Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA GM 2019 TFW
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity under the Gulf of Mexico Program focused on reducing and preventing trash in the Gulf of Mexico watershed across five coastal states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The main purpose of this funding is to support practical, innovative projects that keep trash from entering waterways and to remove existing debris that has already made its way into rivers, bayous, wetlands, estuaries, and coastal areas that ultimately drain to the Gulf. By targeting trash at its sources and along its pathways, the program aims to improve overall water quality, protect and restore habitat, strengthen community resilience, and expand environmental education efforts tied to real, on-the-ground results.
Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to involve collaboration, not just standalone cleanups. The EPA emphasizes working with businesses, communities, and state and local governments, which signals a preference for proposals that bring multiple partners together and create durable systems for prevention and reduction. While trash removal may be part of a project, the opportunity is oriented toward strategies that encourage and facilitate long-term reduction, such as improved collection and interception, behavior-change efforts supported by community engagement, and approaches that can be replicated or scaled. The desired outcomes connect directly to environmental and community benefits, including cleaner waterways, healthier coastal ecosystems, and better-prepared communities that are less vulnerable to the flooding and infrastructure impacts that can be worsened by litter and debris.
Geography is a firm requirement. Every proposed project must take place within one or more of the five eligible Gulf states and must be located in the Gulf of Mexico watershed. In practice, that means applicants need to show clearly that the work occurs in areas that drain to the Gulf, not simply anywhere within the state boundaries. Proposals that operate across multiple eligible states or address watershed-scale pathways of trash may align well with the regional nature of the program, as long as the work remains within the Gulf watershed.
In terms of funding details, the opportunity is listed as EPA GM 2019 TFW and falls under CFDA 66.475, with the EPA as the issuing agency. Awards are grants, with an anticipated maximum award amount (ceiling) of up to $500,000 per award. The EPA expected to make about 10 awards under this announcement, indicating a competitive selection process where project design, feasibility, and measurable outcomes are likely to matter heavily. The funding notice was created on September 24, 2019, with an original closing date of November 22, 2019, though applicants are directed to consult the official announcement’s Section IV for the authoritative deadline details and any submission requirements.
Eligibility is described broadly as “Others,” with clarification provided in the funding announcement’s eligibility section. This typically suggests that a range of applicant types may be allowed, potentially including nonprofits, educational institutions, local governments, tribal entities, and other organizations, depending on the specific constraints and definitions provided in the full text of the announcement. Because the eligibility label is not self-explanatory, applicants would need to verify they qualify by checking the referenced section in the official funding opportunity announcement before investing in a full application.
Overall, this EPA grant opportunity is designed for organizations that can put together strong partnerships and propose solutions that measurably reduce trash entering the Gulf system. The strongest concepts for a program like this generally combine prevention and removal with community education and stakeholder coordination, and they make a clear case for how the project will improve environmental conditions and deliver lasting benefits within the Gulf of Mexico watershed.Apply for EPA GM 2019 TFW
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Gulf of Mexico Program Reduction and Prevention of Trash in the Five Coastal States (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) of the Gulf of Mexico Watershed" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.475.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 24, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 22, 2019 See Section IV of the funding opportunity announcement for close date information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this EPA grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Gulf of Mexico Program. It focuses on reducing and preventing trash in the Gulf of Mexico watershed through practical, innovative projects that stop trash from entering waterways and remove debris already present.
What is the main goal of the funding?
The main goal is to support projects that prevent trash from entering the Gulf system and remove existing debris from rivers, bayous, wetlands, estuaries, and coastal areas that drain to the Gulf of Mexico. The program aims to improve water quality, protect and restore habitat, strengthen community resilience, and expand environmental education tied to real on-the-ground results.
What kinds of activities or approaches does EPA want to fund?
EPA is looking for projects that go beyond one-time cleanups and instead create durable systems for prevention and reduction. Examples of desired approaches include improved trash collection and interception, community engagement and behavior-change efforts, and strategies that can be replicated or scaled to other areas in the Gulf watershed.
Are trash cleanups eligible as standalone projects?
Trash removal may be part of a project, but the opportunity is oriented toward long-term reduction and prevention. EPA emphasizes collaboration and durable prevention systems rather than standalone cleanup events.
