CHILDREN’S HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN LOW-INCOME AND/OR MINORITY COMMUNITIES | EPA OA OCHP 21 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OA OCHP 21 01

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity titled CHILDREN'S HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN LOW-INCOME AND/OR MINORITY COMMUNITIES (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA OA OCHP 21 01) is a discretionary grant program offered through a cooperative agreement. Its central goal is to reduce unequal environmental health burdens affecting children by strengthening the ability of schools and childcare centers, along with their surrounding communities, to understand, prioritize, and address environmental and public health concerns where children learn and spend time each day.

This solicitation is focused on capacity building rather than large-scale construction or infrastructure replacement. In practice, that means the EPA is looking to fund projects that build local knowledge, skills, systems, and partnerships so that school and childcare communities can better identify environmental risks, communicate about them, and take practical steps to reduce exposure and prevent harm. The emphasis is on children in communities that experience disproportionate environmental health harms and risks, particularly in settings serving low-income and/or minority populations. The work must be based in school and/or childcare settings, and it is intended to support on-the-ground efforts that help communities recognize local environmental issues that affect children and move toward solutions.

Eligible project sites must be schools and/or childcare centers that are either located in low-income and/or minority communities or that primarily serve students who are low-income and/or minority. The announcement gives examples of the types of settings that fit this focus, including Head Start and Early Head Start programs, Title I schools, and tribal schools. The overall intent is to make sure the benefits of the funded work flow directly to communities that have historically been underserved and that often face higher exposure to environmental hazards.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means the EPA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period compared to a standard grant. That can include coordination, technical input, or oversight elements depending on the final agreement terms. The opportunity falls under the environment funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 66.609. The program anticipates making around 10 awards, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $200,000 per project. The opportunity was created on July 19, 2021, and the original closing date for applications was September 10, 2021, with the note that applicants should consult Section IV of the full announcement for detailed submission instructions and requirements.

Applicant eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional clarification provided in the announcement itself under the eligibility section. In other words, eligibility is not limited to only state or local governments; it is structured to allow a broader range of organizations to apply, as long as they meet the program's specific eligibility conditions and can carry out school- and/or childcare center-based capacity building work that aligns with the EPA's goals.

In plain terms, this EPA opportunity is designed to fund organizations that can work directly with schools and childcare centers in low-income and/or minority communities to build lasting capacity to recognize environmental health challenges affecting children and to take informed, community-grounded steps to reduce those risks.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CHILDREN’S HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN LOW-INCOME AND/OR MINORITY COMMUNITIES" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.609.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 19, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 10, 2021 Please see Section IV of the announcement for additional submission information. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for EPA OA OCHP 21 01

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