An official website of the United States government.

This is not the current EPA website. To navigate to the current EPA website, please go to www.epa.gov. This website is historical material reflecting the EPA website as it existed on January 19, 2021. This website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. More information »

EPA Grants

Multipurpose Grants to States and Tribes

On this page:


Introduction


EPA is pleased to announce the availability of funding for the FY 2020 Multipurpose Grant (MPG) program for States and Tribes. Multipurpose funds are intended to be used at state and tribal discretion, for high-priority activities to complement activities funded under established environmental statutes. While EPA encourages grantees to consider using funds to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), grantees are not required to do so, and may direct the funds to their highest priorities. For states and territories, funding is available to agencies that implement the categorical grant programs. For tribes, funding is available to tribes that have been delegated federal regulatory authority through the treatment in a similar manner to a state (TAS) process, and tribes approved to operate certain environmental regulatory programs through non-TAS approval provisions found in federal environmental statutes and regulations. Through these grants, EPA and its state and tribal partners will advance priorities to deliver environmental and public health results across the nation.


Background


Congress created the MPG program in 2016, and appropriated funds to this program in FY 2018, FY 2019, and FY 2020.  This MPG program is for the $13 million Congress appropriated in FY 2020. The Explanatory Statement accompanying the 2020 Act suggested that states and tribes might use the MPG funds to address emerging contaminants such as PFAS, but directed the Agency “to continue to give maximum flexibility to States and Tribes so that they, not the Agency, may determine where funds from this grant program are of most value.” EPA is therefore awarding the FY20 MPG funds again in a way that complements the environmental programs eligible for inclusion in state and tribal Performance Partnership Grants (PPGs). Because these programs support the foundational, programmatic work of state and tribal environmental programs, recipients have flexibility to direct funds to priority areas.

Top of Page


Implementation

For States and Territories:

  • A total of $11,050,000 is available for states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa (“states
  • State agencies are asked to respond to accept or decline the funds by July 2, 2020.
  • Applications will be due through grants.gov on July 31, 2020. EPA will aim to make awards by the end of the calendar year.
  • EPA is offering each eligible state entity a base amount of $25K, and a supplemental amount based on FY19 funding.
  • There is no match, cost-share, or maintenance of effort associated with the MPG funds.
  • Eligible recipients are generally state agencies that carry out the federally funded environmental programs.
  • Eligible activities include activities associated with the categorical grant programs that are eligible for inclusion in a Performance Partnership Grant.
  • While EPA encourages states to take advantage of the reduced administrative burden and flexibilities offered by PPGs, states may also receive MPG funds through a separate, stand-alone grant.
  • State agencies are free to direct the MPG funds towards the high-priority activities of their choosing, within the parameters of the multipurpose grant guidance.
  • States who submit workplans or workplan amendments consistent with the multipurpose grant guidance and approved by their respective EPA Region will receive the full amount for which they are eligible.

For Tribes:

  • A total of $1,950,000 will be available to tribes delegated federal regulatory authority through the treatment in a similar manner to a state (TAS) process, and tribes approved to operate certain environmental regulatory programs through non-TAS approval provisions found in federal environmental statutes and regulations. MPG funds are to be used to implementation activities performed by a tribe pursuant to the authority delegated or approved for the tribe.

Top of Page