Great Lakes B-WET Program | NOAA NOS ONMS 2019 2005603

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2019 2005603

The Great Lakes B-WET Program is a competitive NOAA funding opportunity run by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to strengthen environmental education across the entire Great Lakes watershed. Its main purpose is to support strong existing education programs, help launch and test new and creative approaches, and build long-term capacity through partnerships and organizational development. The program is designed to move beyond simple classroom lessons by funding projects that give students hands-on, real-world learning tied directly to local watershed issues, while also improving teacher skills through training connected to those student experiences.

A central requirement of funded projects is the delivery of Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). In practice, this means student learning that is grounded in the local environment and uses investigations or field-based activities to connect concepts to actual watershed conditions and challenges. Alongside student programming, NOAA expects related professional development for teachers so that educators can effectively deliver watershed-based instruction and sustain it after the grant period. Projects are also expected to align with and advance regional Great Lakes education priorities, reinforcing broader restoration and stewardship goals rather than operating as isolated activities.

Funding for this program comes through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, reflecting an emphasis on education as part of long-term ecological recovery and community resilience. For the referenced funding cycle (FY 2019 availability), NOAA anticipated roughly $800,000 total to support eligible projects and expected to make about 12 to 17 new awards (with the listing also noting an expectation of up to 18 awards). Awards are issued as grants and/or cooperative agreements, meaning NOAA may have an active role in coordination or oversight depending on the specific award structure.

The funding request size is tightly defined: applicants should request no less than $25,000 and no more than $75,000 in federal funds from NOAA. Proposals outside that range may not be reviewed or considered for funding, so budgets need to be built carefully to fit within those limits. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and falls under activity areas that include environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development (CFDA 11.429). The opportunity was posted by the Department of Commerce, created May 21, 2018, with an original closing date of July 27, 2018. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details provided in the full announcement, which typically signals that eligible applicants may include certain nonprofits, educational institutions, tribes, local governments, or other organizations involved in environmental education, depending on the specific rules in the notice.

Overall, the Great Lakes B-WET Program is aimed at organizations that can deliver high-quality, student-centered watershed learning tied to real Great Lakes issues, pair that work with practical teacher training, and demonstrate strong partnerships and a plan for lasting impact beyond the grant period, all within a relatively modest award size that encourages focused, implementable projects.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Great Lakes B-WET Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.429.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 21, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 27, 2018. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2019 2005603

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