Co-sponsorship of Tribal/EPA Annual Conferences
Overview
EPA Region 9 is requesting letters of intent by January 16, 2026, from eligible tribes or tribal consortia interested in co- sponsoring the 33rd and 34th Tribal/EPA Annual Conference.
Conference Purpose
The purpose of the Tribal/EPA Annual Conference is to provide tribes in Region 9 with a broad array of environmental information, a forum for discussing critical environmental issues, and the opportunity to network with other environmental professionals.
The conference is expected to last three days, may draw approximately 500 registrants, and is usually held in the Fall, although exact timing is up for negotiation. It is anticipated that the 2026 conference will be held outside of San Francisco, preferably on tribal lands in Arizona, California, or Nevada and that in 2027, the conference will be held within a 50-mile radius of San Francisco or in the metropolitan area of Sacramento.
Primary Responsibilities
The grant recipient will work as a co-sponsor with U.S. EPA Region 9 Tribal Branch to plan and execute the Tribal/EPA Annual Conference, including identification of venue, solicitation and selection of presentation topics and speakers, management of logistics, etc. The estimated federal funding amount is $75,000 to $125,000 per year. This amount does not include program income from registration fees and sponsorship investments.
Proposal and Application Process
Any interested GAP-eligible entity is invited to submit a letter of intent by January 16, 2026. A selection of a co-sponsor will be based on previous performance under GAP and demonstration of fiscal and administrative capabilities. EPA may reach out to interested parties to get more information before choosing an applicant. A decision will be made by January 30, 2026. Selectee will then be provided with additional information to allow them to compile a final application, which will be due on February 13, 2026.
Please provide a letter of intent via email to the U.S. EPA Tribal/EPA Annual Conference Coordinator: Sophia Usow at usow.sophia@epa.gov or (415) 947-3536.