Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OW IO 12 01
Apply for EPA OW IO 12 01
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Urban Waters Small Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.440 Urban Waters Small Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2011 and posted on Nov 21, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 23, 2012 Please refer to the full announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on submission methods and due dates.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $60,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 55 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- See Section III of the announcement for additional eligibility information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Urban Waters Small Grants program is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity aimed at improving water quality in urban areas through targeted, knowledge-building projects. The EPA is looking for proposals that help restore urban water bodies while also supporting broader community goals such as neighborhood revitalization and other locally defined priorities. Rather than paying for straightforward on-the-ground construction or routine cleanup work, the program is designed to fund projects that deepen understanding of local water pollution problems and help communities develop, test, and share approaches that can be replicated elsewhere.
At its core, the opportunity supports research, studies, training, and demonstration efforts that advance urban water restoration. Competitive projects are expected to do several things at once: build a comprehensive picture of local water quality issues, identify practical activities to address those issues at the local level, and actively engage the people who live and work around the affected water body. Proposals are also expected to show clear community benefit, especially for surrounding neighborhoods that have been disproportionately harmed by water pollution. The emphasis is not only environmental improvement, but also community-facing outcomes such as education, empowerment, and local capacity to participate in water-quality solutions.
The legal authority for these awards comes from Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1254(b)(3)). That statute limits what the funding can be used for: it must support the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies related to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. In practical terms, applicants need to frame their work as building and transferring knowledge about water pollution problems and solutions, not simply completing a routine task.
If a proposal includes a demonstration project, the EPA sets a specific bar: the demonstration must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches. The agency expects results to be shared so others can learn from what was tested, meaning dissemination and knowledge transfer are central expectations. Projects that rely on routine, traditional, or established practices, or projects that are mainly about carrying out a standard activity without generating transferable learning, do not qualify as demonstration projects under this program, even if the underlying work is worthwhile. Importantly, implementation projects are explicitly not eligible under this announcement, so applicants should avoid proposing work that is primarily construction, installation, or direct implementation without a research, training, study, or experimental demonstration component.
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary grant program using cooperative agreements, meaning EPA typically anticipates a more engaged relationship with recipients than a standard grant. The funding opportunity number is EPA OW IO 12 01, under CFDA 66.440 (Urban Waters Small Grants). EPA anticipated making about 55 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $3,800,000. Individual awards could be up to $60,000, with no stated minimum award floor. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants would need to contribute non-federal resources as described in the full solicitation.
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in Section III of the full announcement, so applicants would need to consult the full document to confirm whether their organization type qualifies and what conditions apply. The application deadline shown for this solicitation was January 23, 2012 (with the notice later archived on November 21, 2012). For help accessing the complete announcement or for questions, the listed contact was Ji Sun Yi at (202) 566-0730 or urbanwaters@epa.gov.
Urban Waters Small Grants (EPA) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Urban Waters Small Grants program?
The Urban Waters Small Grants program is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity focused on improving water quality in urban areas through targeted, knowledge-building projects. The program is meant to support efforts that help restore urban water bodies while also advancing broader community goals such as neighborhood revitalization and other locally defined priorities.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The main purpose is to fund projects that deepen understanding of local urban water pollution problems and help communities develop, test, and share approaches that can be replicated elsewhere. The program emphasizes learning, knowledge transfer, and community engagement rather than routine implementation work.
What kinds of projects does EPA want to fund under this program?
EPA is looking for proposals centered on research, studies, training, and demonstration efforts that advance urban water restoration. Competitive projects are expected to:
- Build a comprehensive picture of local water quality issues
- Identify practical activities to address those issues at the local level
- Actively engage people who live and work around the affected water body
- Show clear community benefit, especially for neighborhoods disproportionately harmed by water pollution
Is this program meant to pay for construction, installation, or routine cleanup?
No. The announcement explains that the program is not designed to pay for straightforward on-the-ground construction or routine cleanup work. Implementation projects are explicitly not eligible. Applicants should avoid proposing work that is primarily construction, installation, or direct implementation without a strong research, training, study, or experimental demonstration component.
What does EPA mean by "knowledge-building"?
In practical terms, projects should be framed as building and transferring knowledge about water pollution problems and solutions. This includes activities that improve understanding of causes and effects of pollution, test approaches, and share findings so others can learn and replicate what works.
What makes a demonstration project eligible under this opportunity?
If a proposal includes a demonstration project, EPA requires that the demonstration involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches. The program also expects results to be shared so others can learn from what was tested, making dissemination and knowledge transfer central expectations.
Are traditional or well-established approaches acceptable as demonstration projects?
No, not as "demonstration projects" under this program. The announcement states that projects relying on routine, traditional, or established practices, or projects mainly carrying out a standard activity without generating transferable learning, do not qualify as demonstration projects for this opportunity.
What community outcomes does EPA expect projects to support?
Beyond environmental improvement, the opportunity emphasizes community-facing outcomes such as education, empowerment, and building local capacity to participate in water-quality solutions. Proposals are also expected to show clear community benefits, particularly for neighborhoods disproportionately harmed by water pollution.
What is the legal authority for the Urban Waters Small Grants awards?
The legal authority is Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1254(b)(3)). Under this authority, funding must support the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies related to water pollution (including causes, effects such as health and welfare effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination).
How does the Clean Water Act authority affect what the grant can fund?
Because the authority is tied to research and knowledge-building activities (such as studies, training, experiments, and demonstrations), applicants need to frame the work as building and sharing knowledge about water pollution problems and solutions, rather than simply completing a routine task.
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary grant program using cooperative agreements. That typically means EPA anticipates a more engaged relationship with recipients than a standard grant.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum individual award amount listed is up to $60,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor is stated in the information provided.
How many awards did EPA anticipate making, and what was the estimated total funding?
EPA anticipated making about 55 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $3,800,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants would need to contribute non-federal resources as described in the full solicitation.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in Section III of the full announcement. Applicants would need to consult the full document to confirm whether their organization type qualifies and what conditions apply.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is EPA OW IO 12 01. The CFDA number is 66.440 (Urban Waters Small Grants).
When was the application deadline for this solicitation?
The application deadline shown was January 23, 2012. The notice was later archived on November 21, 2012.
Who can applicants contact for questions or help accessing the full announcement?
The listed contact was Ji Sun Yi at (202) 566-0730 or urbanwaters@epa.gov.
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