Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OITA AIEO 2016 001

  • The EPA in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2016-2017 Tribal ecoAmbassadors Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.954.
  • This funding opportunity was created on May 03, 2016 and posted on May 03, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 17, 2016. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for EPA OITA AIEO 2016 001

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Opportunity Summary:

The 2016-2017 Tribal ecoAmbassadors Grant Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed to strengthen environmental work led by students at Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). The core goal of the program is to fund student-operated environmental projects at TCUs while also creating direct collaboration between TCU participants and EPA scientists. Through that partnership, the program aims to support practical, community-centered research and project work that addresses environmental issues that participating tribal communities consider most urgent and locally relevant.

Projects supported under this program can cover a wide range of environmental topics, reflecting the diverse needs and priorities across tribal communities. EPA indicates that potential focus areas include climate change, environmental health, traditional ecological knowledge, environmental sustainability, ecological adaptation, biodiversity, and pollution, while also making clear that these examples are not exhaustive. In practice, that means the program is intended to be flexible enough to support different kinds of campus-and-community-based projects, as long as they are grounded in environmental problem-solving and aligned with community priorities. A defining feature is the emphasis on pairing the TCU project teams with EPA scientists, suggesting that projects are expected to benefit from technical expertise, scientific methods, and mentoring that can strengthen project design, implementation, and outcomes.

The funding mechanism for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates a more collaborative relationship with the agency than a standard grant. In general terms, that format often involves substantial involvement by the EPA during the life of the project, such as technical input, coordination, or scientific collaboration, which aligns with the program's stated intent to connect student teams with EPA scientists. The program is listed under the Environmental funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 66.954, which identifies the federal assistance listing connected to this type of EPA support.

Key application details include an opportunity number of EPA-OITA-AIEO-2016-001 and an original and current closing date of June 17, 2016. The opportunity was created and posted on May 3, 2016, indicating a relatively short application window. The award ceiling is $50,000 per award, and EPA anticipated making about 8 awards, which signals a competitive selection process with a limited number of funded projects. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the full announcement, but the description makes clear that the intended applicants are Tribal Colleges and Universities seeking support for student-led environmental projects tied to tribal community priorities.

Overall, this opportunity is structured to do two things at once: provide direct financial support for hands-on, student-driven environmental initiatives at TCUs, and build a working bridge between those student teams and EPA scientific staff. The result the program is aiming for is not just short-term project funding, but stronger local capacity for environmental stewardship, applied research, and community-informed solutions that reflect both scientific practice and tribal knowledge systems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - 2016-2017 Tribal ecoAmbassadors Grant Program

What is the 2016-2017 Tribal ecoAmbassadors Grant Program?

The 2016-2017 Tribal ecoAmbassadors Grant Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is designed to strengthen environmental work led by students at Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) by funding student-operated environmental projects and connecting TCU participants directly with EPA scientists.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The core goal is to fund student-operated environmental projects at TCUs while creating direct collaboration between participating TCU teams and EPA scientists. The program is intended to support practical, community-centered project work and research that addresses environmental issues tribal communities identify as urgent and locally relevant.

Who is this program intended to support?

Based on the description, the intended applicants are Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) seeking support for student-led environmental projects connected to tribal community priorities.

What kinds of projects can be supported?

The program is intended to support a wide range of environmental projects. EPA lists potential focus areas such as climate change, environmental health, traditional ecological knowledge, environmental sustainability, ecological adaptation, biodiversity, and pollution. These examples are not exhaustive, meaning other environmental topics may also be appropriate if they align with community priorities and environmental problem-solving.

Are projects required to be community-centered?

Yes. The opportunity description emphasizes practical, community-centered research and project work that addresses environmental issues tribal communities consider most urgent and locally relevant.

What is unique about the Tribal ecoAmbassadors program compared to typical grants?

A defining feature is the emphasis on pairing TCU project teams with EPA scientists. This indicates projects are expected to benefit from scientific methods, technical expertise, and mentoring that can strengthen project design, implementation, and outcomes.

What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates a more collaborative relationship with the agency than a standard grant and often involves substantial EPA involvement during the project period, such as technical input, coordination, or scientific collaboration.

How does EPA participate during the project?

The program description indicates that EPA scientists will collaborate directly with TCU participants. The cooperative agreement format also suggests EPA may have substantial involvement during the life of the project, consistent with providing technical input and scientific collaboration.

What environmental topics does EPA highlight as possible focus areas?

EPA highlights climate change, environmental health, traditional ecological knowledge, environmental sustainability, ecological adaptation, biodiversity, and pollution as potential focus areas. The list is presented as examples rather than a complete list of allowable topics.

What is the award ceiling (maximum funding) per award?

The award ceiling is $50,000 per award.

How many awards did EPA anticipate making?

EPA anticipated making about 8 awards.

Does the program appear to be competitive?

Yes. With an anticipated 8 awards and a defined application deadline, the program is described in a way that indicates a competitive selection process with a limited number of funded projects.

What is the opportunity number for this grant program?

The opportunity number is EPA-OITA-AIEO-2016-001.

What is the closing date to apply?

The original and current closing date listed is June 17, 2016.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was created and posted on May 3, 2016.

How long was the application window based on the posted and closing dates?

Based on the opportunity being posted on May 3, 2016 and closing on June 17, 2016, the application window is relatively short.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 66.954.

What funding activity category is this opportunity listed under?

The program is listed under the Environmental funding activity category.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the full announcement. However, the description makes clear that the intended applicants are Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) seeking support for student-led environmental projects tied to tribal community priorities.

Do projects need to involve students directly?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes student-operated and student-led environmental projects at TCUs.

What outcomes is EPA trying to achieve through this program?

The program aims to produce more than short-term project funding. It is structured to build stronger local capacity for environmental stewardship, applied research, and community-informed solutions that reflect scientific practice and tribal knowledge systems, supported through collaboration between student teams and EPA scientific staff.

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