Grants for Public and State controlled institutions of higher education - Environment

The "Models To Predict The Removal Of Emerging Micropollutants From Water By Novel Adsorbents In Fixed-Bed Column Processes" grant aims to fund the development, testing, and deployment of innovative water technologies, specifically models for novel adsorbents, to improve drinking water quality by removing micropollutants, with a particular encouragement for minority serving institutions to apply.

The Public School Environmental Repairs Program was established by Act 33 of 2023 to support public schools with remediating and/or abating environmental hazards in a school building or school buildings. This includes, but is not limited to, addressing lead in water sources and paint, asbestos, and mold. Eliminating lead and asbestos along with other environmental contaminants in schools lowers cumulative exposure throughout childhood, leads to better cognitive and overall health outcomes for children, and increases the likelihood of academic and career success. The program was established under Article XXVI-L of the Public School Code and is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Program grant funding received by a school district may not be included when calculating the amount to be paid to a charter school under section 1725-A of the School Code (24 P.S. § 17-1725-A).

Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Funding Opportunity Title: Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-NHQ-RCPPAFA-24-NOFO0001355 Assistance Listing: 10.932, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Due Date: NRCS must receive proposals by 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 12, 2024. Note: The RCPP AFA and Classic FY 2024 notices of funding opportunity (NFO) will run concurrently. For information on Classic proposals please see USDA-NRCS-NHQ-RCPP-24-NOFO0001354. The RCPP promotes the coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer valueadded contributions to expand our ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through the RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that provide solutions to conservation challenges thereby measurably improving the resource concerns they seek to address. RCPP promotes collaboration with partners, stakeholders, and various communities, which is paramount to achieving equity in NRCS programs and services. Using guidance contained in this notice, partners propose projects that generate conservation benefits by addressing specific natural resource concerns in a state or multistate area or by addressing one or more priority resource concerns within an NRCS-designated critical conservation area (CCA). NRCS and partners collaborate to design, promote, and implement RCPP projects on agricultural and nonindustrial private forest land. Through RCPP, NRCS may provide both financial assistance (FA) and technical assistance (TA) funds to project partners and agricultural producers for implementing projects. RCPP proposals are evaluated through a competitive proposal process based on three criteria: impact, partner contributions, and partnership and management. Up to $1.5 billion is available for RCPP projects through this announcement and the FY 2024 Classic announcement, which includes $300 million of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) funding and $1.2 billion of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding. Proposals will be accepted from all 50 States, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and U.S. territories in the Pacific Island Areas (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). NRCS will prioritize using IRA funds for projects that will implement climate-smart agriculture and forestry conservation activities as described in section F.3.a. of this announcement. Up to $100 million is being made available specifically for NRCS to enter into programmatic partnership agreements with Indian tribes. This set aside will be shared by this announcement and the FY 2024 Classic announcement. Any unused funds may be available for other partnership agreements. RCPP AFAs are intended to support project structures and approaches that cannot be carried out as effectively through the RCPP Classic NFO. RCPP AFA applicants must describe the innovative nature of the conservation approach they are proposing to justify potential funding through an RCPP AFA NFO rather than an RCPP Classic NFO. Moreover, applicants should consider the additional administrative and technical assistance responsibilities that accompany receipt of an RCPP AFA award. The 2018 Farm Bill provides the following examples of project types that might be implemented through RCPP AFA: projects that use innovative approaches to leverage the Federal investment in conservation; projects that deploy a pay-for-performance conservation approach; and projects that seek large-scale infrastructure investments that generate conservation benefits for agricultural producers and nonindustrial private forest owners. Although RCPP AFA provides flexibilities to partners, these projects share the overarching focus of RCPP, which is to engage with producers and landowners to implement conservation practices, systems, and approaches on (or for the benefit of) agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands. NRCS can make up to 15 awards through this funding opportunity through Farm Bill funding. This limit does not apply to projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. Submissions: Proposals must be submitted through the RCPP portal. See section E of this announcement for information on using the RCPP portal to submit proposals. Access to the RCPP portal requires a level 2 eAuthentication credential or a Login.gov credential. Obtaining a new Login.gov credential involves multiple steps and can take several days to complete. Instructions are posted on the How to Apply to RCPP web page listed below. For More Information: Applicants are expected to contact the appropriate state conservationists and state RCPP coordinators prior to submitting a proposal. NRCS will use a state conservation questionnaire to record the results of these conversations. Proposals without a completed questionnaire may have their score and ranking reduced. A list of state RCPP coordinators (as of the date of this announcements posting) is on the NRCS How to Apply to RCPP web page. Applicants can also email the RCPP inbox (rcpp@usda.gov) with any questions about the announcement. The NRCS RCPP website is also a great source of current information about the program. Interested applicants are encouraged to participate in one or more of the webinars below to learn about the program and how to apply. 2024 RCPP NFO Applicant Outreach Webinar This webinar will provide general information for applicants submitting proposals for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The same material will be covered at both webinars followed by a question-and-answer section. Please refer to the RCPP website for more information. Regional Conservation Partnership Program Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov) April 23, 2024, RCPP Applicant Outreach Webinar Registration Link 2pm to 4pm EDT - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/e2f45f75-7ea4-410b-b1c9-567537cd2454@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697 May 30, 2024, RCPP Applicant Outreach Webinar Registration Link 2pm to 4pm EDT - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/226dcb51-0b57-43b1-b340-95e535238713@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697 NRCS will schedule additional webinars on RCPP easements and providing outreach to tribal applicants. Information on all webinars will be posted to the RCPP how to apply page.

