In a significant development for educational programs within the Chesapeake Bay region, the Department of Commerce has announced the Fiscal Year 2024 Chesapeake B-WET Program – School District Programming. With a funding opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2024-2008219, this initiative is set to offer grants to a variety of eligible entities, including Native American tribal governments and public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, among others. The program, which does not require cost-sharing or matching, is set to provide a robust platform for meaningful watershed educational experiences (MWEEs) designed to enhance understanding and stewardship of local watersheds, rivers, streams, and natural habitats.
This cooperative agreement opportunity, with an award ceiling of $100,000 and a floor of $25,000, targets K-12 audiences and aims to advance the environmental literacy goal of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and aligns with the NOAA Education Strategic Plan. Two main priorities are highlighted for funding: implementing MWEEs in school districts and supporting school district capacity for environmental literacy. Elise Trelegan of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office is the point of contact for this promising educational opportunity that promises to have a lasting impact on the region’s approach to environmental education.
Opportunity ID: 350897
General Information
- Document Type: Grants Notice
- Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2024-2008219
- Funding Opportunity Title: Fiscal Year 2024 Chesapeake B-WET Program – School District Programming
- Opportunity Category: Discretionary
- Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
- Category of Funding Activity:
- Education
- Environment
- Natural Resources
- CFDA Number(s): 11.457 — Chesapeake Bay Studies
- Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No
- Version: Synopsis 1
- Posted Date: Nov 07, 2023
- Last Updated Date: Nov 07, 2023
- Original Closing Date for Applications: Feb 16, 2024
- Current Closing Date for Applications: Feb 16, 2024
- Archive Date: Mar 17, 2024
- Award Ceiling: $100,000
- Award Floor: $25,000
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants:
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- State governments
- Private institutions of higher education
- Additional Information on Eligibility: Eligible applicants are K-through-12 public and independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher education, community-based and nonprofit organizations, state or local government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments. For-profit organizations, foreign organizations, and foreign public entities are not eligible to apply; however, for-profit and foreign organizations and foreign public entities may participate with an eligible applicant as a project partner. Additional guidance on subrecipient partners can be found at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.331. Likewise, federal agencies are not eligible to receive federal assistance under this announcement, but may be project partners. Only school districts with more than 25% of their land mass falling in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are eligible, as described in Section I.B., Program Priorities. The Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to increasing the participation of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), i.e., Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges and universities, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian institutions, and institutions that work in underserved communities. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) encourages proposals involving any of the above institutions.
Additional Information
Agency Name: Department of Commerce
Description: Chesapeake B-WET funds locally relevant, authentic experiential learning for K-12 audiences through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed states. MWEEs involve learning both outdoors and in the classroom as students engage in issue definition, outdoor field experiences, synthesis and conclusions, and environmental action projects. The goal is to increase understanding and stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and local watersheds, including the rivers, upland streams, and natural habitats found throughout the region. Projects advance the environmental literacy goal of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and the NOAA Education Strategic Plan.
This funding announcement has two priorities, numbered without regard to importance for funding: 1) Implementing MWEEs in School Districts and 2) Supporting School District Capacity for Environmental Literacy. Note that a separate funding announcement through B-WET for Statewide K-12 Environmental Literacy Capacity Building is also available on Grants.gov.
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Elise Treleg