FY22 BROWNFIELDS JOB TRAINING GRANTS | EPA OLEM OBLR 21 03

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OLEM OBLR 21 03

The FY22 Brownfields Job Training Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number EPA OLEM OBLR 21 03) is a discretionary grant program offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support community-based job training efforts tied directly to environmental work, especially the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites. The core purpose is workforce development: funding is intended to help eligible organizations design and run job training programs that actively recruit local residents who are unemployed or under-employed, provide them with practical, industry-recognized training, and then help place them into full-time jobs in the environmental field.

A central feature of the program is its required connection to brownfields work. Training must cover skills that relate to brownfield assessment and/or cleanup activities, meaning participants should leave the program with competencies that match real remediation and environmental site work happening in their region. In addition, every participant trained under the grant must receive Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training, which is widely recognized as a baseline credential for many environmental, hazardous materials, and cleanup roles. Beyond these minimum requirements, EPA strongly encourages applicants to build programs that go further by offering comprehensive, stackable training that results in graduates earning multiple certifications, increasing their employability and readiness for a range of environmental jobs.

The EPA emphasizes that training programs should be shaped by local labor market realities rather than being generic. Applicants are encouraged to base curricula on labor market assessments and on direct input from employers about current hiring needs, so that graduates are trained for jobs that actually exist in the local or regional economy. The overall expectation is not only that participants complete coursework, but that programs deliver measurable outcomes, particularly job placement into full-time employment, supported by relevant credentials and aligned with employer demand.

Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which typically means the EPA expects a higher level of involvement or collaboration during implementation than a standard grant. The maximum award amount listed is $200,000 per award, and the EPA anticipated making about 15 awards under this announcement. The assistance listing (CFDA) number associated with the program is 66.815, and the funding activity category is Environment. The opportunity was created on July 30, 2021, with an original closing date of October 5, 2021, although applicants are directed to consult Section IV of the official funding opportunity announcement for precise and authoritative deadline information and any related submission details.

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the announcement text, and the description explicitly notes that nonprofit organizations are included among eligible entities. In practical terms, the program is aimed at organizations capable of running workforce training pipelines, coordinating with employers, delivering required safety and technical instruction (including HAZWOPER), and providing participant support that leads to industry entry. The intended impact is twofold: strengthening local environmental workforces while expanding economic opportunity for residents in communities affected by real or perceived contamination and disinvestment tied to brownfield properties.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY22 BROWNFIELDS JOB TRAINING GRANTS" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.815.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 30, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 05, 2021 See Section IV of the funding opportunity announcement for close date 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 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for EPA OLEM OBLR 21 03

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