This action approves funding in the amount of $599,884 to mississippi state university to support their efforts with improving the water quality of the gulf of america

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded a $599,884 Cooperative Agreement to Mississippi State University on August 1, 2025, through the Geographic Programs - Gulf of America Program (CFDA 66.475) to improve water quality in the Gulf of America watershed. The award funds a statewide high school art and slogan competition designed to increase public awareness about trash reduction in freshwater and marine systems and to encourage community cleanup events. Key deliverables include reaching an estimated 265 of Mississippi's 530 high schools through an art and slogan campaign, engaging seven communities through organized cleanup events, and establishing water bottle filling stations across the state. Mississippi State University will implement activities through subawards to seven regional hub organizations, which will promote the competition, identify and contract engagement hubs throughout the state, and manage competition logistics.

The Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain received a sub-award on October 19, 2025, to implement "Art Doing Its Part: A Competition for the Trash-Free Waters Initiative," serving as one of the seven hub organizations supporting regional competition promotion and community engagement activities. The project directly benefits Mississippi residents and communities within local watersheds, with an anticipated project completion date of July 31, 2028.

Description

This action approves funding in the amount of $599,884 to mississippi state university to support their efforts with improving the water quality of the gulf of america. The purpose of this award is to establish a state-wide high school art and slogan competition aimed at informing the public about the importance of keeping our waters trash free and encouraging community cleanup events. Activities include selecting and awarding funds to seven hub organizations to help with project activities in their specific regions, launching a statewide high school art/slogan competition on the theme of reducing trash in freshwater and marine systems, and forming a panel to judge submissions. Additionally, community cleanups will be conducted to raise awareness and educate the public on the importance of trash reduction in waterways. Anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes include reaching an estimated 265 of the state's 530 high schools in an art and slogan campaign, and engaging seven communities through cleanup events. Direct beneficiaries include residents and communities in the local watersheds of mississippi.activities:-subrecipient:activities to be implemented through subawards include promoting the art and slogan competition, identifying and contracting with engagement hubs throughout the state, and purchasing and contracting placement of water bottle filling stations.outcomes:-