How important is collaboration and partnership for this grant?
Collaboration is a central expectation. EPA emphasizes working with businesses, communities, and state and local governments, suggesting a preference for proposals that bring multiple partners together and build lasting prevention and reduction systems.
What environmental or community outcomes is the program aiming for?
The desired outcomes include cleaner waterways, healthier coastal ecosystems, improved overall water quality, protected and restored habitat, strengthened community resilience, and expanded environmental education linked to measurable, real-world improvements.
How does reducing trash relate to community resilience?
The opportunity notes that litter and debris can worsen flooding and infrastructure impacts. By reducing trash and debris in waterways and along drainage pathways, projects can help communities be better prepared and less vulnerable to these impacts.
Where must projects take place to be eligible?
Projects must take place within one or more of the five eligible Gulf states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) and must be located in the Gulf of Mexico watershed. Applicants are expected to clearly show that the work occurs in areas that drain to the Gulf.
Is being located in an eligible state enough to qualify geographically?
No. The geographic requirement is not just state boundaries. The project must be located in the Gulf of Mexico watershed, meaning the project area must drain to the Gulf.
Can a project operate in more than one eligible state?
Yes. Proposals that operate across multiple eligible states or address watershed-scale trash pathways may align well with the regional nature of the program, as long as all work remains within the Gulf of Mexico watershed.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The opportunity is listed as EPA GM 2019 TFW, and it falls under CFDA 66.475.
What type of award will be made?
Awards under this opportunity are grants.
What is the maximum award amount?
The anticipated maximum award amount (ceiling) is up to $500,000 per award.
How many awards does EPA expect to make?
EPA expected to make about 10 awards under this announcement, indicating a competitive selection process.
How competitive is this opportunity likely to be?
With an expected 10 awards and a regional focus across five states, the process is likely competitive. The description suggests that project design quality, feasibility, partnerships, and measurable outcomes will matter heavily.
When was the funding notice created and when did it close?
The funding notice was created on September 24, 2019, with an original closing date of November 22, 2019.
Is the November 22, 2019 closing date the final deadline?
Applicants are directed to consult the official announcement's Section IV for the authoritative deadline details and any submission requirements. That section is the controlling source for the final deadline.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with clarification provided in the funding announcement's eligibility section. This implies that multiple applicant types may be eligible, depending on how the official announcement defines and limits eligible applicants.
What does "Eligibility: Others" mean in this context?
"Others" is not self-explanatory on its own. It indicates that eligibility is defined in the full funding opportunity announcement, and applicants should verify they qualify by checking the eligibility section referenced in the notice.
What should applicants do if they are unsure whether they qualify?
They should review the eligibility section of the official funding opportunity announcement (as referenced in the notice) before investing time in a full application.
What are the program's priorities in terms of project design?
The strongest concepts are expected to combine prevention and removal with community education and stakeholder coordination, and to make a clear case for measurable reductions in trash entering the Gulf system and lasting environmental benefits within the Gulf watershed.
What should a proposal emphasize to align with EPA's stated direction?
A proposal should clearly show: (1) the project is within the Gulf of Mexico watershed in one or more of the five eligible states, (2) collaboration with relevant partners (businesses, communities, and governments), and (3) a strategy aimed at long-term reduction and prevention with measurable outcomes, rather than a one-off cleanup.
Does the program support environmental education?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly mentions expanding environmental education efforts tied to real, on-the-ground results, suggesting education is most aligned when connected to measurable prevention and reduction outcomes.
What kinds of locations are mentioned as targets for trash removal or prevention?
The description mentions rivers, bayous, wetlands, estuaries, and coastal areas that ultimately drain to the Gulf of Mexico, indicating a wide range of watershed-connected environments where trash accumulates or travels.
Why does EPA emphasize targeting trash at its sources and along its pathways?
The program is designed to keep trash from entering waterways and to intercept or remove debris as it moves through the watershed. Addressing both sources and pathways supports broader goals like water quality improvements, habitat protection, and community benefits.
Where can applicants find the official submission requirements and authoritative deadline information?
The notice directs applicants to the official announcement's Section IV for authoritative deadline details and submission requirements.
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