The purpose of the Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25) is to attract to NIH-relevant research those investigators whose quantitative science and engineering research has thus far not been focused primarily on questions of health and disease. The K25 award will provide support and "protected time" for a period of supervised study and research for productive professionals with quantitative (e.g., mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, imaging science, informatics, physics, chemistry) and engineering backgrounds to integrate their expertise with NIH-relevant research. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for applicants proposing to serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or a separate ancillary clinical trial, as part of their research and career development. Applicants not planning an independent clinical trial, or proposing to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by another investigator, must apply to companion FOA.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that enhance marine education and training, particularly for indigenous Pacific Islanders and underserved communities in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, focusing on sustainable fishing practices and traditional knowledge integration.

The purpose of this program is to support projects that will treat invasive plant infestations that threaten forested, woodland, or rangeland areas. The theme for the FY 2024 funding cycle is grasses and grasslands. Projects may occur on state, federal, tribal, and private lands in Arizona.  This program focuses on the prevention, control/removal, and eradication of invasive plants and aims to achieve the following objectives: Target and treat invasive plants that are capable of transforming native plant communities in forests, woodlands, deserts, or rangeland Assist in preventing fire and flooding, conserving water, and restoring habitat to wildlife Use an integrated weed management (IWM) approach when treating areas infested with invasive plants through the utilization of available tools, including manual, cultural, mechanical, chemical, and biological control methods Examples of eligible projects include: Control/removal or eradication of invasive plants Replacement of invasive plants with native plants through reseeding and planting Removal of woody invasive plant slash by mulching or grinding Examples of eligible costs include those in the following categories: Administrative labor Project labor Fringe benefits Travel Equipment Supplies Contractual Financial Notes: Match Notes: Applicants must provide at least 10 percent of the total project costs via cash and/or in-kind contributions. Priority may be given to projects that provide a higher-than-required match amount, not to exceed 50 percent. Specifically allowable matching contributions include: Cash paid by award recipients In-kind expenses, including necessary costs incurred by award recipients or other organizations to support the project Volunteer hours at a reasonable rate Donated labor and/or equipment necessary to complete the specific project Physical work performed by individual landowners on their own property Funding Notes: A total of $970,000 is available to support awards ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 through this program. Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis. Awards are expected to be issued in fall and winter 2024/2025. Specifically, award announcements are expected around October 2024. Proposed projects should be ready for implementation upon receipt of award and should be fully achievable within the prescribed award period. Projects must be considered shovel-ready. Funds may not be used for: Research and development projects Website, geographic information system (GIS), and database projects Projects that only include assessment activity and no related treatment of invasive plants Projects that include purchase of capital equipment valued at over $5,000 per item Expenses incurred prior to execution of a formal written agreement between the funding agency and the award recipient Reimbursement of physical work performed by individual landowners on their own property Food or beverage purchases

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Minority Serving Institutions to conduct research on the environmental and societal impacts of future air transportation technologies, with a focus on benefiting overburdened communities and promoting diversity in the STEM workforce.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to California colleges and universities to engage students in paid community service that addresses local needs in education, food security, and climate action while promoting civic leadership.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that monitor and improve water quality in the Gulf Coast region, targeting state agencies, local governments, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized Tribes.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to researchers with active NIH grants to address unexpected costs and enhance their projects without changing the original research scope.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) announces an open competition (see eligibility information in Funding Announcement), under the Toxic Chemicals earmark to measurably and sustainably, reduce and mitigate environmental and human exposures to lead arising from occupational sources in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Central America, South America, South Asia, Central Asia, and East Asia. Programming under this competition is intended to reduce lead pollution as well as promote and advance environmentally sustainable consumption and production at international, national, and subnational levels.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that advance the conservation of California's coastal waters, particularly benefiting local agencies, universities, nonprofits, and Native American tribes.

