Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2020 P3 Q1

The 17th Annual P3 Awards is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) student-focused grant competition that funds practical, technology-based design projects aimed at solving real-world environmental and community challenges. The program sits within EPA's People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) framework, which emphasizes solutions that are not only environmentally protective, but also improve day-to-day quality of life and produce tangible economic benefits. In other words, proposals are expected to balance all three outcomes at once: benefits for people, benefits for prosperity, and benefits for the planet, rather than treating environmental improvement as a standalone goal.

This opportunity invites applications that will research, develop, design, and demonstrate innovative approaches grounded in scientific principles. The emphasis is on taking ideas beyond theory by building and testing workable designs or prototypes that could plausibly be adopted in real settings. EPA also frames the competition as a response to community needs across the United States, with explicit attention to small, rural, tribal, and/or disadvantaged communities. That focus signals that projects addressing environmental burdens, infrastructure gaps, or service challenges in under-resourced places are strongly aligned with the intent of the program, especially when the solution can be realistically implemented and maintained.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Environmental Protection Agency under CFDA 66.516. The funding opportunity number is EPA-G2020-P3-Q1. The maximum award amount is $25,000 per project, and EPA anticipated making around 20 awards under this announcement. The opportunity was originally posted on October 1, 2019, with an original closing date of November 19, 2019, and applicants were directed to follow the detailed submission instructions in Section IV of the official announcement. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the specifics provided in the announcement's eligibility section, which is typical for student design competitions where the applicant may be a college or university team, often with faculty oversight.

Overall, the P3 competition is best understood as a national student design challenge that uses small grants to catalyze early-stage, high-impact innovations. Competitive proposals generally fit the P3 definition by clearly showing how the project will (1) improve human well-being or community outcomes, (2) support economic value such as lower costs, job creation potential, or improved efficiency, and (3) reduce pollution, conserve resources, or otherwise protect ecosystems. The intended endpoint is a demonstrated solution that has a credible pathway to real-world use, particularly in communities where the need is clear and the benefits are measurable.

  • The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "17TH ANNUAL P3 AWARDS: A NATIONAL STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION FOCUSING ON PEOPLE, PROSPERITY AND THE PLANET" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.516.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Oct 01, 2019.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 19, 2019 Please see Section IV of the announcement for additional submission 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 $25,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for EPA G2020 P3 Q1

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FAQs: 17th Annual EPA P3 (People, Prosperity and the Planet) Awards

What is the 17th Annual P3 Awards program?

The 17th Annual P3 Awards is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) student-focused grant competition that funds practical, technology-based design projects intended to solve real-world environmental and community challenges. It is part of EPA's People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) framework.

What does "P3" stand for in this competition?

P3 refers to People, Prosperity and the Planet. Proposals are expected to balance all three outcomes at the same time: benefits for people (human well-being and community outcomes), benefits for prosperity (economic value), and benefits for the planet (environmental protection).

What kinds of projects are a good fit for this opportunity?

The competition supports projects that research, develop, design, and demonstrate innovative approaches grounded in scientific principles. A strong fit is a project that goes beyond theory by building and testing a workable design or prototype that could plausibly be adopted in real settings.

Does EPA expect applicants to build and test something, or is research-only acceptable?

The emphasis is on moving beyond theory. EPA highlights building and testing workable designs or prototypes, with the intended endpoint being a demonstrated solution that has a credible pathway to real-world use.

What is the main goal EPA is trying to achieve through this competition?

The P3 competition is positioned as a national student design challenge that uses small grants to catalyze early-stage, high-impact innovations. EPA is looking for solutions that address environmental and community needs while delivering measurable benefits for people, prosperity, and the planet.

How should a proposal demonstrate the "People" benefit?

Competitive proposals typically make a clear case for improved human well-being or community outcomes. The program frames projects as responses to community needs across the United States, which can include addressing environmental burdens, infrastructure gaps, or service challenges.

How should a proposal demonstrate the "Prosperity" benefit?

The prosperity component is described as tangible economic benefits, such as lower costs, job creation potential, or improved efficiency. Proposals should show how the design could create economic value in a realistic way.

How should a proposal demonstrate the "Planet" benefit?

The planet component focuses on environmental protection outcomes such as reducing pollution, conserving resources, or otherwise protecting ecosystems. Proposals are expected to treat environmental improvement as one of three integrated outcomes rather than a standalone goal.

Are certain communities or geographies prioritized?

Yes. EPA explicitly notes attention to small, rural, tribal, and/or disadvantaged communities. Projects that address under-resourced places, especially where the solution can be realistically implemented and maintained, are strongly aligned with the stated intent.

What does EPA mean by "credible pathway to real-world use"?

Based on the description, EPA is looking for demonstrated solutions (not just concepts) that could plausibly be adopted in real settings. This includes an approach that can be implemented and maintained, particularly in communities where the need is clear and the benefits are measurable.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount is $25,000 per project.

How many awards did EPA expect to make under this announcement?

EPA anticipated making around 20 awards under this announcement.

What agency is offering this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?

Yes. From an administrative standpoint, it is described as a discretionary grant opportunity offered by EPA.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 66.516.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is EPA-G2020-P3-Q1.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was originally posted on October 1, 2019, with an original closing date of November 19, 2019.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with specifics provided in the official announcement's eligibility section. The description notes that this is typical for student design competitions, where the applicant may be a college or university team, often with faculty oversight.

Where were applicants directed to find submission instructions?

Applicants were directed to follow the detailed submission instructions in Section IV of the official announcement.

Is this opportunity specifically aimed at students?

Yes. It is described as a student-focused grant competition and a national student design challenge.

What makes a proposal "competitive" under the P3 definition?

Competitive proposals generally align with the P3 definition by clearly showing (1) benefits for people (human well-being/community outcomes), (2) benefits for prosperity (economic value such as lower costs, job creation potential, or improved efficiency), and (3) benefits for the planet (pollution reduction, resource conservation, ecosystem protection). They also emphasize a demonstrated solution with real-world applicability.

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