The 2017 Tribal Exchange Network Conference will be held February 28 – March 1, 2017, in San Diego, California. Organized by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), the Conference provides Tribal professionals an opportunity to meet and learn about current initiatives, funding, and technical topics related to the Exchange Network.

Tribal or EPA volunteers to help formulate the agenda and coordinate sessions during the Conference are invited to contact ITEP’s Lydia Scheer at lydia.scheer [at] nau.edu.

Lydia Scheer
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
P: 928.523.6887
E: lydia.scheer [at] nau.edu

In preparation for the FY 2017 Exchange Network (EN) Grant cycle, EPA will convene two webinars to assist applicants. The webinars will be held at 1:00PM ET on September 29 and October 13, 2016. Topics will include FY 2017 EN Grant program, new priorities, procedures, tips on writing a high-quality application, and questions and answers with potential applicants.

To participate, dial: 1.866.299.3188; and enter Conference Code 202-566-0466 #. Use the following links to access the specific webinars indicated:

• September 29, 2016; 1:00PM ET – http://epawebconferencing.acms.com/engrant929/
• October 13, 2016; 1:00PM ET – http://epawebconferencing.acms.com/engrant1013/

An Adobe® Connect™ account is not required to enter a webinar, simply log in as “Guest.”

For more information, please contact EPA’s Salena Reynolds at reynolds.salena [at] epa.gov.

Salena Reynolds
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
P: 202.566.0466
E: reynolds.salena [at] epa.gov

The FY 2017 National Environmental Information Exchange Network (EN) Grant Program Solicitation Notice is now available at www.epa.gov/exchangenetwork/exchange-network-grant-program. Applications are due to EPA by November 18, 2016.

In FY 2017, EPA expects to award about $9 million for 30-40 assistance agreements for Exchange Network projects. Most awards will be in the $50,000 to $300,000 range. Awards to a single applicant cannot exceed $300,000. EPA may make a limited number of awards to collaborative, partnership assistance agreements. Budgets for these projects cannot exceed $500,000. The exact number of assistance agreements will depend on the final amount of EPA’s appropriation for the EN grant program, the number of applications submitted to EPA by the application deadline, the amounts of proposed budgets, and the outcome of application reviews.

The primary outcome expected from EN assistance agreements is improved access to, and exchange of, high-quality environmental data from public- and private-sector sources. With this outcome in mind, applications should demonstrate support for and results toward EN program priorities.

EPA only accepts project proposals for EN assistance agreements submitted electronically through Grants.gov, unless applicants have a waiver. EPA anticipates that it will announce selection decisions in or around April 2017, and plans to issue awards by July 31, 2017.

For more information, please contact EPA’s Salena Reynolds at reynolds.salena [at] epa.gov.

Salena Reynolds
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
P: 202.566.0466
E: reynolds.salena [at] epa.gov

• How innovation can cross Federal, State, Territorial, and Tribal boundaries;
• How working creatively together as Partners can identify innovative solutions;
• How Partnerships are the new “best practice;” and
• How we can all employ innovation in our daily work.

The Exchange Network and E-Enterprise community convene EN/EE Open Calls to increase information sharing among Partners. These calls are an opportunity for the community to gather and discuss topics of interest.

The next Open Call, to be held September 21, 2016, at 2:30pm ET, is entitled Quick Guide to Using Virtual Exchange Services (VES) and the EN Service Center (ENSC). The Open Call’s panel will include:

• Chris Clark, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Lucas Gentry, CGI Federal
• Eric Cleckler, Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Panelists will first walk attendees through a decision tree for determining if VES and/or ENSC are the right tool for your agency. This will be followed by testimonials from VES users detailing their experience with this tool.

To participate in the Open Call, please pre-register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2432652261138894082.

Note that we are using GoToWebinar® for the Open Call. Participants will enter the audio portion muted. To participate in the Q and A, please join the conversation via phone and enter the audio PIN that appears on your GoToWebinar dashboard. If you must use your computer audio, please ensure you have a headset and speaker.

The Open Call will be recorded and available at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/8920809904105102084.

For more information or to provide ideas for future EN/EE Open Calls, please contact Lynn Capuano at lynn [at] exchangenetwork.net.

Lynn Capuano
Exchange Network Coordinator
P: 516.744.0307
E: lynn [at] exchangenetwork.net