Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2016 STAR A2
Apply for EPA G2016 STAR A2
- The EPA in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early Career Awards: Integrating Human Health and Well-Being with Ecosystem Services" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.509.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 22, 2016 and posted on Feb 22, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, offered the "Early Career Awards: Integrating Human Health and Well-Being with Ecosystem Services" grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number EPA G2016 STAR A2) to support early career-focused research that is both collaborative and community-based. The central purpose of the competition was to deepen practical, on-the-ground understanding of the ways ecosystems and the benefits they provide (often described as ecosystem services) influence and support human health and overall well-being. Rather than treating environmental quality and public health as separate tracks, the opportunity emphasized research that connects ecological conditions directly to the lived health and well-being outcomes experienced by communities.
A key expectation was that proposed projects would help communities integrate ecosystem services into real decision making and management practices. In other words, the research was meant to be usable by communities as they plan, prioritize, and manage local resources, with a focus on identifying how natural systems (such as wetlands, forests, urban green space, watersheds, or coastal habitats) contribute to outcomes people care about. Those outcomes could include things like improved air and water quality, reduced exposure to contaminants, lower heat stress, reduced flooding impacts, enhanced opportunities for recreation and physical activity, mental health benefits associated with access to nature, or other pathways through which ecosystems can shape health and quality of life.
The solicitation also highlighted the need to produce information that allows communities to bring multiple kinds of evidence together, not just environmental data. Applicants were encouraged to develop approaches that integrate environmental, societal, and economic information so that communities can evaluate tradeoffs and align ecosystem-based actions with community goals. Another major theme was the management of multiple stressors and cumulative impacts. Many communities face overlapping pressures such as pollution, land-use change, climate-related hazards, and social or economic vulnerability, and EPA was looking for research that helps address these combined burdens on both people and ecosystems rather than studying each stressor in isolation. The broader, long-term aim was explicitly community-centered: generating knowledge and decision support that helps communities achieve their own objectives, reflecting local priorities and contexts.
Structurally, this was a discretionary grant in the environmental funding activity category (CFDA 66.509). The posted award ceiling was $400,000 per award, and EPA anticipated making about three awards under this announcement. The opportunity was posted on February 22, 2016, created the same day, and had an application closing date of April 21, 2016. Eligibility was listed generally as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the opportunity materials, indicating that applicants needed to consult the detailed eligibility language in the full announcement to confirm who could apply and under what conditions.
Overall, the grant was designed to support early career researchers working in partnership with communities to create actionable science at the intersection of ecosystems and public health. The emphasis was on practical integration: linking ecosystem services to human health and well-being in ways that inform local choices, help manage cumulative risks, and support community-driven decision making.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this EPA grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Early Career Awards: Integrating Human Health and Well-Being with Ecosystem Services" and was offered through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA G2016 STAR A2.
What is the main goal of the grant competition?
The central purpose was to strengthen practical, on-the-ground understanding of how ecosystems and the benefits they provide (often described as ecosystem services) influence and support human health and overall well-being, with an emphasis on producing research that communities can actually use in decision making.
What kind of research did EPA want to fund?
EPA sought early career-focused research that is collaborative and community-based, and that connects ecological conditions directly to real-world health and well-being outcomes experienced by communities (instead of treating environmental quality and public health as separate tracks).
Who was this opportunity designed to support?
It was designed to support early career researchers working in partnership with communities to create actionable science at the intersection of ecosystems and public health.
What does "community-based" mean in the context of this solicitation?
Based on the description provided, "community-based" indicates that projects were expected to be conducted in partnership with communities and to generate outputs that help communities integrate ecosystem services into real decision making and management practices aligned with local priorities.
What are "ecosystem services" in plain terms?
In this solicitation, ecosystem services refers to the benefits people receive from natural systems, such as wetlands, forests, urban green space, watersheds, or coastal habitats, and how those benefits relate to community health and quality of life.
What types of ecosystems were mentioned as relevant examples?
Examples of natural systems referenced include wetlands, forests, urban green space, watersheds, and coastal habitats.
What kinds of human health and well-being outcomes were included as examples?
The opportunity cited outcomes and pathways such as improved air and water quality, reduced exposure to contaminants, lower heat stress, reduced flooding impacts, enhanced opportunities for recreation and physical activity, and mental health benefits associated with access to nature, as well as other ecosystem-to-health connections.
Was the research expected to be usable in real community decisions?
Yes. A key expectation was that projects would help communities integrate ecosystem services into real decision making and management practices, supporting how communities plan, prioritize, and manage local resources.
Did EPA want applicants to integrate only environmental data?
No. The solicitation emphasized producing information that helps communities bring together multiple kinds of evidence, not just environmental data, including the integration of environmental, societal, and economic information.
Why did the announcement emphasize environmental, societal, and economic information together?
