Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program
EPA will implement this grant authority by awarding grants to local and tribal governments for Planning, Demonstrations, and
Such projects should include a plan for measuring documentable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and exhibit the capacity for replication.
Grant activities should aim to: 1) reduce emissions of greenhouse gases; 2) build capacity within local and tribal agencies to address greenhouse gas emissions within their communities; 3) create meaningful and sustainable programs and management systems to achieve ongoing reductions; 4) link climate change initiatives with broader environmental, economic, and social concerns; 5) build and leverage partnerships across multiple stakeholder groups that facilitate front-end participation by communities impacted by climate change; and 6) create models of success that can be replicated across the nation.
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: The Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program will support robust local and tribal initiatives that demonstrate potential for documentable reductions; integrate funded activities within a broader framework for climate management; leverage funding from other sources; contain clear mechanisms to share results and lessons learned within and outside of the community; and encourage economic, social, health and environmental co-benefits (e.g.
green job creation, improve transit access for disadvantaged communities, public health improvements, reduce stormwater runoff, or reduction of co-pollutants produced concurrent with greenhouse gases).
In addition, the Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program seeks to support program focus areas that span a range of local and tribal government attributes (including geographic location, demographic makeup, community size, economic circumstances, and level of previous climate change activity) and a range of project areas.
Funding will be available for applicants who address greenhouse gas mitigation in one or more of the following priority areas: 1) energy use in municipal operations (including energy, water, and wastewater utilities); 2) energy use in residential, commercial, and/or industrial buildings; 3) transportation planning or vehicle miles traveled reduction programs; 4) land use planning; 5) solid waste management; 6) heat island management; 7) energy generation activities; and, (8) other innovative activities which generate measurable reductions of greenhouse gases.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2009: No projects have yet been funded under this program.
Examples of eligible projects include (but are not limited to): integrating climate change mitigation into land use and/or transportation planning; programs to reduce vehicle miles traveled; development of energy management systems or programs; improvements to building energy efficiency; innovative or demonstration projects to reduce fossil energy use, such as projects to capture methane from agriculture operations for use as an alternative to fossil fuels; and educational campaigns.
Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
EPA will implement this grant authority by awarding grants to local and tribal governments for Planning, Demonstrations, and Implementation Projects designed to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information.
Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals: Environment (water, air, solid waste, pesticides, radiation).
Native American Organizations (includes lndian groups, cooperatives, corporations, partnerships, associations): Environment (water, air, solid waste, pesticides, radiation)
Beneficiary Eligibility
Local; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; Anyone/general public
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87, found in 2CFR 225, for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants or principle investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement.
For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog.
For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the announcement of the competitive funding opportunity.
Competition will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 are applicable. In addition, EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 3903R, Washington, DC 20460. Standard Form 424 is also available for download at EPA"s Office of Grants and Debarment (OGD) web site, http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/application.htm, from www.grants.gov, or from EPA Regional Collaborative assistance agreement websites. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency"s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.
Award Procedures
For competitive awards, EPA"s Office of Air and Radiation, other Headquarters Program Offices, and/or the 10 EPA Regions will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
FY 2009 Appropriations Act, Public Law 111-8.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 120 to 180 days.
Appeals
Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 31.70.
Renewals
EPA intends to fully fund projects with the initial award, but reserves the right to incrementally fund projects as appropriate.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching Percent: 50.%. The match required for this program is set at 50% with the exception of tribal governments who are exempt from matching requirements. This program does not have a statutory formula, but EPA may allocate 5% of the funds to tribal governments. This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The grants and/or cooperative agreements funded under the Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program will have up to a five-year project period. However EPA will negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. It is anticipated that most Climate Showcase Community awards will be for 24 to 36 months. FY 2009 is the first year of funding for this Program. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grantees are required to submit program reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 and OMB Circular No.A-102.
Grantees are required to submit financial reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Financial Reporting and Financial Management Systems requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 and OMB Circular No.A-102.
Grantees are required to submit progress reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 and OMB Circular No.A-102.
No expenditure reports are required.
Grantees are required to perform performance monitoring in accordance with Agency policy and requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 and OMB Circular No.A-102.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government.
Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records
Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients" grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0103-0-1-304.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $10,000,000; FY 10 est $0
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
There is no minimum amount of assistance. EPA anticipates awarding grants ranging in value from $100,000 to $500,000 with an average award of $300,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Local Communities Climate Change Initiative grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA"s General Grant Regulations (40 CFR Part 31) and OMB Circular No.A-102.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Andrea Denny US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mail Code: 6202J, Washington 20460 Email: denny.andrea@epa.gov Phone: (202) 343-9268
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.
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