Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OSWER OBLR 14 01
Apply for EPA OSWER OBLR 14 01
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "ENVIRONMENTAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND JOB TRAINING GRANTS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.815 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Cooperative Agreements.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 10, 2013 and posted on Dec 10, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 13, 2014 Please refer to the announcement, including Section IV, for additional submission information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- See Section III of the announcement for eligibility information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number EPA OSWER OBLR 14 01) is a discretionary EPA funding program offered through cooperative agreements to support hands-on job training initiatives that lead to real employment outcomes in environmental fields. The main goal is to help communities build a local pipeline of trained workers by recruiting, training, and placing unemployed or underemployed residents into full-time jobs. The program is designed to connect people who need stable work with industries and public-sector needs tied to environmental cleanup and infrastructure, with an emphasis on practical skills and job placement rather than training for training's sake.
At its core, the program funds organizations that can run workforce development projects focused on environmental remediation and public health protection. EPA highlights several priority training areas, including solid and hazardous waste remediation (often associated with cleanup work and site restoration), environmental health and safety (skills that support safe field operations and regulatory compliance), and wastewater-related training (supporting water infrastructure operations and maintenance). While brownfields and hazardous waste training is a common foundation for these programs, EPA noted that in Fiscal Year 2014 it expected to give some funding preference to applicants who proposed additional types of environmental training beyond brownfields hazardous waste, as described in the announcement sections referenced (Section I.B and Section V.C). In practice, this signals that proposals could be more competitive if they broaden the training menu to match local labor market needs in other environmental specialties, as long as the program still clearly leads to employable skills and placements.
The opportunity anticipated making about 12 awards nationwide, with an estimated total funding amount of $2.4 million. Individual awards could be as high as $200,000, and the award floor was listed as $0, which effectively means EPA did not guarantee a minimum award size and could choose to fund proposals at varying levels depending on merit, scope, and available funds. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates EPA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination, oversight, or collaboration requirements) compared with a more hands-off grant structure.
Cost sharing or matching funds were not required, which lowers the barrier to entry for eligible applicants that may not have access to significant non-federal resources. Eligible applicants were listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," and the notice states that eligibility details are provided in Section III of the full announcement. The description explicitly mentions eligible entities including nonprofit organizations, signaling that community-based and mission-driven workforce providers were expected participants, alongside any other eligible entity types defined in the full solicitation.
Key administrative details include a posted and created date of December 10, 2013, with an original and current closing date of February 13, 2014, and an archive date of March 15, 2014. The assistance listing (CFDA) number associated with the program is 66.815, titled Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Cooperative Agreements. Applicants were directed to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for submission requirements and process details, and Section VII for regional contacts. For access issues or general help, the point of contact listed was Joseph Bruss at 202-566-2772.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as an EPA-funded workforce program aimed at producing job-ready graduates for environmental work, particularly in cleanup, safety, and water-related roles, with an explicit expectation that applicants will demonstrate credible recruitment plans, relevant training curricula aligned with industry needs, and a clear strategy to place trainees into full-time employment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants opportunity?
This is an EPA discretionary funding opportunity offered through cooperative agreements to support hands-on environmental job training initiatives that lead to real employment outcomes. The program is intended to recruit, train, and place unemployed or underemployed residents into full-time jobs in environmental fields tied to cleanup and infrastructure needs.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is EPA OSWER OBLR 14 01.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 66.815, titled Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Cooperative Agreements.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is to help communities build a local pipeline of trained workers by recruiting, training, and placing unemployed or underemployed residents into full-time jobs. The emphasis is on practical, job-ready skills and placement outcomes rather than training without a clear employment pathway.
What types of projects does EPA want to fund under this opportunity?
EPA intends to fund workforce development projects focused on environmental remediation and public health protection. The projects should provide hands-on job training and demonstrate a credible plan to move trainees into full-time employment in relevant environmental occupations.
What training areas are highlighted as priorities?
EPA highlights several priority training areas, including:
- Solid and hazardous waste remediation (cleanup work, site restoration)
- Environmental health and safety (safe field operations and regulatory compliance support)
- Wastewater-related training (water infrastructure operations and maintenance)
Is the program limited to brownfields or hazardous waste training?
No. While brownfields and hazardous waste training is described as a common foundation, EPA noted that in Fiscal Year 2014 it expected to give some funding preference to applicants proposing additional types of environmental training beyond brownfields hazardous waste (as described in the referenced announcement sections, Section I.B and Section V.C). This suggests proposals may be more competitive when they broaden training offerings to match local labor market needs, as long as the training clearly leads to employable skills and placements.
How many awards did EPA expect to make?
The opportunity anticipated making about 12 awards nationwide.
What is the estimated total funding amount for the competition?
The estimated total funding amount is $2.4 million.
What is the maximum award amount?
Individual awards could be as high as $200,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
The award floor was listed as $0. This indicates EPA did not guarantee a minimum award size and could choose to fund proposals at varying levels depending on merit, scope, and available funds.
What type of funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement. This generally means EPA expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as coordination, oversight, or collaboration, compared with a more hands-off grant structure.
Is cost sharing or a match required?
No. Cost sharing or matching funds were not required for this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." The notice indicates that eligibility details are provided in Section III of the full announcement. The description explicitly mentions nonprofit organizations as eligible entities, suggesting community-based and mission-driven workforce providers were expected participants, along with any other entity types defined in the full solicitation.
What outcomes does EPA expect applicants to deliver?
The program is structured around employment outcomes. Applicants are expected to show credible plans for recruitment, relevant training curricula aligned with industry or public-sector needs, and a clear strategy to place trainees into full-time jobs in environmental fields.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The posted and created date was December 10, 2013. The original and current closing date was February 13, 2014. The archive date was March 15, 2014.
Where should applicants look for submission requirements and process details?
Applicants were directed to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV for submission requirements and process details.
Where can applicants find EPA regional contacts for this opportunity?
Applicants were directed to Section VII of the full announcement for regional contacts.
Who is the point of contact for access issues or general help?
The listed point of contact is Joseph Bruss at 202-566-2772.
What does it mean that this is a discretionary EPA funding program?
In this context, "discretionary" indicates the funding is competitively awarded based on proposal merit, alignment with program goals, and available funds, rather than being automatically allocated by formula.
What does EPA mean by emphasizing job placement rather than "training for training's sake"?
The program is meant to connect people who need stable work with real industry and public-sector needs in environmental cleanup and infrastructure. Applicants are expected to design training that directly supports employable skills and culminates in full-time job placement, not simply classroom instruction without a clear path to employment.
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