Environmental Finance Center Grants

 

The Environmental Finance Center Grant Program provides funding to support Regional and National Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) in the following categories: 1) Regional Multi-Environmental Media EFCs, 2) Regional Water Infrastructure EFCs with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) appropriations, and 3) National Water Infrastructure EFCs with IIJA Funding. The EFCs work with state and tribal governments, local governments, and the private sector to address the growing costs of environmental protection. The EFCs provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, identifying appropriate revenue generating mechanisms, and evaluating environmental financing options. A central goal of the EFCs is to create sustainable systems. Sustainable systems have the financial, technical, and institutional resources and capabilities to operate in compliance with environmental requirements and in conformance with accepted environmental practices over the long term. EFCs focus on helping smaller parties find ways to obtain financing for their environmental protection responsibilities. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2023: Providing education, training, technical assistance, and analytic support and outreach to state, tribal and local governments and businesses (with a focus on smaller governments and businesses) on: (1) supporting cleaner/greener business through source reduction, pollution prevention, conservation, resource recovery, reuse, and recycling (sustainable materials management); (2) promoting environmentally sustainable development, redevelopment, smart growth and land use planning; green infrastructure approaches; and green building efforts by state and local governments and the private sector; (3) supporting wetlands programs and protection; (4) improving drinking water and wastewater utility water conservation, energy efficiency, management, and capital planning; (5) encouraging green jobs and green business products and services; (6) promoting innovative ways to finance and otherwise support interstate, state, regional, and local air pollution reduction efforts; (7) assisting the owners and operators of small, medium, and disadvantaged environmental systems in planning, developing, and obtaining financing for infrastructure projects; (8) developing fiscal sustainability plans for utilities that include inventories of critical assets, evaluations asset performance, energy conservation efforts, operations, maintenance and repair needs and activities, and any required certifications; (9) reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and developing decision tools and financial strategies for adaptation to adverse weather events and/or climate change.; (10) identifying, supporting and advancing environmental equity and justice concerns, where appropriate, in all training, outreach, projects, programs, and activities; and, (11) encouraging the development and use of public-private partnerships, where appropriate in providing environmental services, infrastructure, projects, and activities.

