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 | EPA GM 2019 TFW

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.

• 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).

Apply for EPA GM 2019 TFW

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: