$10M in EPA Grants Available to Develop Local and Tribal Government "Climate Showcase Communities"

EPA is announcing the availability of up to $10 million in "Climate Showcase Communities" grants for local and tribal governments to establish and implement climate
change initiatives. The Agency expects to award approximately 25 cooperative agreements
ranging from approximately $100,000 to $500,000. Approximately 5% of the funds
($500,000) are set aside for tribal governments.

EPA requests proposals that create replicable models of sustainable community action, generate cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions, and improve the
environmental, economic, public health, or social conditions in a
community.

Eligibility for the program includes local governments (a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate
district, council of governments, any other regional or interstate government
entity, or any agency or instrumentality of a local government), federally
recognized Indian tribal governments, and inter-tribal consortia. A 50%
cost-match or cost-share is required for this program, with the exception of
tribal governments and intertribal consortia which are exempt from matching
requirements.

Proposals are due by July 26, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. EDT. Awards are expected in February 2011 and may run through February 2014.

The grant program is administered by EPA's Local Climate and Energy Program, an initiative to assist local and tribal governments to identify, implement, and track policies and
programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions within their own operations and
in the surrounding community. Over the course of the grant program, EPA
will offer peer exchange, trainings, and technical support to grant recipients,
and share lessons learned with communities across the nation. This is the second round of funding for the “Climate
Showcase Communities” program. Last year, EPA selected 25 projects to
receive $10 million in grants.

The Request for Proposals and summaries of the projects selected in 2009 are available at:

http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/showcase...