Active 66.203 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 In FY 2016, EPA anticipates awarding nine university-based Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) to work with state, tribal, and local governments and the private sector to develop and implement a wide range of creative, responsible, and sustainable solutions to existing and new environmental challenges. Each participating university will operate an EFC or EFCs that will provide technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs will provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs will educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, encouraging full cost pricing, and identifying and evaluating environmental financing options. n FY 2016, nine (eight university-base and one nonprofit-based) Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) worked with state, tribal, and local governments as well as the private sector in developing and implementing a range of creative, responsible, and sustainable solutions to existing and new environmental challenges. In this first year of the new EFC grant award period, five of the eight grantees operating EFCs under the previous grant award were awarded funding and four new grantees were awarded funding and began operating as EFCs. EFC accomplishments in FY 2016 included: (1) University of Southern Maine EFC - (1) facilitating a series of three workshops on implementing a stormwater financing program in the Narragansett Bay that presented the components of a good stormwater feasibility study, examined ways to gain community acceptance and build political support, looked at options for reducing costs and leveraging innovative financing, and shared ways to build successful partnerships; (2) Syracuse University EFC - building stakeholder partnerships in New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico to strengthen and develop regional marine debris protection (trash free waters) and providing climate resiliency training on issues including watershed management, strengthening infrastructure for flood protection, financing resiliency, and storm water asset management planning; (3) University of Maryland EFC – implementing and expanding the Sustainable Maryland Certified program that helps Maryland municipalities to find cost-effective and strategic ways to protect their natural assets and revitalize their communities, and developing a Municipal Online Stormwater Training (MOST) Center that provides communities with access to needed storm water management technical and financial resources through a comprehensive and interactive online training program; (4) University of North Carolina EFC - comparing the financial structures and outcomes of alternative water service delivery models (including public-private partnerships) in nine communities across the country, and assisting EPA WaterCARE communities in developing sustainable financing strategies to address the challenges of aging water infrastructure; (5) Michigan Technological University EFC - staffing and standing up a new center that will focus on providing financial technical assistance on water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure issues especially for small and rural communities; (6) University of New Mexico EFC - delivering technical, managerial, and financial capacity building training for small water systems covering important topics such as water loss control, asset management, and operator certifications and providing needed financial planning support to EPA WaterCARE communities; (7) Wichita State University EFC - performing energy assessments for small to medium sized wastewater treatment plants across the state of Kansas identifying substantial energy reduction opportunities and significant cost savings, and implementing an educational and training program designed to stimulate the interest of high school students in the career opportunities in the water and wastewater industry; (8) California State University at Sacramento (Sacramento State) - staffing and standing up a new EFC that looks to provide cost-effective solutions to protecting public health and the environment focusing on stormwater management, sustainable utility operations, solid and hazardous waste management and tribal communities; and (9) Rural Community Assistance Corporation - Standing up a new EFC that will focus on providing infrastructure financial education to tribal communities, creating map-based tools for asset management, and developing financial analysis that incorporates cultural concerns when comparing adapt-in-place costs to relocation costs for infrastructure.
Fiscal Year 2017 In FY 2017, EPA funded (eight university-based and two non-profit based) Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) covering ten EPA Regions located across the nation. Each participating EFCs provided technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs provided finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educated state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, encouraging full cost pricing, and identifying and evaluating environmental financing options.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY 2018, EPA continued to fund eight university-based and two non-profit based Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) covering ten EPA Regions located across the nation. Each participating EFCs will provide technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs will provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, encouraging full cost pricing, and identifying and evaluating environmental financing options.
Fiscal Year 2022 In FY 2022, EPA funded eight university-based and two non-profit based Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) covering ten EPA Regions located across the nation. Each participating EFCs provided technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs provided finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, encouraging full cost pricing, and identifying and evaluating environmental financing options.
Fiscal Year 2023 In FY 2023, EPA will fund 29 cooperative agreements with university-based and non-profit based Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) covering ten EPA Regions located across the nation, 12 of which are the Regional Multi-Environmental Media EFCs, 13 of which are the Regional Water Infrastructure EFCs with IIJA appropriations, and 4 of which are the National Water Infrastructure EFCs with IIJA appropriations. Each participating EFCs will provide technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs will provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, encouraging full cost pricing, and identifying and evaluating environmental financing options. Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), as amended
Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001(a)
Clean Air Act, Section 103(b)(3)
Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10, as amended
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20, as amended
Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203
Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(c)(3), as amended
EPA Appropriation Acts Assistance under this program is available to public and private non-profit universities and colleges and to nonprofit organizations. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. States, tribes, local governments, businesses and community organizations and the general public are the beneficiaries of this program. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet eligibility requirements. In addition, EPA may request applicants to demonstrate that they have the appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary staff and equipment to carry out the project work. The Agency may also ask principal analysts named in applicants' proposals to provide curriculum vitae and other documentation of relevant experience. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the competitive announcement. From 120 to 180 days. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-competition-dispute-resolution-procedures. Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. Not applicable. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the competitive announcement. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to recipients to support their allowable direct costs incident to approved environmental financial technical assistance and outreach work plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. EPA provides incremental funding for these grants or cooperative agreements on an annual basis. As part of EPA's substantial involvement, the appropriate EPA regional and/or headquarters office reviews and approves each annual project phase consistent with the scope of work for the grant or cooperative agreement. As provided in 2 CFR Part 220, recipients of grants or cooperative agreements under this program may not charge fundraising costs to their grants or cooperative agreements. Funding for research under this program does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office or Research and Development. Under this program, EPA does not fund research, training, and technical assistance to facilitate the inventory of brownfields sites, site assessments, the remediation of brownfields sites, community involvement, and site preparation. These activities are covered by the EPA grant program established under assistance listing 66.814. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Geospatial information is information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features or boundaries on the earth, or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, GPS, remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA (https://www.epa.gov/geospatial). Performance Reports: Reporting requirements shall be determined at the time of grant award. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports as required by 2 CFR 200.334. If questions, such as those raised because of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. While there is no statutory or regulatory cost sharing requirement for this program, as a matter of policy the Agency may impose a cost sharing requirement in specific competitions. If the Agency decides to do this, the cost sharing terms will be stated in Section III of the competitive announcement.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award. None/Not specified. Ellen Tarquinio, Director
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Mail Code: 4202M)
Washington, DC 20460 USA
tarquinio.ellen@epa.gov
Phone: 202-566-2267 https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter 68-0103-0-1-304 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$2,035,000.00; FY 23 est $1,440,000.00; FY 24 est $1,440,000.00; FY 21$2,225,304.00; FY 20$600,000.00; FY 19$740,000.00; FY 18$639,370.00; FY 17$2,162,417.00; FY 16$1,825,000.00; - (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $23,938,940.00; FY 24 est $23,938,940.00; - (IIJA Funding) Range: $200,000 to $45,000,000 per fiscal year Average: $22,600,000 per fiscal year. These grants and cooperative agreements are subject to 2 CFR 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards); 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs). Information pertinent to the EFC grant program can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter. Fiscal Year 2016 In FY 2016, EPA anticipates funding nine university-based Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) covering nine EPA Regions located across the nation. Each participating university will operate an EFC or EFCs that will provide technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs will provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, encouraging full cost pricing, and identifying and evaluating environmental financing options. In FY 2016, EPA funded eight university-based and one non-profit based Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) covering nine EPA Regions located across the nation. Each participating university and non-profit base will operated as an EFC or EFCs that provided technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs will continue to provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, encouraging full cost pricing, and identifying and evaluating environmental financing options.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY 2018, EPA continued to fund eight university-based and two non-profit-based Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) covering ten EPA Regions located across the nation. Each participating university or non-profit organization operated an EFC that provided technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, encouraging full cost pricing, and identifying and evaluating environmental financing options.
Fiscal Year 2022 EPA funded eight university-based and two non-profit based Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) covering ten EPA Regions located across the nation. Each participating university and non-profit will operate an EFC or EFCs that will provide technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, identifying appropriate revenue generating mechanisms, and evaluating environmental financing options.
Fiscal Year 2023 EPA will fund 29 cooperative agreements with university-based and non-profit based Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) covering ten EPA Regions located across the nation, 12 of which are the Regional Multi-Environmental Media EFCs, 13 of which are the Regional Water Infrastructure EFCs with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) appropriations, and 4 of which are the National Water Infrastructure EFCs with IIJA appropriations. Each participating university and non-profit will operate an EFC or EFCs that will provide technical assistance and outreach services to the regulated communities (States, tribal, local governments and businesses). The EFCs will provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help these regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult "how-to-pay" issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, identifying appropriate revenue generating mechanisms, and evaluating environmental financing options.