The U.S. EPA has announced that $30 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) grant funding is available for water quality projects under the Healthy & Resilient Gulf of Mexico Grant program.
The agency says that 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 EPA 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.”
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 agency says that the request for applications can be found at grants,gov or www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico, and questions regarding applying for this opportunity should be directed to the EPA Gulf of Mexico Division at [email protected].
