EPA Environmental Education Regional Grants -- Solicitation Notice for 2012

The 2012 RFP for EPA's Environmental Education program has been posted at: http://epa.gov/education/pdf/solNotice2012.htm

Purpose: The purpose of the Environmental Education (EE) Regional Grant Program is to increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and provide the skills that participants in its funded projects need to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible actions toward the environment.

Application Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by November 21, 2012, 11:59 pm local time or submitted electronically via www.grants.gov by November 21, 2012, 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) in order to be considered for funding

Number and Value of Awards: The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $2,160,000 nationwide. EPA expects to award one (1) grant per Region for an expected 10 grants nationwide; the award amount is approximately (but no more than) $216,000, subject to the availability of funds, the quality and quantity of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

Cost Sharing Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate how they will provide non-federal matching funds of at least 25% of the total cost of the project.

In order to be eligible, all applications must: (1) address at least one of the EPA educational priorities listed below, (2) address at least one EPA environmental priority listed below; and, (3) be for a project that satisfies the definition of “environmental education” as defined under Section I(B) (see RFP for this)

The educational and environmental priorities listed below are not in order of importance or preference. Proposals may address more than one priority in each category. However, it is important that a proposal is clear as to what the focus of the project will be and how that focus will contribute to a replicable project that will model quality outputs and outcomes and that has a vision for advancing and strengthening the field of practice of environmental education.

EPA’s Educational Priorities

(1) Community Projects: Addressing environmental stewardship in a local formal or informal educational context in rural, suburban and urban settings, and using outdoor, place-based, experiential, service learning and/or community-focused stewardship activities as the primary teaching tool(s).

(2) Human Health and the Environment: Educating students of any age group, from the very young through the elderly, and training* their educators or community leaders on how to teach, in formal and non-formal settings, in the outdoors and in classrooms, about human health threats from environmental pollution and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health.

(3) Career Development: Educating students of any age group, from the very young through the elderly, and training* their educators or community leaders on how to teach, in formal and non-formal settings, about environmental issues, solutions and stewardship for the purpose of encouraging interest in careers in environmental fields.

More information at http://epa.gov/education/pdf/solNotice2012.htm