Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF)

The OEEF supports innovative projects that increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and provide the skills to make informed decisions and take responsible actions. Education projects target these audiences: Community Outreach and Education Contracted Services OEEF offers mini-grants between $500 and $5,000, and general grants of up to $50,000. Project funding priorities Encouraging Ohio students to explore environmental related careers Encouraging habitat and ecological restoration efforts Reducing emissions to improve air quality, including through energy conservation and alternative energy sources Reducing lead exposure in drinking water Reducing exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals” Encouraging planning and emergency preparedness for extreme environmental events (environmental releases, extreme weather, etc.) Using innovative practices to improve water quality, reduce nutrient loading, and prevent harmful algal blooms Connections between the environment and human health, including but not limited to, air quality and respiratory conditions, tick prevalence and Lyme disease, scrap tires, and mosquitoes Website: Office of Environmental Education Governing Statute: Ohio Revised Code 3745.22 Eligibility: All local subdivisions of government, local schools and school organizations, for-profit companies, state agencies. Specifications: Mini grants $500 - $5,000 and General Grants $5,000 - $50,000. Education projects targeting pre-school through university students and teachers, the public and the regulated community. Ten percent cash or in-kind match required. Approximately $700,000 awarded annually. Application Deadline: January 15 and July 15 each year. Applications must be submitted online through Ohio EPA's eBusiness Center. (Electronic Letter of Intent to Apply due no later than January 8 and July 8 to receive user ID and password for online grant application software.) Recipients: 1991 - Present Contact: Ohio EPA Office of Environmental Education 614.644.2873 [email protected] OEEF Scholarships OEEF offers scholarships to support students pursuing careers in environmental science and environmental engineering. OEEF scholarships are designed to: Support Education: Provide financial assistance to students entering their junior or senior year in environmental science or engineering programs Encourage Careers in Environmental Fields: Promote careers in environmental engineering Foster Innovation: Encourage students to engage in innovative projects and research that address environmental issues Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for an OEEF scholarship, applicants must: Be enrolled in an Ohio public or private college or university Be entering their junior or senior year in a four-year or five-year program or be in a two-year degree program Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 Demonstrate a commitment to environmental science or engineering through internships Website: Careers & Scholarships Governing Statute: Ohio Revised Code 3745.22(A) Specifications: $2,500 for students in the second year of two-year programs; $5,000 for students in the fourth or fifth year of 4-5 year programs. Administered by the Ohio Academy of Science for the Ohio Environmental Education Fund at Ohio EPA. Application Deadline: Postmarked by April 15 every year. Contact: Office of Environmental Education 614.644.2873 [email protected] or [email protected] The OEEF was created by the General Assembly in 1990 to enhance Ohio citizens' awareness and understanding of environmental issues. It is administered by the Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and provides approximately $700,000 annually in grants to support environmental education efforts within the state of Ohio. The OEEF derives its monies from one-half of the civil penalties collected from violations of Ohio's air and water pollution control regulations.

The OEEF supports innovative projects that increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and provide the skills to make informed decisions and take responsible actions. Education projects target three audiences: Mosquito Control: Surveillance, source reduction, and larva/adult control measures Community Outreach and Education Contracted Services OEEF offers mini-grants between $500 and $5,000, and general grants of up to $50,000. Project funding priorities Encouraging Ohio students to explore environmental related careers Encouraging habitat and ecological restoration efforts Reducing emissions to improve air quality, including through energy conservation and alternative energy sources Reducing lead exposure in drinking water Reducing exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals” Encouraging planning and emergency preparedness for extreme environmental events (environmental releases, extreme weather, etc.) Using innovative practices to improve water quality, reduce nutrient loading, and prevent harmful algal blooms Connections between the environment and human health, including but not limited to, air quality and respiratory conditions, tick prevalence and Lyme disease, scrap tires, and mosquitoes Website: Office of Environmental Education Governing Statute: Ohio Revised Code 3745.22 Eligibility: All local subdivisions of government, local schools and school boards, universities, non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, state agencies. Specifications: Mini grants $500 - $5,000 and General Grants $5,000 - $50,000. Education projects targeting pre-school through university students and teachers, the public and the regulated community. Ten percent cash or in-kind match required. Approximately $700,000 awarded annually. Application Deadline: January 15 and July 15 each year. Applications must be submitted online through Ohio EPA's eBusiness Center. (Electronic Letter of Intent to Apply due no later