EPA Opens $14 Million in Wildfire Smoke Preparedness Grants

The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting applications for approximately $13.6 million in Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings grants, with individual awards ranging from $350,000 to $2.5 million. Applications close April 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

EPA anticipates funding 8 to 11 projects under this program, which targets states, federally recognized tribes, public preschools, local educational agencies, and nonprofit organizations. No single state may receive more than 25 percent of total available funding.

Eligible Projects: From HVAC Upgrades to Cleaner Air Shelters

The grant covers a wide range of smoke preparedness activities: smoke readiness planning, community outreach and training, indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring, deployment of portable air cleaners, identification and preparation of cleaner air shelters, and significant building improvements including HVAC upgrades and weatherization.

All projects must be completed within three years. A 10 percent cost-share is required, though EPA may waive the match for economically distressed communities — an important carve-out for under-resourced rural and tribal areas where wildfire smoke exposure is most severe.

Who Should Apply

This funding is particularly relevant for school districts, tribal governments, and community nonprofits in fire-prone regions of the West, Southeast, and Great Plains. The program addresses a growing public health crisis: wildfire smoke now affects air quality in communities hundreds of miles from active fires, and many public buildings — especially schools and community centers — lack adequate filtration systems.

Applicants must have active registrations on both SAM.gov and Grants.gov before submitting. Questions about the application can be directed to WildfireSmokeGrants@epa.gov through April 8, 2026.

How to Position a Competitive Application

Given that EPA expects to fund fewer than a dozen projects from a national applicant pool, competitive applications will need to demonstrate clear community need, measurable health outcomes, and a realistic implementation timeline. Organizations serving environmental justice communities or areas with documented smoke exposure histories should emphasize those factors prominently.

Grant seekers can find additional guidance on navigating EPA funding opportunities through grantedai.com, where ongoing coverage tracks federal environmental grant cycles. In-depth analysis of this program and similar EPA opportunities is available on the Granted blog.