Chesapeake Bay Program Office Fiscal Year 2023 Request for Applications for: Small Watershed Grants Program and Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Program

Background
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to award two cooperative agreements under this RFA. One agreement is for managing the Planning, Assistance and Implementation – Small Watershed Grants (SWG) program, and the other is for the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants (INSR) program. The total estimated funding available is $110,000,000, with $20,000,000 allocated for Year 1 and up to $30,000,000 for Years 2-4.

Grant Details
The first activity is the Planning, Assistance and Implementation – Small Watershed Grants (PAI SWG) Program. This program promotes community-based efforts to develop and implement conservation strategies to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. The second activity is the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grants Program, which supports efforts within the Chesapeake Bay watershed that use innovative strategies to vastly accelerate sub-watershed and/or regional-scale implementation of nutrient and sediment reductions with approaches demonstrated to be successful.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, educational institutions, tribal governments and organizations, interstate agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in the Chesapeake Bay region. Applicants may apply for funding under both RFAs but must do so through separate applications.

Period of Performance
The activities are multi-year projects lasting up to four years. Each project requires a work plan and budget for the first year as well as a projected work plan and estimated budget for Years 2-4.

Grant Value
$110,000,000 is the total estimated funding available. This includes $20,000,000 allocated for Year 1 and up to $30,000,000 for Years 2-4.

Place of Performance
Chesapeake Bay region