Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund | EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 24 25

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 24 25

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve water quality and restore wetlands across the San Francisco Bay and its connected watersheds. This funding opportunity supports on-the-ground environmental restoration projects that help the Bay Area address long-standing pollution and habitat challenges while also preparing for climate impacts like sea level rise, flooding, and changing precipitation patterns. The program is backed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (commonly called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), which provides dedicated funding for five years, covering 2022 through 2026.

A central focus of this particular Notice of Funding Opportunity is expanding restoration work in ways that directly benefit historically underserved communities. In practice, that means EPA is looking for proposals that not only deliver measurable water quality or wetland restoration outcomes, but also strengthen regional climate resilience and broaden access to federal resources for communities that are economically underserved or otherwise face disproportionate environmental burdens. Projects are encouraged to be built around meaningful partnerships and community-serving efforts, especially where climate and water quality challenges overlap with equity concerns.

Projects must take place within the nine Bay Area counties specifically named in the announcement: Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco. The grants are authorized under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1330), which is the statutory foundation for EPA support of San Francisco Bay water quality improvement and related ecosystem restoration activities. The opportunity is discretionary, meaning applications are competitively reviewed and selected rather than funded by formula.

The opportunity is listed as a grant (not a loan or cooperative agreement) and is categorized under environmental funding activities. The CFDA (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listing) number is 66.126. The posting indicates an award ceiling of up to $2,000,000 per award and anticipates making about 20 awards, suggesting EPA expects to fund a portfolio of projects rather than a single large initiative. One notable feature is that there is no match requirement, which can significantly lower the barrier to entry for smaller organizations, community-based groups, and applicants working in underserved areas that may not have access to substantial non-federal cost share.

Eligibility is summarized in the notice as being defined in Section II.A of the NOFO, with additional detail referenced in Section 2. While the source data lists eligible applicants broadly as "Others," the controlling document for who can apply (and any conditions on eligibility) is the NOFO itself. The opportunity is administered by EPA, with the funding opportunity number EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 24 25, indicating it is managed through EPA Region 9. The application deadline shown is April 17, 2025, and the opportunity record was created on October 25, 2024.

Overall, this funding opportunity is aimed at accelerating Bay Area wetland and water quality restoration while intentionally pushing benefits toward communities that have historically received less investment and carried heavier environmental impacts. Strong proposals will typically align ecological restoration with climate resilience outcomes and demonstrate credible partnerships, community involvement, and clear benefits to underserved neighborhoods within the eligible nine-county region.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment, iij sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.126.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-17. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 24 25

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