U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Education, Outreach and Support Program
Grant: U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Education, Outreach and Support Program
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Division: Office of Air and Radiation (OAR)
Deadline: January 10, 2011. EPA requests that applicants submit an informal Intent to Apply notice by November 15, 2010, but this submission is optional.
Description: The EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation is soliciting applications to create and manage a U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Education Partnership Program located in the U.S. section of the border region. This program will provide environmental education opportunities relating to abatement and control of air pollution for student populations in primary school, secondary school, and undergraduate and graduate schools in science, engineering and other relevant fields. Students will be encouraged to undertake air quality-related training regarding air quality issues characteristic of those found in the U.S.-Mexico border region. The long-term purpose of the education program is to better communicate environmental risks to vulnerable populations along the U.S.-Mexico border and increase the quality, number and diversity of air pollution control specialists available to work on U.S.-Mexico border air quality problems.
Applicants must propose to provide education, outreach and training support that will encourage students in the border region to develop an interest in and an understanding of environmental sciences, particularly air quality. All applicants must address the two tasks of this grant:
- Task 1: Development of K-12 grade level curriculum and outreach to K-12 schools for environmental education. The focus of this curriculum should be air quality in the U.S. section of the U.S.-Mexico Border region. The instruction must be project-based, including hands-on activities and authentic experiences, and it must also focus on environmental justice. Recipients of this grant are also required to develop and maintain a publicly accessible website or portal that consists of quality environmental education, information, materials and resources.
- Task 2: Environmental science internship program for undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants are required to create a comprehensive plan for an environmental science internship program with a focus on air quality for both undergraduate and graduate students at a university in the U.S. section of the U.S.-Mexico border region.
An eligible applicant may collaborate with another eligible applicant to submit a single proposal that divides the two tasks between them. The EPA will award funds to one eligible applicant. Funding may be used to provide subgrants or subawards of financial assistance, which includes using subawards or subgrants to fund partnerships.
Proposed project activities must be located in the U.S. section of the U.S.-Mexico border region.
Fit for public broadcasting: Public broadcasting stations are eligible for this grant, but because it requires grantees to create and manage an internship program for undergraduate and graduate students, stations may feel more equipped to partner with another eligible applicant and focus on the K-12 education piece. This program will fund the development of a K-12 environmental education curriculum that includes a media component, and many stations have the expertise required to perform this work. While the eligibility requirements of this program do not require that applicants be based along the U.S.-Mexico border, the proposed activities must take place in the border region. Stations that are not located in that region will need to collaborate with partners who are, so that the curriculum can be tailored to the region and implemented there.
Eligibility: Applications will be accepted from states, local governments, territories, Indian tribes, possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories and other public or private nonprofit institutions.
Anticipated funding: The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this competitive opportunity is approximately $1,250,000 over five years, with an estimated annual funding at $250,000. EPA anticipates award of approximately one to two cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements permit substantial involvement between the EPA project officer and the selected applicants in the performance of the work supported.
The estimated project period for awards from this program will begin in the summer of 2011. Proposed project periods may be up to five years.
No matching funds are required under this competition, but EPA will evaluate proposals based on a leveraging criterion.
How to apply: Applications must be received by the EPA via an express delivery service or submitted online at Grants.gov. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the grant deadline.
Resources:
Program Notice
EPA Office of Air and Radiation website
