Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OP OEJ 20 02
The State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program (SEJCA) / COVID-19 Projects opportunity is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed to help address environmental justice challenges while also supporting effective responses to COVID-19. The core idea is to fund projects that directly improve environmental conditions and public health outcomes in communities that have historically carried a heavier share of pollution, health burdens, and limited access to resources. In this reopened round of SEJCA, EPA is specifically inviting proposals that focus on COVID-19-related needs and other priority areas described in the program announcement, with an emphasis on practical, on-the-ground benefits that can be clearly demonstrated.
The program is structured as a cooperative agreement (rather than a simple grant), which generally means EPA expects a higher level of collaboration and engagement during the project. The intent is not just to deliver services, but to work alongside communities and partners to better understand local environmental justice concerns, build capacity, and integrate approaches that lead to meaningful and measurable improvements. The program description underscores partnership and co-development: eligible applicants are expected to work collaboratively with underserved communities to identify needs, design responses, and implement solutions that reflect local realities.
A central element of the opportunity is its focus on underserved communities. For this competition, EPA defines underserved communities as those with environmental justice concerns and/or vulnerable populations. The announcement explicitly includes minority communities, low-income communities, rural communities, tribal and indigenous communities, and people experiencing homelessness. This framing signals that proposals should be grounded in equity and targeted toward places where environmental and health risks are compounded by social and economic vulnerabilities, including heightened COVID-19 impacts.
In terms of eligibility, the opportunity is open to U.S. states, territories, tribal governments, and local governments, with the full details and any nuances provided in the announcement's eligibility section. The funding is tied to the environmental assistance CFDA listing 66.312. The funding opportunity number is EPA-OP-OEJ-20-02, and the administering agency is the EPA, specifically aligned with the agency's environmental justice mission and COVID-19 response priorities.
Funding levels and scale are relatively focused. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $200,000, and EPA expected to make about 5 awards under this announcement. That combination suggests a competitive process aiming to support a handful of targeted projects with clear deliverables rather than a large portfolio of smaller awards. Applicants are therefore typically expected to present a strong, well-scoped project plan that is achievable within the budget and timeframe and that can show tangible outcomes for the community or communities served.
The notice was originally posted on April 30, 2020, with an original closing date of June 30, 2020, and it notes that applicants should consult Section IV of the official announcement for specific submission instructions. Overall, SEJCA / COVID-19 Projects is best understood as a targeted EPA investment in community-centered environmental justice work, prioritizing collaborative projects that can demonstrate real public health and environmental improvements in vulnerable and historically overburdened communities, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Apply for EPA OP OEJ 20 02
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "STATE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM (SEJCA) / COVID-19 PROJECTS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.312.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 30, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2020 Please see Section IV of the announcement for additional submission information. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program (SEJCA) / COVID-19 Projects
What is the SEJCA / COVID-19 Projects opportunity?
The State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program (SEJCA) / COVID-19 Projects opportunity is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is designed to support projects that address environmental justice challenges while also supporting effective responses to COVID-19, with an emphasis on practical, on-the-ground benefits in communities that have historically faced higher pollution and health burdens.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The administering agency is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aligned with EPA's environmental justice mission and COVID-19 response priorities.
What type of funding instrument is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. This generally means EPA expects a higher level of collaboration and engagement during the project, including working alongside communities and partners during planning and implementation.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is to fund projects that directly improve environmental conditions and public health outcomes in underserved communities, particularly where environmental and health risks are compounded by social and economic vulnerabilities, including heightened COVID-19 impacts.
What kinds of projects is EPA specifically inviting in this reopened round?
In this reopened round, EPA is specifically inviting proposals that focus on COVID-19-related needs and other priority areas described in the program announcement, with a clear emphasis on practical, clearly demonstrable benefits.
What does EPA mean by "underserved communities" for this competition?
For this competition, EPA defines underserved communities as those with environmental justice concerns and/or vulnerable populations. The announcement explicitly includes minority communities, low-income communities, rural communities, tribal and indigenous communities, and people experiencing homelessness.
Is there an emphasis on equity and community partnership?
Yes. The program description emphasizes partnership and co-development. Eligible applicants are expected to work collaboratively with underserved communities to identify needs, design responses, and implement solutions that reflect local realities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is open to U.S. states, territories, tribal governments, and local governments. The full details and any nuances are provided in the announcement's eligibility section.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $200,000.
How many awards does EPA expect to make?
EPA expected to make about 5 awards under this announcement.
What does the expected number of awards and award ceiling suggest about project scope?
Because the award ceiling is $200,000 and EPA anticipated about 5 awards, the competition appears intended to support a small number of targeted projects with clear deliverables, rather than a broad portfolio of many smaller awards. Applicants are generally expected to propose a strong, well-scoped plan that is achievable within the budget and timeframe and can show tangible outcomes.
Where does this program fit within federal assistance listings?
The funding is tied to the environmental assistance CFDA listing 66.312.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is EPA-OP-OEJ-20-02.
When was the notice posted, and what was the original closing date?
The notice was originally posted on April 30, 2020, with an original closing date of June 30, 2020.
Where can applicants find the submission instructions?
Applicants are instructed to consult Section IV of the official announcement for specific submission instructions.
What kinds of outcomes does the program emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes meaningful and measurable improvements, including direct improvements to environmental conditions and public health outcomes, especially for vulnerable and historically overburdened communities in the context of COVID-19.
Does the program focus only on delivering services?
No. The program intent is not only to deliver services but also to work alongside communities and partners to better understand local environmental justice concerns, build capacity, and integrate approaches that lead to measurable improvements.
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