The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will make up to $3.2 million available for environmental education grants to support local, community-driven projects that help Americans protect water, public health and natural surroundings.

Through the Environmental Education Grant Program, EPA expects to award up to 16 grants nationwide ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 each. The funding is aimed at hands-on initiatives that give communities practical tools to understand environmental challenges and take action at the local level.

The program focuses on real-world learning and community engagement, from protecting local waterways to promoting responsible environmental stewardship at home. Projects supported through the grants are designed to build knowledge and skills that help people make informed decisions about their environment while delivering solutions that can be applied in their own communities.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity is now posted on www.grants.gov and on EPA’s Environmental Education Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity webpage. Applications must be submitted by March 3.

To help prospective applicants, EPA’s Environmental Education and Stewardship Division will host a webinar on Feb. 5. The session will provide an overview of the current funding opportunity, guidance on writing a competitive application and answers to frequently asked questions. Registration information will be posted at www.epa.gov/education/grants#webinar.

EPA encourages interested organizations to stay informed by subscribing to the Environmental Education listserv, which will share updates including webinar registration announcements and other grant-related news.

Since 1992, EPA has distributed between $2 million and $3.5 million annually through the Environmental Education Grant Program. The agency has supported more than 3,980 grants, making it one of EPA’s most widely used grant programs. Additional background, applicant resources and templates are available on the Environmental Education Grant Homepage.

More information about the current competition and the federal grant process is available through the Environmental Education grant FAQ and the EPA Grants Community Library of Frequently Asked Questions webpages on www.epa.gov.