EPA To Provide Nearly $2 Million to Revitalize U.S. Urban Waters
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today
announced it will provide up to $1.8 million for projects across the
country to protect Americans’ health and help restore urban waters by
improving water quality and supporting community revitalization. The
funding is part of EPA’s Urban Waters program, which supports
communities in their efforts to access, improve and benefit from their
urban waters and the surrounding land. Urban waters are canals, rivers,
lakes, wetlands, aquifers, estuaries, bays and oceans.
Many urban waterways have been polluted for years by sewage, runoff from
city streets and contamination from abandoned industrial facilities.
Healthy and accessible urban waters can help grow local businesses and
enhance educational, recreational, employment and social opportunities
in nearby communities. By promoting public access to urban waterways,
EPA will help communities become active participants in restoration and
protection.
The goal of EPA’s urban waters small grants is to fund projects,
training and research that will advance restoration of urban waters by
improving water quality and community access. These activities will also
support community revitalization and improving public health, social and
economic opportunities, general livability and environmental justice for
residents. Examples of projects eligible for funding may include:
- Education and training for water quality improvement or green
infrastructure jobs
- Public education about ways to reduce water pollution
- Local water quality monitoring programs
- Engaging diverse stakeholders to develop local watershed plans
- Innovative projects that promote local water quality and community
revitalization goals
Funding proposals must be received by EPA by January 23, 2012. EPA will
hold two web-based seminars on this funding opportunity on December 14,
2011 and January 5, 2012. EPA expects to award the grants in summer
2012.
EPA’s Urban Waters program supports the goals and principles of the
Urban Waters Federal Partnership, a partnership of 11 federal agencies
working to reconnect urban communities with their waterways by improving
coordination among federal agencies and collaborating with community‐led
revitalization efforts to improve the nation’s water systems and promote
their economic, environmental and social benefits.
The Urban Waters Federal Partnership closely aligns with and advances
the work of the White House’s place‐based efforts, including the
Partnership for Sustainable Communities, to revitalize communities,
create jobs and improve the quality of life in cities and towns across
the nation. The Urban Waters Federal Partnership also advances the work
of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative.
Information about urban waters small grants and registration for the
webinars:
http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/funding
Information on EPA’s Urban Waters program:
http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/index.html
Information on the Urban Waters Federal Partnership:
http://urbanwaters.gov/
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