Deadline: 06-Aug-21
The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking applications for its STEM Career Development for High School Aged Youth.
STEM career or workforce development programs build environmental stewardship by engaging high school students to develop the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment as it relates to improving water quality; protecting, enhancing or restoring habitat; and/or gulf-resilient promoting smart growth practices.
These green jobs reduce environmental contamination, build more resilient and sustainable communities, and increase environmental education thereby creating a healthier environment.
Projects are encouraged to target Title I schools or informal education centers (e.g. Job Corp) that service students from communities impacted by environmental injustices within the five Gulf States.
This funding opportunity is intended to generate applications for innovative projects focused on advancing Gulf environmental related work readiness skills in high school aged youth.
These work readiness projects may center on marine aquaculture or green infrastructure practices that improve water quality, restore habitat, enhance community resilience, and provide environmental education and outreach.
Projects must include one of the following activities:
- Education and training programs on growing native species for habitat restoration; or rearing, breeding, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, or other species of the Gulf of Mexico (e.g., oyster farming, aquaculture, aquaponics)
- Education and training programs that develop skills in design, installation, and/or operation and maintenance of green infrastructure (e.g., bioswales, rain gardens, or living shorelines and the nexus to water quality, flood reduction, habitat creation, and/or community resilience)
Funding Information
- EPA expects to provide approximately $1.5 million and anticipates awarding a total of five projects, one project in each of the Gulf States (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas).
- The maximum amount of federal funds that will be awarded for any project in this funding opportunity is $300,000.
- Proposed project periods may be up to three years.
Outputs
- Required:
- Estimated number of expected audience(s) and/or individuals reached through the work readiness program
- Lesson plans, educational modules, etc. created
- Examples of Additional Project outputs:
- Estimated number of habitat acres restored/enhanced.
- Estimated number of water segments improved.
- Estimated number of communities engaged.
Outcome
- Required: Number of students whose career or academic path is shaped by the project (this estimate should only consider the project period identified)
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications will be accepted from governmental entities, including state agencies, interstate agencies, Indian tribes, local governments, institutions of higher learning (i.e., colleges and universities), and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for funding under this RFA. School districts or high schools designated as one of the eligible entities above are eligible.
- For-profit organizations are not an eligible entity for this funding opportunity. Additionally, non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply.
- To be eligible for this funding opportunity, projects must take place in the Gulf of Mexico watershed AND in one of the five Gulf States (AL, FL, LA, MS, TX).
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333946