EPA Announces $12 Million for Historically Underserved Farm-Focused Projects in the Gulf of Mexico Watershed
EPA Announces $12 Million for Historically Underserved Farm-Focused Projects in the Gulf of Mexico Watershed
Contact: EPA Region 4 Press Office - (404) 562-8400, region4press@epa.gov
ATLANTA (Dec. 9, 2021) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) has announced the availability of $12 million in funding to support historically underserved farmers within the Gulf of Mexico watershed through the Farmer to Farmer grant program. Selected projects will work to increase collaboration among farming communities, while improving water quality, habitat, climate resilience and environmental education through the demonstration of innovative practices on working lands.
“EPA believes in the power of collaboration and communication to help engage the right people in the conversation,” said Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman. “The farming community is one of the most critical components of this country’s infrastructure, supplying, on average, over $1 trillion to our country’s economic viability. Addressing some of the most challenging environmental threats to the Gulf of Mexico watershed will require building on educational opportunities, confronting climate impacts and incorporating sustainable and resilient practices. We look forward to seeing the transformative partnerships and projects that will work to advance protection and restoration of this vital watershed.”
Supporting collaboration with underserved farmers underscores this Administration’s commitment to equal opportunity and advancing equity for all while achieving environmental good. Farmers are on the front line of action in reducing nonpoint source pollution and are critical stakeholders along with their State governments, farm organizations, conservation groups, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and community groups.
Under this grant program, proposals will carry out project activities using one or more of the following methods: surveys, studies, research, investigation, experimentation, education, training, and/or demonstrations. The proposed projects must include collaboration and sustainable and resilient agriculture operations. Additionally, the proposed projects must also be focused on at least one of the following activities: water quality, habitat, or sustainable forest management.
Eligible applicants include state agencies, federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia, any agency or instrumentality of local governments, nonprofit organizations, interstate agencies, and colleges and universities including minority serving institutions.
EPA plans to award four cooperative agreements, up to $3,000,000 of funding each. It is expected that grant awards may be issued for up to a five-year project period beginning May 2022. Successful applicants will be responsible for administering a competitive subaward grant program to directly collaborate with underserved farmers on projects in the Gulf of Mexico watershed. The request for applications period will end on February 4, 2022.
To View the funding opportunity on grants.gov here.
To View the opportunity on EPA’s Gulf of Mexico webpage here.
To Register here for the webinar about this opportunity, which will be held Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 3pm EST.
Background
The Farmer-to-Farmer grant funding is available to develop innovative practices within farming communities, measure the results of those practices, and identify how the practices will be incorporated into farming operations. Under this grant program, proposals will carry out project activities using one or more of the following methods: surveys, studies, research, investigation, experimentation, education, training, and/or demonstrations.
Historically, EPA has awarded a total of $20 million to support projects to improve water quality, habitat and environmental education through farmer-led or farm focused organizations in the Gulf of Mexico watershed, including the upper and lower Mississippi River Basins.
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 business and industry, agricultural and environmental organizations, and individual citizens and communities.
For more information visit: https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico .