EPA Seeks Applications for Environmental Community Grants

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is making $2 million available in 2010 to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. CARE is a community-based program that works with county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources.

EPA will award CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I awards range from $75,000 to $100,000 and will help establish community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities. Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities that have established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community, and are prepared to measure results, implement risk-reduction activities and become self-sustaining.

In 2009, EPA’s CARE program distributed $2 million to nine communities. Examples of projects that received grants include addressing waste and storm water issues in Kennett, Mo.; reducing air and water pollution in Holyoke, Mass.; addressing water pollution from coal slurry in Wheeling, W.Va.; reducing radon and other indoor air pollutants in Pueblo, Colo.; and tackling the problem of hazardous waste materials and open dumping in Toksook Bay, Alaska. Since 2005, the grants have reached 68 communities in 34 states and territories. A recent evaluation by the National Association of Public Administrators (NAPA) recognized the CARE program as a solid tested framework for engaging communities and other stakeholders.

Applications for the CARE grants are due March 9, 2010. EPA will conduct three Webcasts to answer questions from prospective applicants about the application process on Feb. 2, 23, and 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

More information about the grants: http://www.epa.gov/care/

Disney Announces New Friends for Change Grants for Youth-Led Environmental Service Projects

Disney and Youth Service America have announced Disney's Friends for Change Grants designed to help kids working to make environmentally friendly changes in their communities.

The new program encourages kids everywhere to take steps together with their friends to help the planet. The Friends for Change Grants will fund kids' projects that help the environment and will look to engage children ages five to 18 as leaders in their communities. The program will award 150 grants of $500 each throughout 2010.

The grant program is open to schools, organizations, and individuals planning service projects. To be eligible, projects will need to be done any time during 2010 and should include one service or celebratory component on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, an annual campaign that mobilizes young people around the world to make a positive impact in their communities.

For more information about the Disney Friends for Change Grants, visit the YSA or Disney Web sites.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

WREN Grant Funding Available for 2010-2011 Watershed Education Projects

The Water Resources Education Network (WREN) is a project of the Citizen Education Fund of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (LWVPA-CEF). WREN is a nonpartisan informal collaboration among organizations and public officials working for the protection and management of Pennsylvania’s water resources, both surface and ground water, through grass-roots education and informed policy-making. WREN provides training and grants for local coalition building to promote community awareness and development of public policies necessary to protect Pennsylvania water resources. The WREN Program focuses on two initiatives: Watershed Education to prevent nonpoint source pollution, and Source Water Protection Promotion to raise awareness about the importance of protecting public drinking water sources. Since 1992, LWVPA-CEF has provided over $1.7 million in funding to over 265 community partnerships working to safeguard Pennsylvania water resources.

LWVPA-CEF invites partnerships of local or regional organizations, such as watershed associations, civic groups, community water systems, governmental entities (including municipal authorities), and other public interest organizations to carefully review the WREN Grant Application Guidelines and Application Form and to submit an application to LWVPA CEF. Applications are due by Friday, March 26, 2010. Successful applicants will be notified by May 14, 2009. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded for projects to take place July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011.

Full details here.

Surface Water Improvement Fund (SWIF) Grants Program

STATEWIDE SWIF GRANTS: Ohio EPA is pleased to announce a new grants program designed to improve Ohio's rivers, streams and communities in general. Please find a Request for Proposals for the statewide 2010 Surface Water Improvement Fund (SWIF) Grants Program below. This is a potential funding source for projects such as stream restoration, nonpoint source pollution management and innovative storm water management projects.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY SPECIFIC SWIF RFP: Please find a 2010 Request for Proposals for CUYAHOGA COUNTY ONLY Surface Water Improvement Fund Grants below. Conditions placed on a second contribution to the SWIF fund restrict the use of those funds to Cuyahoga County. As a result, this separate RFP has been issued to potentially interested parties within Cuyahoga County.

The Requests for Proposals provide details about grant eligibility and other information that you will need to determine whether a SWIF grant is right for your project.

Click here for full description.

4th Annual Conference of the West Virginina Environmental Education

The 2010 Conference Committee wants everyone to participate! If you’d like to present a session, e-mail a proposal abstract no later than December 31, 2009. Tell us your name, title, affiliation, program name, presenter contact information (mailing address, phone, cell phone, email), and a brief description of what you’d like to present. Abstracts should be 150 words maximum.

Additional information regarding conference facilities, agenda, registration, travel, and local attractions will be available soon on the WVEEA website at www.wveea.org. Presenters are responsible for their conference registration, accommodations at the conference, and travel. Some limited scholarship funding may be available through an application process. Conference registration includes a one year membership to WVEEA.

Environmental Groups in Targeted Regions Supported

ESC provides capacity-building services to environmental justice groups and their allies nationwide, working with them to develop customized assistance plans that will benefit them over the longer term. ESC works with groups to assess their needs, set evaluation benchmarks, and develop a customized assistance plan. This may include small grants for technical assistance from culturally competent local consultants, or for training opportunities.
Service we provide are:

• Short-term intensive training and organizational assistance to help groups individually or in coalition;

• Longer-term assistance over an eight-month to two-year period to groups ready for major organizational breakthroughs.

This support offers maximum flexibility, addressing a wide variety of organizational issues with assistance from ESC-approved consultants and management support providers. Organizations requesting support for technology or fundraising support should see the information for the Technology Resources or Fundraising for Sustainable Organizations programs.
For more details click here.