the awards under this announcement may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Improved climate resilience in the form of shoreline protection and/or stormwater management in underserved communities
- “Community restoration” in the form of workforce development, community-based organizational capacity built, etc.
- Additional water/soil clean-up activities funded based on new data gathered to protect communities
- Percentage of land area where green stormwater infrastructure has been or will be implemented to achieve water quality improvements and/or community benefits
Eligibility Criteria
- The following entities are eligible to apply for funding under this announcement: State, local government agencies, districts, and councils; regional water pollution control agencies and entities; State coastal zone management agencies; public and private universities and colleges; and public or private nongovernmental, non-profit institutions. Nonprofit organizations must have documentation of non-profit status from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or their state of incorporation. Non-profit organizations as defined in Section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying or superseding legislation are ineligible.
- A broad range of entities are eligible to submit applications under this announcement for projects within the nine Bay Area counties (Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco.)
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=342529