ATLANTA (December 6, 2023) –Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $30 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) grant funding for projects promoting a healthy and resilient Gulf of Mexico watershed. Selected projects must be located in underserved communities within the five Gulf states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Eligible projects for the newly created Healthy & Resilient Gulf of Mexico Grant program include those that support water quality improvement; habitat protection, enhancement and restoration; environmental education; and community resilience.
“This historic funding will bring critical health protections, progress on shoreline and wetland restoration, jobs, and economic opportunities to the communities in the Gulf who have been overburdened by pollution,” said Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne M. Gettle. “We look forward to seeing the transformative projects that will work to advance protection and restoration of this vital watershed.”
“Vulnerable Gulf Coast communities deeply understand the environmental harms they live with every day, and they are ready for solutions,” said Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “This funding will provide investments in coastline habitats, water quality, and community resilience, thereby laying the foundation for a vital coastal ecosystem.”
The EPA plans to award approximately five grants of up to $6 million each to eligible state agencies, interstate agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal organizations, local governments, and institutions of higher learning. The application period will close on April 4, 2024, and awards are anticipated to be made in November 2024 for projects in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
The request for applications can be found at grants,gov or www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico. Questions regarding applying for this opportunity should be directed to the EPA Gulf of Mexico Division at GMP-RFP@epa.gov.
Background
On November 21, 2021, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), allocating over $60 billion to the EPA to invest in clean water infrastructure. Of that $60 billion, the EPA’s Gulf of Mexico Division was appropriated $53 million over five years to develop funding opportunities for the public, with majority of the funding dedicating to activities supporting underserved communities. The new Healthy & Resilient Gulf of Mexico RFA is intended to allocate up to $30 million of this BIL funding.
The Healthy & Resilient Gulf of Mexico grants are administered by the U.S. EPA’s Gulf of Mexico Division. The Gulf of Mexico Division is a non-regulatory program of EPA founded to facilitate collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and restore the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in ways consistent with the economic well-being of the region. To carry out its mission, the Gulf of Mexico Division continues to maintain and expand partnerships with state and federal agencies, federally recognized tribes, local governments and authorities, academia, regional businesses and industries, agricultural and environmental organizations, and individual citizens and communities.
For more information visit: www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico / https://youtu.be/RL10jboGfIg
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from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/F1JvdeH