This program provides financial support to U.S.-based developers of hydropower technologies, enabling them to access testing facilities that will help improve their innovations and accelerate commercialization.

This funding opportunity supports state fish and wildlife agencies, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions in developing regional and national conservation projects that enhance wildlife management and promote hunting and recreational shooting participation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for high schools and organizations in the Gulf states to engage students in creating art and slogans that promote awareness and reduce plastic pollution in freshwater and marine environments.

The Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) administers a portion of New York State’s Department of Agriculture and Markets USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program. This program, funded by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, aims to enhance, grow, and improve the mid-channel of the food supply chain within New York State. The overarching mission alignment is to expand each state’s middle-chain capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural food products, excluding meat, poultry, cannabis, animal food and forage, fiber, and wild-caught seafood. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are New York State agricultural producers, processors, groups of producers and processors, nonprofit organizations, local government entities, tribal governments, and institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals that bring producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment for middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. The impact goals are to increase the supply of New York-sourced food products available in New York and regional markets, benefit multiple producers and markets, and support the development of new value-added products. The program prioritizes infrastructure development to expand business capacity for processing, aggregation, storage, and distribution. Specific focuses include targeting infrastructure projects to the dairy, fruit and vegetable, and organic industries. Another key priority is to create greater market access to intermediaries like food hubs, aggregators, wholesalers, and distributors, with the goal of increasing local food sales to institutions such as schools, hospitals, and correctional facilities. Expected outcomes include expanded processing capacities, modernized equipment and facilities, increased packaging and labeling capabilities, enhanced worker safety, and greater storage space, including cold storage. The program also seeks to develop and install climate-smart equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases water use efficiency, and improves air/water quality. Measurable results would involve an increase in New York-sourced food products in local markets, a greater number of businesses with expanded processing and distribution capacities, and an increase in local food sales to institutions, ultimately strengthening the resilience and efficiency of the state's food supply chain.

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The over-arching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that foster a better understanding of biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its implications. To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this FOA will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on research experiences for high school or undergraduate students or science teachers during the summer academic break. The proposed program needs to fit within the mission of the participating IC that the application is being submitted to and should not have a general STEM focus (see below and Table of IC-Specific Information and Points of Contact).

This funding opportunity supports graduate students in the U.S. conducting innovative research on wildland fire and related sciences to address real-world management challenges.

This funding opportunity supports research, education, and innovative projects that enhance understanding and management of ocean resources, targeting a wide range of eligible applicants including universities, nonprofits, and governments.

The Environmental Education and Conservation Fund, established in 2018 by biologist Roger Foote and agronomist Chuck Vaughn, aims to foster appreciation, conservation, and responsible use of the natural environment within Mendocino County. This initiative aligns directly with the Community Foundation of Mendocino County's mission to support organizations, including educational institutions, that offer conservation and/or education programs. The overarching goal is to raise awareness about the natural world through educational endeavors and to directly address significant conservation challenges. The fund targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including educational institutions and other organizations that provide conservation and education programs. The impact goals are centered around increasing ecological understanding, promoting natural resource management, highlighting the scientific method in conservation, addressing climate change and human roles in it, and encouraging land stewardship. Ultimately, the fund seeks to improve public access to natural lands, ensuring people from all backgrounds can experience and enjoy them. The fund's priorities and focuses are clearly delineated, encompassing both educational and conservation projects. Educational initiatives may include outdoor schools, science camps, college-level natural resource management programs, and natural history displays. Conservation projects, on the other hand, can involve wildlife surveys, habitat studies, restoration efforts, improving public access to conservation lands, land stewardship internships, tree planting, and invasive plant removal. The fund emphasizes a holistic approach to environmental well-being. Expected outcomes include a more informed public regarding ecological understanding and climate change, improved natural resource management practices, and tangible progress in habitat and watershed restoration. Measurable results could manifest in increased participation in environmental education programs, the successful completion of conservation projects such as a certain acreage of restored habitat, and an expansion of public access points to natural areas. The Foundation's strategic priorities are rooted in the belief that investing in both education and direct conservation efforts will lead to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious community, embodying a theory of change where knowledge and action drive positive ecological impact.