EPA Announcement

Some on the list might be interested in this program. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that around $3 million will be available in 2008 to support community-based partnerships to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. The program's Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available at http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html#0802

The program values partnerships between communities and academic institutions. This year the application time line has been extended to 3 months and the deadline is March 17, 2008. For more details, including how to register for webcasts for prospective applicants in Jan and Feb, keep reading...

About the CARE RFP Around $3 million will be available in 2008 to support community-based partnerships to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. EPA anticipates awarding CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I cooperative agreements range from $75,000 to $100,000 and will help establish community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities. Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities which have established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community, and are prepared to measure results, implement risk reduction activities, and become self-sustaining. In 2007, $3.4 million in cooperative agreements were made available to more than 20 communities through the CARE program, a community-based, community-driven program that builds partnerships to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources. Examples of projects include addressing abandoned, contaminated industrial and residential properties in Gary, Ind., dealing with agriculture-related toxics in Yakima County, Wash., and reducing air emissions from diesel trucks and buses in Woonsocket, R.I. Since 2005, the grants to reduce toxics in the environment have reached almost 50 communities in over 20 states. Applications for the CARE grants are due March 17, 2008. Eligible applicants include county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities. EPA will conduct three conference calls, Jan. 18, Feb. 11 and 27, for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process. Additional information about the CARE program, previous cooperative agreement recipients, and applying for the 2008 grants is available at: http://www.epa.gov/care The CARE program will conduct three national information sessions for cooperative agreement applicants via national Internet seminars, or Webcasts, in January and February 2008. January 18, 2008 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. eastern time February 11, 2008 1:00 - 12:30 p.m. eastern time February 27, 2008 10:00 12:00 a.m. eastern time

To register for the upcoming CARE Internet Seminar for any of the above dates, please go to http://www.cluin.org/studio/seminar.cfm