Funding is provided through the federal Inflation Reduction Act.
The program is using EPA’s definition of disadvantaged communities which is “communities that are underserved and overburdened.”
These communities may be experiencing challenges in areas such as climate change, energy, health, housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development, and in many cases have endured decades of underinvestment.
Environmental justice projects can address the health, economic and social well-being of a community as well as equal access to the decision-making process to maintain a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.
Projects can include, but are not limited to: Air quality & asthma; Fence line air quality monitoring; Monitoring of effluent discharges from industrial facilities; Water quality & sampling; Small cleanup projects; Improving food access to reduce vehicle miles traveled; Stormwater issues & green infrastructure; Lead & asbestos contamination; Pesticides & other toxic substances.
Other eligible projects can include: Healthy homes that are energy/water use efficient and not subject to indoor air pollution; Illegal dumping activities, such as education, outreach, & small-scale clean-ups; Emergency preparedness & disaster resiliency; Environmental job training for occupations that reduce greenhouse gases & other air pollutants; Environmental justice training for youth
Eligible applications include nonprofits, local governments, institutions of higher learning and other groups.
Visit the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative's Thriving Communities Grant Program webpage for all the resources you need to apply.
Questions should be directed to: ThrivingCommunities@ghhi.org or call us at 443-687-7343.
[Posted: September 30, 2024] PA Environment Digest