The intent was to help communities evaluate tradeoffs and align ecosystem-based actions with community goals by combining different types of information that matter for practical choices.
What are "multiple stressors" and "cumulative impacts" in this solicitation?
The solicitation highlighted that many communities face overlapping pressures such as pollution, land-use change, climate-related hazards, and social or economic vulnerability. EPA was looking for research that addresses these combined burdens on people and ecosystems rather than analyzing each stressor in isolation.
What was the longer-term aim of the program according to the description?
The longer-term aim was community-centered: generating knowledge and decision support that helps communities achieve their own objectives while reflecting local priorities and local contexts.
What type of grant was this?
This was described as a discretionary grant in the environmental funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 66.509.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posted award ceiling was $400,000 per award.
How many awards did EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making about three awards under this announcement.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on February 22, 2016 (and created the same day).
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date was April 21, 2016.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed generally as "Others". The announcement indicated that applicants needed to consult the detailed eligibility language in the full opportunity materials to confirm who could apply and under what conditions.
Does the provided summary include the full eligibility rules?
No. The summary only notes that eligibility was categorized as "Others" and that additional clarification was referenced in the opportunity materials. The detailed eligibility requirements are not included in the information provided here.
What does the solicitation mean by "integrating ecosystem services into decision making"?
It means producing research and decision-relevant information that communities can use to plan, prioritize, and manage local natural resources in ways that connect ecosystem conditions to community health and well-being outcomes.
What was the overarching theme that ties the projects together?
The unifying theme was practical integration: linking ecosystem services to human health and well-being in ways that inform local choices, support management of cumulative risks, and remain grounded in community-driven decision making.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (EPA G2016 STAR A2) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Integrating Human Health and Well-Being with Ecosystem Services Apply for EPA G2016 STAR A1 Funding Number: EPA G2016 STAR A1 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program FY 2016 Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 16 02 Funding Number: EPA OAR OTAQ 16 02 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $4,400,000 |
| BOEM FY 2016 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM Apply for M16AS00004 Funding Number: M16AS00004 Agency: DOI-MMS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| 2016 HEALTHY COMMUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM Apply for EPA R1 HC 2016 Funding Number: EPA R1 HC 2016 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Native American Water Rights Settlement Database (NAWRS) Apply for BOR UC 16 N006 Funding Number: BOR UC 16 N006 Agency: DOI-BOR Category: Environment Funding Amount: $53,035 |
| Construction of the La Sierra Pipeline Portion of the Riverside-Corona Feeder Apply for R16AP00023 Funding Number: R16AP00023 Agency: DOI-BOR Category: Environment Funding Amount: $8,500,000 |
| National Tribal Air Association Operations Apply for EPA OAR IO 16 01 Funding Number: EPA OAR IO 16 01 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,005,000 |
| FY16 and FY17 Region 03 Wetland Program Development Grants Apply for EPA R3 EAID 16 02 Funding Number: EPA R3 EAID 16 02 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Urban Waters Proctor Creek Ambassador Apply for EPA R4 16 UWPCA 01 Funding Number: EPA R4 16 UWPCA 01 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $69,000 |
| Assessment of Contaminant Exposure for Bald Eagles Nesting in Colonial National Historical Park Apply for P16AS00069 Funding Number: P16AS00069 Agency: DOI-NPS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $59,250 |
| FY 2016 and FY 2017 Pollution Prevention Grant Program Apply for EPA HQ OPPT 2016 002 Funding Number: EPA HQ OPPT 2016 002 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $360,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award - Wood-Pawcatuck River Planning Assistance Apply for NPS 16 NERO 0024 Funding Number: NPS 16 NERO 0024 Agency: DOI-NPS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $44,000 |
| FY16 Region IV Wetland Program Development Grants Apply for EPA REG04 16 02 Funding Number: EPA REG04 16 02 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Sacramento State University Collaborative Apply for F16AS00134 Funding Number: F16AS00134 Agency: DOI-FWS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $163,841 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAM Apply for EPA EE 16 02 Funding Number: EPA EE 16 02 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $11,000,000 |
| Delta Science Program Sponsorship Support Apply for USGS 16 FA 0018 Funding Number: USGS 16 FA 0018 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BOEM FY 2016 Environmental Studies Program Apply for M16AS00005 Funding Number: M16AS00005 Agency: DOI-MMS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $550,000 |
| FY 2016 and FY 2017 Pollution Prevention Information Network (PPIN) Grants Program Apply for EPA HQ OPPT 2016 001 Funding Number: EPA HQ OPPT 2016 001 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $220,000 |
| FY16 and FY17 Region 08 Wetland Program Development Grants Apply for EPA REG08 16 01 Funding Number: EPA REG08 16 01 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Habitat Conservation for Greater Sage Grouse Apply for F16AS00138 Funding Number: F16AS00138 Agency: DOI-FWS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $46,152 |
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