U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gulf of Mexico Division: Gulf of Mexico 2024 Funding Opportunities

Overview

The EPA Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD) is announcing four Notice(s) of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Please ensure you are applying for the correct Funding Opportunity Number.
1. Funding Opportunity Number (FON): EPA-R4-GM-2024-WQM
Title: Understanding Water Quality through Monitoring Activities  
Description: Funding will support water quality studies to improve understanding of water quality issues and provide data to stakeholders to use for decision-making in their community.
Funding amount: Approximately $4 million will be available for 4 to 6 projects, a maximum of $750,000 per project.
Project Location: Monitoring activities must be in water bodies within the eligible coastal counties of the five Gulf states.

2. FON: EPA-R4-GM-2024-TFW
Title: Trash Free Waters – Micro/ Nanoplastics in the Gulf of Mexico
Description: Funding will support innovative projects focused on preventing micro/nanoplastics from reaching waterways and removing microplastics from waterways.
Funding amount: Approximately $5 million will be available for 8 to 12 projects, a maximum of $750,000 per project.
Project Location: One or more of the five Gulf states AND be within the Gulf of Mexico watershed.

3. FON: EPA-R4-GM-2024-FISHER
Title: Fisher-Led Aquatic Trash Prevention and Abatement in Urban and Inland Disadvantaged Communities  
Description: Funding will support innovative approaches to work with fishers in disadvantaged communities, employing their expertise to develop community-engaged initiatives to remove, reduce, and prevent trash in waterways of common or public fishing spots and on surrounding land. Entities should work with fishers in multiple locations throughout the state.
Funding amount: Approximately $3 million will be available for 5 projects; one in each Gulf state, a maximum of $650,000 per project.
Project Location: ONE of the five Gulf states AND be within the Gulf of Mexico watershed.

4. FON: EPA-R4-GM-2024-TFWASC
Title: Trash Free Waters Art and Slogan Competition         
Description: Funding will support a state-wide high school art and slogan competition focused on a reduction of plastic/trash, utilizing the winning artwork/slogan as well as community cleanups to educate the public on benefits of reducing trash.
Funding amount: Approximately $3 million will be available for 5 projects; one in each Gulf state, a maximum of $600,000 per project.
Project Location: ONE of the five Gulf states AND be within the Gulf of Mexico watershed.

Who can apply

Eligible entities	Not eligible
State and local governments (includes State-designated Indian Tribes) Interstate agencies Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments Public and private universities and colleges Public or private nonprofit institutions Intertribal consortia See definition of these entities at 2 C.F.R. § 200 for these entities.	Individuals Foreign organizations and governments, Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying, For-profit organizations

Eligible entities

Not eligible

State and local governments (includes State-designated Indian Tribes)
Interstate agencies
Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments
Public and private universities and colleges
Public or private nonprofit institutions
Intertribal consortia

See definition of these entities at 2 C.F.R. § 200 for these entities.

Individuals
Foreign organizations and governments,
Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying,
For-profit organizations

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov utilizing the applicable FON
Contact Information: For questions, contact Matt Beiser (gmp-rfp@epa.gov)

Request for Applications

Understanding Water Quality through Monitoring Activities (pdf) (1.16 MB)
Trash Free Waters - Micro/Nanoplastics in the Gulf of Mexico (pdf) (1016.35 KB)
Fisher-Led Aquatic Trash Prevention and Abatement in Urban and Inland Disadvantaged Communities (pdf) (1017.14 KB)
Trash Free Waters Art and Slogan Competition (pdf) (1.04 MB)

Budget Development Template

Utilizing the suggested budget table template is strongly encouraged or you risk the possibility of information being left out by you as the applicant, or overlooked, or not fully comprehended by the reviewers when the project is scored.
Suggested Budget Table (xlsx) (132.3 KB)

Helpful Documents

Please review the NOFO, Q&A, Getting Started Presentation and Common Errors document prior to submitting a question. If the answer to your question is not found in those documents, please submit your question to gmp-rfp@epa.gov
EPA Gulf of Mexico 2024 Funding Opportunities Questions & Answers (updated 10/31/2024) (pdf) (411.68 KB)
For assistance in avoiding errors when completing applications
Common Errors to Avoid (pdf) (876.23 KB)
EPA Gulf of Mexico 2024 Funding Opportunities Getting Started Presentation