Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings

The Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings grant, offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Office of Air and Radiation, seeks to enhance public health protection by improving readiness in community buildings against smoke from wildfires. With a total funding pool of $13.58 million, this competitive federal grant program supports eligible entities aiming to assess, prevent, control, or abate wildfire smoke hazards within buildings that serve the public. The initiative underscores the EPA's commitment to mitigating the growing public health risks associated with wildfire smoke exposure by reducing indoor pollutant levels in facilities such as schools, libraries, and community centers. Eligible applicants include states, U.S. territories, federally recognized Tribes, public pre-schools, local educational agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants must propose projects that benefit public-serving facilities, whether publicly or privately owned, and that enhance indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events. Qualifying activities may involve planning for smoke readiness, conducting outreach and training, monitoring indoor and outdoor air quality, deploying portable or DIY air cleaners, and implementing HVAC and weatherization improvements. The EPA places a strong emphasis on projects that include community engagement, target vulnerable populations, and demonstrate sustainable outcomes beyond the grant period. Funding awards will range between $350,000 and $2,500,000 for project periods lasting up to three years. No more than 25% of the total funding—$3,395,000—can be allocated to recipients within a single state, although this cap excludes awards to sovereign Tribal nations. The grant carries a mandatory 10% cost share requirement, based on total project cost. However, applicants may seek a waiver if the project serves economically distressed communities, as defined by specific federal criteria related to unemployment, income, or educational attainment. Applications must include data-backed justification for waiver eligibility when applicable. The application process is structured and includes submission through Grants.gov. Required documents include the SF-424 application form, budget forms (SF-424A), the EPA Key Contacts Form, a pre-award compliance report, and a comprehensive project narrative (limited to 10 single-spaced pages). Optional attachments such as cost share waiver rationale, team bios, maps, and partnership letters can strengthen applications. The project narrative should address the full range of evaluation criteria, including the proposed activities, population served, smoke impact analysis, project effectiveness metrics, and sustainability planning. Applications open on January 30, 2026, and are due by April 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. A virtual information session will be held on February 25, and the final date to submit questions is April 8. Selected applicants can expect notification in July 2026, with formal award announcements anticipated by September 2026. Projects must comply with various federal requirements, including prevailing wage (Davis-Bacon Act), Build America Buy America provisions for infrastructure-related components, and quality assurance documentation for environmental information operations. Applications will be reviewed and scored based on a 100-point rubric that assesses the project’s relevance, population focus, environmental results, past performance, budget detail, and sustainability. Special consideration may be given to proposals representing geographic diversity or aligned with EPA programmatic priorities. The EPA may choose to partially fund proposals and reserves the right to make additional awards if further funding becomes available within six months of the initial awards.

Clearly define population and smoke impacts; use measurable outcomes; integrate sustainability and hazard mitigation; adhere to 10-page narrative limit.