Urban Waters Small Grants

 

The objective of EPA's Urban Waters Program is to protect and restore America's urban waterways. EPA's funding priority is to achieve the goals and commitments established in the Agency's Urban Waters Strategic Framework (https://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-strategic-framework). This program has an emphasis on engaging communities with environmental justice concerns. The objective of the Urban Waters Small Grants is to fund research, investigations, experiments, training, surveys, studies, and demonstrations that will advance the restoration of urban waters by improving water quality in urban areas through activities that also support community revitalization and other local priorities. This program recognizes that healthy and accessible urban waters can help grow local businesses and enhance educational, recreational, social, and employment opportunities in nearby communities.

Active 66.440 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 In FY 16, awards totaling an estimated $1.3 million will be made for projects that seek to help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways. Competitive announcements for Urban Waters Small Grants are issued based on available funds and program priorities. The number of awards made is expected to be between 20 and 25. In FY 16, 24 awards totaling $1.3 million were made for projects that seek to help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways. Competitive announcements for Urban Waters Small Grants are issued based on available funds and program priorities
Fiscal Year 2017 In FY 17, funding supported projects that sought to help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increased their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY 18, funding continued to support projects that sought to help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways. Information about the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program - 2018 can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/urbanwaterspartners/five-star-and-urban-waters-restoration-grant-program-2018 Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), as amended, Public Law 95-217, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq
National Policy Act (NEPA), Section 102(2)(F) Assistance under the Urban Waters Small Grants is generally available to States, local governments, Indian Tribes, public and private universities and colleges, public or private nonprofit institutions/organizations, intertribal consortia, and interstate agencies. Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply. An intertribal consortium must meet the definition of eligibility in the Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Final Rule, at 40 CFR 35.504 (66 FR 3782. January 16, 2001) (FRL-6929-5) and be a non-profit organization within the meaning of 2 CFR 200. Indian Tribes (or "federally recognized Indian tribe"), as defined in 2 CFR 200.54, is any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Chapter 33), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)). See annually published Bureau of Indian Affairs list of Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services. State, as defined in 2 CFR 200.90, is defined as any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any agency or instrumentality thereof exclusive of local governments. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy Residents of urban areas adversely impacted by water pollution, State and local governments, Indian Tribes, other public and private nonprofit institutions, intertribal consortia, and interstate agencies. EPA may request that applicants demonstrate their eligibility. Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. EPA awards grants and cooperative agreements supporting surveys, studies, and investigations based on competitive applications submitted in response to EPA solicitations, considering relevance and likelihood of success of proposed projects. Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed in the competitive announcement. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through https://www.grants.gov. For competitive awards, Requests for Proposals (RFPs) or Requests for Applications (RFAs) will specify application procedures. Additional information on applying for EPA grants can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/how-apply-grants For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. Specific information about deadlines is provided in competitive announcements. Approximately 180 days. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. Not applicable. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing description will be described in the competitive announcement. Competitive applications and proposals will be selected in accordance with announced criteria. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs in approved scopes of work plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funding awarded for research does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office of Research and Development. The funds will support conducting and promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Specific uses and restrictions on funds will be described in detail in the competitive announcements. Performance Reports: Performance monitoring is required under this program. Reporting requirements shall be determined at the time of grant award. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. The record retention requirements of 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable, apply. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants, available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary_rating. Matching requirements, if any, will be described in the competitive announcement.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. EPA may negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award. None/Not specified. Chris Orvin
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Mail Code: 4601M)
Washington, DC 20460 US
orvin.chris@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-0430 https://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters 68-0108-0-1-304 (Project Grants) FY 18$155,000.00; FY 19 FY 20 FY 17 est $0.00; FY 16$1,600,000.00; - Range: $40,000 to $60,000/fiscal year; Average: $50,000/fiscal year Surveys, studies, investigations, demonstrations, and training grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the grant regulations (2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable). Costs will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E. Fiscal Year 2016 Funded projects will help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways. Examples of selected projects include youth education on watershed science and stewardship of urban waterways, water quality monitoring and studies, community engagement and outreach to promote best management practices in restoring urban waters, urban watershed assessments to develop a community action plan, and hands-on learning workshops to educate the public on the importance of urban waters. More information on specific projects selected for funding can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-small-grants Funded projects will help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways. Examples of selected projects include youth education on watershed science and stewardship of urban waterways, water quality monitoring and studies, community engagement and outreach to promote best management practices in restoring urban waters, urban watershed assessments to develop a community action plan, and hands-on learning workshops to educate the public on the importance of urban waters. More information on specific projects selected for funding can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-small-grants.
Fiscal Year 2018 Funded projects helpd to restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways. Examples of selected projects include youth education on watershed science and stewardship of urban waterways, water quality monitoring and studies, community engagement and outreach to promote best management practices in restoring urban waters, urban watershed assessments to develop a community action plan, and hands-on learning workshops to educate the public on the importance of urban waters. More information on specific projects selected for funding can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters