Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Economic Research Service’s 2022 Household Food Security in the U.S. Report
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Economic Research Service released the Household Food Security in the United States in 2022 report, which examined American households’ ability to access sufficient food last year. The report found that the vast majority – 87.2 percent – of U.S. households were food secure throughout 2022, meaning they had consistent, dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living.
EPA Launches Online Tool Providing Energy Use Data and Insights from ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the launch of a web-based tool that enables users to explore aggregate energy use data from more than 150,000 commercial and multi-family buildings in the United States. The new Data Explorer tool will help building managers unlock potential savings based on the data from ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®, the nation’s largest energy benchmarking platform for commercial and multifamily buildings. The Portfolio Manager Data Explorer is the latest in a suite of tools from EPA to help propel the adoption of energy-efficiency practices through market-based information.
“Improving the energy efficiency of our commercial and multifamily buildings is critical to reaching our nation’s ambitious climate goals,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “By providing greater transparency into energy use trends across regions and building types, users will be better equipped to target investment, shape policy, and unlock the untapped savings potential of more than 6 million buildings across the nation.”
With the Portfolio Manager Data Explorer, users can quickly understand how the energy use of buildings in Portfolio Manager varies based on the type of building, where it is located, its size, and a variety of key metrics. Building owners and managers can access more granular comparative metrics to see how their buildings perform against similar buildings in their area, and policymakers can view and download energy use metrics at the local and state level to refine building performance policies.
Data in the Portfolio Manager Data Explorer comes from EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, an online energy measurement and tracking tool that serves as a trusted platform for building owners and managers, energy service and product providers, and building performance policies across the nation. EPA conducted a rigorous process to clean the data, with the final dataset for each year including over 150,000 U.S. properties of all types. To ensure privacy, searching for an individual property is not possible and a query must return six or more properties to show aggregated results.
Access the tool and user guide.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts.
“Improving the energy efficiency of our commercial and multifamily buildings is critical to reaching our nation’s ambitious climate goals,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “By providing greater transparency into energy use trends across regions and building types, users will be better equipped to target investment, shape policy, and unlock the untapped savings potential of more than 6 million buildings across the nation.”
With the Portfolio Manager Data Explorer, users can quickly understand how the energy use of buildings in Portfolio Manager varies based on the type of building, where it is located, its size, and a variety of key metrics. Building owners and managers can access more granular comparative metrics to see how their buildings perform against similar buildings in their area, and policymakers can view and download energy use metrics at the local and state level to refine building performance policies.
Data in the Portfolio Manager Data Explorer comes from EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, an online energy measurement and tracking tool that serves as a trusted platform for building owners and managers, energy service and product providers, and building performance policies across the nation. EPA conducted a rigorous process to clean the data, with the final dataset for each year including over 150,000 U.S. properties of all types. To ensure privacy, searching for an individual property is not possible and a query must return six or more properties to show aggregated results.
Access the tool and user guide.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts.
Biden-Harris Administration announces $1.5 million for Environmental Justice projects in communities across South Carolina as part of Investing in America agenda
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 25, 2023) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1.5 million to fund two projects across South Carolina that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), which EPA has selected through its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions in alignment with the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative.
Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—this funding is a part the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will announce before the end of the year.
“No President has invested more in environmental justice than President Biden, and under his leadership we’re removing longstanding barriers and meaningfully collaborating with communities to build a healthier future for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, these community-driven projects will improve the health, equity, and resilience of communities while setting a blueprint for local solutions that can be applied across the nation.”
“Building collaborative partnerships with our stakeholders is vital to addressing local environmental and public health issues,” said Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator Jeanneane Gettle. “Environmental justice communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment will benefit greatly from these projects that promote clean air, water and climate resilience solutions, leading to healthy communities.”
The grants announced today deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States. The two grant programs directly advance the President’s transformational Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program
EPA’s EJCPS program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. The program builds upon President Biden’s Executive Orders 13985 and 14008, creating a designation of funds exclusively for small nonprofit organizations, which are defined as having 5 or fewer full-time employees, thus ensuring that grant resources reach organizations of lower capacity that historically struggle to receive federal funding. Eleven of the organizations selected for EJCPS this year are small nonprofit organizations, receiving over $1.6 million in total.
EPA EJCPS grant selection in South Carolina include the following:
Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities -$500,000- Resilience In The SouthEast (RISE) Program
This project will work with community, academic, non-governmental and governmental organizations to increase civic engagement, address environmental and public health concerns in Environmental Justice communities throughout the Southeast.
Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G)
EPA’s EJG2G provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and Tribal level to support government activities in partnership with community-based organizations that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
EPA EJG2G grant selections in South Carolina include the following:
SCDHEC- $1,000,000- South Carolina Environmental Justice Grant 2023-2026
This project cities located in North Charleston, Greenville, Columbia will apply the principles of Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) training in the form of a Field Practicum (FP).
Additional Background:
From day one of his administration, President Biden has made achieving environmental justice a top priority. And in August 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in appropriations to provide grants and technical assistance for activities advancing environmental and climate justice.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. EPA has also launched and will award funds through the $550 million Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program before the end of 2023.
To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—this funding is a part the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will announce before the end of the year.
“No President has invested more in environmental justice than President Biden, and under his leadership we’re removing longstanding barriers and meaningfully collaborating with communities to build a healthier future for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, these community-driven projects will improve the health, equity, and resilience of communities while setting a blueprint for local solutions that can be applied across the nation.”
“Building collaborative partnerships with our stakeholders is vital to addressing local environmental and public health issues,” said Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator Jeanneane Gettle. “Environmental justice communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment will benefit greatly from these projects that promote clean air, water and climate resilience solutions, leading to healthy communities.”
The grants announced today deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States. The two grant programs directly advance the President’s transformational Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program
EPA’s EJCPS program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. The program builds upon President Biden’s Executive Orders 13985 and 14008, creating a designation of funds exclusively for small nonprofit organizations, which are defined as having 5 or fewer full-time employees, thus ensuring that grant resources reach organizations of lower capacity that historically struggle to receive federal funding. Eleven of the organizations selected for EJCPS this year are small nonprofit organizations, receiving over $1.6 million in total.
EPA EJCPS grant selection in South Carolina include the following:
Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities -$500,000- Resilience In The SouthEast (RISE) Program
This project will work with community, academic, non-governmental and governmental organizations to increase civic engagement, address environmental and public health concerns in Environmental Justice communities throughout the Southeast.
Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G)
EPA’s EJG2G provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and Tribal level to support government activities in partnership with community-based organizations that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
EPA EJG2G grant selections in South Carolina include the following:
SCDHEC- $1,000,000- South Carolina Environmental Justice Grant 2023-2026
This project cities located in North Charleston, Greenville, Columbia will apply the principles of Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) training in the form of a Field Practicum (FP).
Additional Background:
From day one of his administration, President Biden has made achieving environmental justice a top priority. And in August 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in appropriations to provide grants and technical assistance for activities advancing environmental and climate justice.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. EPA has also launched and will award funds through the $550 million Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program before the end of 2023.
To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Project Agreement for Over $100 Million to Clean up Cuyahoga River Area of Concern
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its partners announced a new project agreement totaling more than $100 million, with a significant investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These much-needed funds will clean up nearly 875,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments from the Cuyahoga River Gorge Dam.
EPA Regional Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Debra Shore announced the agreement alongside Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel and Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan at the Gorge Metro Park in Cuyahoga Falls. This long-awaited cleanup will greatly advance the environmental, community, and economic revitalization of local communities and will help lead to the ultimate removal of the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern from the list of 25 remaining U.S. Areas of Concern (AOCs) — highly degraded areas found across the Great Lakes basin.
“The Cuyahoga River was once a thriving ecosystem, but after decades of industrial pollution it became known as the ‘burning river,’” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Debra Shore. “Thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the incredible hard work and contributions from our many partners, today’s announcement will help undo the environmental damage caused all those years ago and return the river to its thriving state.”
The partnership is between EPA and four non-federal sponsors, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, the City of Akron, FirstEnergy/Ohio Edison Company, and Ohio EPA. EPA’s portion of the project is funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Additionally, Summit Metro Parks, City of Cuyahoga Falls, and Summit County will support this project through financial and technical support. These four partners will contribute approximately 35% of the total cost for the project. Final project cost estimates will be determined following the bidding and procurement process.
“Improving water quality is something I’ve prioritized throughout my years in public service, and the state is proud to support this long-awaited project with funding from the H2Ohio initiative," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “It’s also great to see the important role that the Great Lakes Legacy Act is playing in this project. When I sponsored the Act in Congress in 2002, we knew it would make a significant impact on water quality across the Great Lakes region. Now, more than two decades later, the Act is still making a difference, contributing to the removal of the Gorge Dam and the contaminated sediment behind it.”
“I’m glad to announce this project of more than $100 million to clean up the Cuyahoga River Gorge Dam. Once again, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making a difference right here in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. This important collaboration between the federal Environmental Protection Agency and local sponsors Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, the City of Akron, FirstEnergy/Ohio Edison Company, and Ohio EPA will help restore the health of the Cuyahoga River, boosting job creation and economic development throughout the region,” said Rep. Emilia Sykes.
“The removal of the Gorge Dam will restore the natural flow of the Cuyahoga River, improve the environment, expand recreational opportunities, and improve habitat for fish and wildlife species in our communities,” said Mayor Dan Horrigan. “The City of Akron is proud to partner with our local, regional, and national partners on this vital project and we can't wait to see the benefits to our local ecosystem.”
"The DeWine/Husted administration has invested significant resources to improve water quality in rivers across the state of Ohio," said Anne M. Vogel, director of Ohio EPA. "Removal of the Gorge Dam will improve water quality and habitat in the great Cuyahoga River, while providing unique recreational opportunities for the community, creating whitewater rapids and expanding public access for fishing. We are thrilled to officially kick off this project today, acknowledging the years of hard work and the commitment of many partners who have brought us to this day.”
“Our role in the Gorge Dam project is a testament to the benefits of the Sewer District’s Regional Stormwater Management Program,” said Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, CEO of Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. “For this project, our work will focus on restoring the aquatic habitat in the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern. This work builds on the decades of the Sewer District’s work along the river.”
“Every step forward is a page in the ongoing story of our commitment toward a more vibrant, ecologically sound future,” said Lisa King, executive director Summit Metro Parks. “With the support of our partners and community, this exciting update allows us to build stronger connections to the rich legacy of Gorge Metro Park and ensures the enjoyment of its natural resources for generations to come.”
“This exciting project has been many years in the making, and our $10 million contribution toward the safe and sustainable removal of this dam is a testament to FirstEnergy’s commitment to living its core value of stewardship,” said Amanda Mertens Campbell, vice president of external affairs at FirstEnergy. “The dam’s deconstruction requires extensive collaboration between governmental entities and the community, and this contribution exemplifies FirstEnergy’s dedication to creating a brighter future for our environment, customers and communities.”
This project is a critical step in the river’s restoration. Once the contaminated sediments and the dam are removed, a significant portion of the river will be returned to a free-flowing natural state for the first time in over 100 years. The Gorge Dam has been in place since 1912 and is located on the Cuyahoga River within the Cities of Cuyahoga Falls and Akron. Accumulated sediments behind the Gorge Dam are contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, heavy metals, oil, and grease. The removal of the contaminated sediments will reduce the risk of exposure to these substances to humans as well as fish and wildlife.
In February 2022, President Biden and EPA Administrator Regan announced a $1 billion investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to significantly accelerate cleanup and restoration of the Great Lakes. EPA projected that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, combined with funds from annual Great Lakes Restoration Initiative appropriations and funding from other sources will enable the agency and its partners to bring work to completion at 22 of the 25 remaining AOCs, with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding directly supporting 11 of these sites, including the Cuyahoga River AOC.
For more information on the Cuyahoga River AOC, click here.
For more information on the GLRI, click here.
EPA Regional Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Debra Shore announced the agreement alongside Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel and Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan at the Gorge Metro Park in Cuyahoga Falls. This long-awaited cleanup will greatly advance the environmental, community, and economic revitalization of local communities and will help lead to the ultimate removal of the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern from the list of 25 remaining U.S. Areas of Concern (AOCs) — highly degraded areas found across the Great Lakes basin.
“The Cuyahoga River was once a thriving ecosystem, but after decades of industrial pollution it became known as the ‘burning river,’” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Debra Shore. “Thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the incredible hard work and contributions from our many partners, today’s announcement will help undo the environmental damage caused all those years ago and return the river to its thriving state.”
The partnership is between EPA and four non-federal sponsors, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, the City of Akron, FirstEnergy/Ohio Edison Company, and Ohio EPA. EPA’s portion of the project is funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Additionally, Summit Metro Parks, City of Cuyahoga Falls, and Summit County will support this project through financial and technical support. These four partners will contribute approximately 35% of the total cost for the project. Final project cost estimates will be determined following the bidding and procurement process.
“Improving water quality is something I’ve prioritized throughout my years in public service, and the state is proud to support this long-awaited project with funding from the H2Ohio initiative," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “It’s also great to see the important role that the Great Lakes Legacy Act is playing in this project. When I sponsored the Act in Congress in 2002, we knew it would make a significant impact on water quality across the Great Lakes region. Now, more than two decades later, the Act is still making a difference, contributing to the removal of the Gorge Dam and the contaminated sediment behind it.”
“I’m glad to announce this project of more than $100 million to clean up the Cuyahoga River Gorge Dam. Once again, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making a difference right here in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. This important collaboration between the federal Environmental Protection Agency and local sponsors Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, the City of Akron, FirstEnergy/Ohio Edison Company, and Ohio EPA will help restore the health of the Cuyahoga River, boosting job creation and economic development throughout the region,” said Rep. Emilia Sykes.
“The removal of the Gorge Dam will restore the natural flow of the Cuyahoga River, improve the environment, expand recreational opportunities, and improve habitat for fish and wildlife species in our communities,” said Mayor Dan Horrigan. “The City of Akron is proud to partner with our local, regional, and national partners on this vital project and we can't wait to see the benefits to our local ecosystem.”
"The DeWine/Husted administration has invested significant resources to improve water quality in rivers across the state of Ohio," said Anne M. Vogel, director of Ohio EPA. "Removal of the Gorge Dam will improve water quality and habitat in the great Cuyahoga River, while providing unique recreational opportunities for the community, creating whitewater rapids and expanding public access for fishing. We are thrilled to officially kick off this project today, acknowledging the years of hard work and the commitment of many partners who have brought us to this day.”
“Our role in the Gorge Dam project is a testament to the benefits of the Sewer District’s Regional Stormwater Management Program,” said Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, CEO of Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. “For this project, our work will focus on restoring the aquatic habitat in the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern. This work builds on the decades of the Sewer District’s work along the river.”
“Every step forward is a page in the ongoing story of our commitment toward a more vibrant, ecologically sound future,” said Lisa King, executive director Summit Metro Parks. “With the support of our partners and community, this exciting update allows us to build stronger connections to the rich legacy of Gorge Metro Park and ensures the enjoyment of its natural resources for generations to come.”
“This exciting project has been many years in the making, and our $10 million contribution toward the safe and sustainable removal of this dam is a testament to FirstEnergy’s commitment to living its core value of stewardship,” said Amanda Mertens Campbell, vice president of external affairs at FirstEnergy. “The dam’s deconstruction requires extensive collaboration between governmental entities and the community, and this contribution exemplifies FirstEnergy’s dedication to creating a brighter future for our environment, customers and communities.”
This project is a critical step in the river’s restoration. Once the contaminated sediments and the dam are removed, a significant portion of the river will be returned to a free-flowing natural state for the first time in over 100 years. The Gorge Dam has been in place since 1912 and is located on the Cuyahoga River within the Cities of Cuyahoga Falls and Akron. Accumulated sediments behind the Gorge Dam are contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, heavy metals, oil, and grease. The removal of the contaminated sediments will reduce the risk of exposure to these substances to humans as well as fish and wildlife.
In February 2022, President Biden and EPA Administrator Regan announced a $1 billion investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to significantly accelerate cleanup and restoration of the Great Lakes. EPA projected that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, combined with funds from annual Great Lakes Restoration Initiative appropriations and funding from other sources will enable the agency and its partners to bring work to completion at 22 of the 25 remaining AOCs, with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding directly supporting 11 of these sites, including the Cuyahoga River AOC.
For more information on the Cuyahoga River AOC, click here.
For more information on the GLRI, click here.
Biden-Harris Administration announces nearly $1.5 million for Environmental Justice Projects in communities across Georgia as part of Investing in America agenda
ATLANTA (Oct. 25, 2023) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced nearly $1.5 million to fund two projects across Georgia that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The Glynn Environmental Coalition and the City of Savannah, which EPA has selected through its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, respectively, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions in alignment with the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative.
Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—this funding is a part the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will announce before the end of the year.
“No President has invested more in environmental justice than President Biden, and under his leadership we’re removing longstanding barriers and meaningfully collaborating with communities to build a healthier future for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, these community-driven projects will improve the health, equity, and resilience of communities while setting a blueprint for local solutions that can be applied across the nation.”
“Building collaborative partnerships with our stakeholders is vital to addressing local environmental and public health issues,” said Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator Jeanneane Gettle. “Environmental justice communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment will benefit greatly from these projects that promote clean air, water and climate resilience solutions, leading to healthy communities.”
“I am thrilled to see Georgians continuing to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act that my colleagues and I fought so hard to pass. This latest round of federal funding for Brunswick and Savannah will help improve air quality and provide HVAC services to those who need it, helping make headway in our fight for environmental justice for communities too long left behind,” said U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “As a preacher and a public servant, I believe we are called to be good stewards of our environment and its resources, so I will continue to work to deliver more investments to Georgia that will promote healthier communities.”
“I am excited about this award of $1.5 million from the EPA for environmental justice projects in Coastal Georgia, including the City of Savannah,” said Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson, II. “The Biden Administration’s continued focus on equity with regard to environmental protection activities is key for the safeguarding of historic communities throughout the country that have previously been under considered in the environmental protection space.”
The grants announced today deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States. The two grant programs directly advance the President’s transformational Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program
EPA’s EJCPS program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. The program builds upon President Biden’s Executive Orders 13985 and 14008, creating a designation of funds exclusively for small nonprofit organizations, which are defined as having 5 or fewer full-time employees, thus ensuring that grant resources reach organizations of lower capacity that historically struggle to receive federal funding. Eleven of the organizations selected for EJCPS this year are small nonprofit organizations, receiving over $1.6 million in total.
EPA EJCPS grant selection in Georgia include the following:
Glynn Environmental Coalition - $499,835- Community Involvement, Environmental Sampling, and Citizen Science â Developing a Road Map to Dismantle Environmental Racism
This project proposes three primary activities to empower Brunswick residents to (1) identify the air pollutants historically and currently discharged by local industries and the degree to which these contaminants pose health effects; (2) collect samples for air toxics and sulfur compounds at locations throughout the city including industry fencelines; (3) use sample results to advocate for further investigations or other permit or policy changes as appropriate.
Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G)
EPA’s EJG2G provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and Tribal level to support government activities in partnership with community-based organizations that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
EPA EJG2G grant selection in Georgia includes the following:
City of Savannah - $1,000,000 - 100% Savannah: Energy Efficiency and Workforce Training Program
This program is designed to serve households that cannot participate in the free, ratepayer funded program that is available through Georgia Power due to their income or the condition of their home, as well as to provide HVAC services that are not typically included in that program.
Additional Background:
From day one of his administration, President Biden has made achieving environmental justice a top priority. And in August 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in appropriations to provide grants and technical assistance for activities advancing environmental and climate justice.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. EPA has also launched and will award funds through the $550 million Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program before the end of 2023.
To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—this funding is a part the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will announce before the end of the year.
“No President has invested more in environmental justice than President Biden, and under his leadership we’re removing longstanding barriers and meaningfully collaborating with communities to build a healthier future for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, these community-driven projects will improve the health, equity, and resilience of communities while setting a blueprint for local solutions that can be applied across the nation.”
“Building collaborative partnerships with our stakeholders is vital to addressing local environmental and public health issues,” said Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator Jeanneane Gettle. “Environmental justice communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment will benefit greatly from these projects that promote clean air, water and climate resilience solutions, leading to healthy communities.”
“I am thrilled to see Georgians continuing to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act that my colleagues and I fought so hard to pass. This latest round of federal funding for Brunswick and Savannah will help improve air quality and provide HVAC services to those who need it, helping make headway in our fight for environmental justice for communities too long left behind,” said U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “As a preacher and a public servant, I believe we are called to be good stewards of our environment and its resources, so I will continue to work to deliver more investments to Georgia that will promote healthier communities.”
“I am excited about this award of $1.5 million from the EPA for environmental justice projects in Coastal Georgia, including the City of Savannah,” said Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson, II. “The Biden Administration’s continued focus on equity with regard to environmental protection activities is key for the safeguarding of historic communities throughout the country that have previously been under considered in the environmental protection space.”
The grants announced today deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States. The two grant programs directly advance the President’s transformational Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program
EPA’s EJCPS program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. The program builds upon President Biden’s Executive Orders 13985 and 14008, creating a designation of funds exclusively for small nonprofit organizations, which are defined as having 5 or fewer full-time employees, thus ensuring that grant resources reach organizations of lower capacity that historically struggle to receive federal funding. Eleven of the organizations selected for EJCPS this year are small nonprofit organizations, receiving over $1.6 million in total.
EPA EJCPS grant selection in Georgia include the following:
Glynn Environmental Coalition - $499,835- Community Involvement, Environmental Sampling, and Citizen Science â Developing a Road Map to Dismantle Environmental Racism
This project proposes three primary activities to empower Brunswick residents to (1) identify the air pollutants historically and currently discharged by local industries and the degree to which these contaminants pose health effects; (2) collect samples for air toxics and sulfur compounds at locations throughout the city including industry fencelines; (3) use sample results to advocate for further investigations or other permit or policy changes as appropriate.
Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G)
EPA’s EJG2G provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and Tribal level to support government activities in partnership with community-based organizations that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
EPA EJG2G grant selection in Georgia includes the following:
City of Savannah - $1,000,000 - 100% Savannah: Energy Efficiency and Workforce Training Program
This program is designed to serve households that cannot participate in the free, ratepayer funded program that is available through Georgia Power due to their income or the condition of their home, as well as to provide HVAC services that are not typically included in that program.
Additional Background:
From day one of his administration, President Biden has made achieving environmental justice a top priority. And in August 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in appropriations to provide grants and technical assistance for activities advancing environmental and climate justice.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. EPA has also launched and will award funds through the $550 million Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program before the end of 2023.
To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
EPA Highlights Importance of Children’s Health Month with North Philadelphia Day Care Visit
EPA Highlights Importance of Children’s Health Month with North Philadelphia Day Care Visit
PHILADELPHIA (October 25, 2023) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz visited the KenCrest North Daycare Center in North Philadelphia today in honor of Children’s Health Month. While there, he visited with students to read “Why is Coco Orange?”, a story of a chameleon with asthma and discussed the importance of keeping children safe with staff and parents.
The visit was scheduled to celebrate a nearly $200,000 Healthy Learning Environments Grant issued to Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE). Funded by the American Rescue Plan, this 2-year award provides capacity building support to educate Philadelphia’s early learning community about environmental hazards in childcare centers and provide action steps to mitigate hazards, including addressing concerns associated with climate change and Covid-19.
"Visiting schools and daycare centers like KenCrest are great reminders of the impact our grants have and that each dollar has the power to improve lives and communities," said Ortiz. "Children are one of our most important populations and ensuring they have safe places to live, learn, and play is a top priority for EPA."
“Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) educates the early learning community about environmental risks to human health, provides action steps providers can take to mitigate those risks and advocates for solutions that better protect young children and staff,” said Healthy Buildings Program Manager Lorna Rosenberg. “We serve parents, students/children, school and early learning personnel, health, and community-based organizations, through our Healthy Childcare Champions program, with an emphasis on those living in underserved communities. “
Women for a Healthy Environment utilizes the Children’s Environmental Health Network’s Eco-Healthy Checklist in childcares in Philadelphia neighborhoods, like they did at KenCrest North Childcare Center. Select childcares, including KenCrest North, are also participating in an indoor air quality study that utilizes indoor air monitors, observed by Women for a Healthy Environment in real-time. The results from this study will be announced at a later date.
“We’ve learned through numerous studies that there is a significant correlation between air quality, city living, and asthma, and its impact on a child’s ability to thrive in an educational setting. We’re grateful to the EPA and WHE for their continued investment in creating safe and healthy environments for all children to learn, play, and grow,” said KenCrest Executive Director Melanie Brennan.
To learn more about Children’s Health Month, visit: https://www.epa.gov/children
About Women for a Healthy Environment
Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) educates communities about environmental risks to human health, provides action steps to mitigate those risks, and advocates for solutions to better protect the region. WHE serves parents, students, children, school, and early learning personnel, as well as health and community-based organizations, with an emphasis on those living in underserved communities. Creating healthy spaces for children to live, learn and play is at the core of our work. For more info: https://womenforahealthyenvironment.org/.
About KenCrest
KenCrest is an early education provider in Philadelphia, and a human services organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut; that supports over 12,500 people per year with a dedicated staff of 2,100 employees. For more information, visit www.KenCrest.org.
PHILADELPHIA (October 25, 2023) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz visited the KenCrest North Daycare Center in North Philadelphia today in honor of Children’s Health Month. While there, he visited with students to read “Why is Coco Orange?”, a story of a chameleon with asthma and discussed the importance of keeping children safe with staff and parents.
The visit was scheduled to celebrate a nearly $200,000 Healthy Learning Environments Grant issued to Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE). Funded by the American Rescue Plan, this 2-year award provides capacity building support to educate Philadelphia’s early learning community about environmental hazards in childcare centers and provide action steps to mitigate hazards, including addressing concerns associated with climate change and Covid-19.
"Visiting schools and daycare centers like KenCrest are great reminders of the impact our grants have and that each dollar has the power to improve lives and communities," said Ortiz. "Children are one of our most important populations and ensuring they have safe places to live, learn, and play is a top priority for EPA."
“Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) educates the early learning community about environmental risks to human health, provides action steps providers can take to mitigate those risks and advocates for solutions that better protect young children and staff,” said Healthy Buildings Program Manager Lorna Rosenberg. “We serve parents, students/children, school and early learning personnel, health, and community-based organizations, through our Healthy Childcare Champions program, with an emphasis on those living in underserved communities. “
Women for a Healthy Environment utilizes the Children’s Environmental Health Network’s Eco-Healthy Checklist in childcares in Philadelphia neighborhoods, like they did at KenCrest North Childcare Center. Select childcares, including KenCrest North, are also participating in an indoor air quality study that utilizes indoor air monitors, observed by Women for a Healthy Environment in real-time. The results from this study will be announced at a later date.
“We’ve learned through numerous studies that there is a significant correlation between air quality, city living, and asthma, and its impact on a child’s ability to thrive in an educational setting. We’re grateful to the EPA and WHE for their continued investment in creating safe and healthy environments for all children to learn, play, and grow,” said KenCrest Executive Director Melanie Brennan.
To learn more about Children’s Health Month, visit: https://www.epa.gov/children
About Women for a Healthy Environment
Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) educates communities about environmental risks to human health, provides action steps to mitigate those risks, and advocates for solutions to better protect the region. WHE serves parents, students, children, school, and early learning personnel, as well as health and community-based organizations, with an emphasis on those living in underserved communities. Creating healthy spaces for children to live, learn and play is at the core of our work. For more info: https://womenforahealthyenvironment.org/.
About KenCrest
KenCrest is an early education provider in Philadelphia, and a human services organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut; that supports over 12,500 people per year with a dedicated staff of 2,100 employees. For more information, visit www.KenCrest.org.
La EPA otorga $1 millón en fondos a San Juan para combatir el cambio climático
SAN JUAN - La Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) otorgó $1 millón del programa de la agencia destinado a Subvenciones para la Reducción de la Contaminación Climática (Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG), por sus siglas en inglés) al Municipio de San Juan a fin de desarrollar planes de acción climática con estrategias innovadoras para reducir la contaminación climática y construir la economía de energía limpia en el área metropolitana de San Juan. Este financiamiento se suma a los $3 millones que recibirá el Gobierno de Puerto Rico para la planificación de la acción climática a través del programa CPRG.
Los fondos que se destinan a San Juan y a Puerto Rico forman parte de la primera fase de financiamiento del programa de CPRG de un total de $5 mil millones de la EPA, que fue creado por la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación del Presidente Biden, la mayor inversión en acción climática de la historia. La EPA lanzó recientemente la segunda fase de este programa, específicamente $4.6 mil millones en subvenciones competitivas para implementar programas y políticas estatales, locales, tribales y territoriales que reduzcan la contaminación climática, promuevan la justicia ambiental y desplieguen soluciones de energía limpia en todo el país.
“Con programas como las Subvenciones para la Reducción de la Contaminación Climática, la EPA está impulsando la planificación climática y promoviendo la justicia ambiental para las comunidades sobrecargadas y vulnerables al cambio climático en colaboración con Puerto Rico",”, indicó la administradora regional de la EPA, Lisa F. García. “Nos complace brindar al Municipio de San Juan y a nuestros colaboradores en Puerto Rico que reciben los impactos mayores del cambio climático esta oportunidad única de financiamiento a través de la agenda Investing in America del Presidente Biden para expandir recursos, crear empleos y construir infraestructura de energía limpia”.
"Quiero agradecer al presidente Biden y a la Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental por este importante premio para nuestra ciudad capital. Trabajaremos, con transparencia y responsabilidad en iniciativas y proyectos para transitar a una economía de energía limpia en nuestras comunidades de San Juan y combatir la crisis climática," indicó el alcalde Miguel Romero del Municipio de San Juan.
"Asegurar esta subvención y encabezarla para el Área Estadística Metropolitana marca un hito significativo. Esta herramienta de planificación ambiental nos ayudará a implementar las estrategias trazadas por el Municipio de San Juan, con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida de nuestros ciudadanos en medio de los desafíos del cambio climático," destacó Tamara González, Directora de la Oficina de Planificación y Ordenación Territorial del Municipio de San Juan.
La Oficina de Planificación del Municipio de San Juan estará utilizando los fondos de la EPA para liderar los esfuerzos de planificación destinados a reducir la contaminación climática y desarrollar un plan climático en colaboración con la Junta de Planificación de Puerto Rico, el Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas de Puerto Rico, municipios y comunidades en toda el área metropolitana. Obtendrán una participación pública significativa en el plan, centrándose en las comunidades de bajos ingresos y desventajadas.
El 20 de septiembre de 2023, la EPA anunció la disponibilidad de $4.6 mil millones en dos competencias de subvenciones para la implementación, una competencia general y otra específica para las naciones indígenas y los territorios más pequeños, en el marco de la segunda fase del programa de CPRG centrada en la implementación. En estas competencias de fondos, los solicitantes elegibles competirán por subvenciones de implementación de CPRG para financiar medidas en sus planes de acción climática específicos de su estado, municipio, nación indígena o territorio. Como parte de su evaluación de las solicitudes, la EPA priorizará las medidas que logren la mayor cantidad de reducciones de emisiones de gases de invernadero. La fecha límite para que los gobiernos estatales y locales presenten su solicitud al programa de implementación de CPRG es el 1 de abril de 2024.
Visite este sitio web para ver más información sobre las Subvenciones para la Reducción de la Contaminación Climática.
Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en X y visite nuestra página de Facebook. Para ver más detalles sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.
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Los fondos que se destinan a San Juan y a Puerto Rico forman parte de la primera fase de financiamiento del programa de CPRG de un total de $5 mil millones de la EPA, que fue creado por la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación del Presidente Biden, la mayor inversión en acción climática de la historia. La EPA lanzó recientemente la segunda fase de este programa, específicamente $4.6 mil millones en subvenciones competitivas para implementar programas y políticas estatales, locales, tribales y territoriales que reduzcan la contaminación climática, promuevan la justicia ambiental y desplieguen soluciones de energía limpia en todo el país.
“Con programas como las Subvenciones para la Reducción de la Contaminación Climática, la EPA está impulsando la planificación climática y promoviendo la justicia ambiental para las comunidades sobrecargadas y vulnerables al cambio climático en colaboración con Puerto Rico",”, indicó la administradora regional de la EPA, Lisa F. García. “Nos complace brindar al Municipio de San Juan y a nuestros colaboradores en Puerto Rico que reciben los impactos mayores del cambio climático esta oportunidad única de financiamiento a través de la agenda Investing in America del Presidente Biden para expandir recursos, crear empleos y construir infraestructura de energía limpia”.
"Quiero agradecer al presidente Biden y a la Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental por este importante premio para nuestra ciudad capital. Trabajaremos, con transparencia y responsabilidad en iniciativas y proyectos para transitar a una economía de energía limpia en nuestras comunidades de San Juan y combatir la crisis climática," indicó el alcalde Miguel Romero del Municipio de San Juan.
"Asegurar esta subvención y encabezarla para el Área Estadística Metropolitana marca un hito significativo. Esta herramienta de planificación ambiental nos ayudará a implementar las estrategias trazadas por el Municipio de San Juan, con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida de nuestros ciudadanos en medio de los desafíos del cambio climático," destacó Tamara González, Directora de la Oficina de Planificación y Ordenación Territorial del Municipio de San Juan.
La Oficina de Planificación del Municipio de San Juan estará utilizando los fondos de la EPA para liderar los esfuerzos de planificación destinados a reducir la contaminación climática y desarrollar un plan climático en colaboración con la Junta de Planificación de Puerto Rico, el Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas de Puerto Rico, municipios y comunidades en toda el área metropolitana. Obtendrán una participación pública significativa en el plan, centrándose en las comunidades de bajos ingresos y desventajadas.
El 20 de septiembre de 2023, la EPA anunció la disponibilidad de $4.6 mil millones en dos competencias de subvenciones para la implementación, una competencia general y otra específica para las naciones indígenas y los territorios más pequeños, en el marco de la segunda fase del programa de CPRG centrada en la implementación. En estas competencias de fondos, los solicitantes elegibles competirán por subvenciones de implementación de CPRG para financiar medidas en sus planes de acción climática específicos de su estado, municipio, nación indígena o territorio. Como parte de su evaluación de las solicitudes, la EPA priorizará las medidas que logren la mayor cantidad de reducciones de emisiones de gases de invernadero. La fecha límite para que los gobiernos estatales y locales presenten su solicitud al programa de implementación de CPRG es el 1 de abril de 2024.
Visite este sitio web para ver más información sobre las Subvenciones para la Reducción de la Contaminación Climática.
Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en X y visite nuestra página de Facebook. Para ver más detalles sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.
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Biden-Harris Administration announces nearly $3.5 million for environmental justice projects in communities across Rhode Island as part of Investing in America agenda
BOSTON (Oct. 24, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced nearly $3.5 million to fund five projects across Rhode Island that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The organizations, which EPA has selected through its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions in alignment with the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative.
Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—this funding is a part of the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will announce before the end of the year.
“No President has invested more in environmental justice than President Biden, and under his leadership we’re removing longstanding barriers and meaningfully collaborating with communities to build a healthier future for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, these community-driven projects will improve the health, equity, and resilience of communities while setting a blueprint for local solutions that can be applied across the nation.”
“EPA strongly believes that historically disadvantaged and overburdened communities must have a place at the table as we work toward climate and environmental justice. Successful environmental justice programs are built with community collaboration, common goals, and community empowerment,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash. “Across New England, these selectees are poised to catalyze lasting change and make a profound difference, bringing cleaner air and water to their communities, combatting climate change, creating green jobs, and improving environmental health. We eagerly anticipate the enduring impact the grants in Rhode Island will have in our region, advancing our common goal of environmental justice.”
“When we invest in public health and environmental justice, we are strengthening our state for generations,” said Senator Whitehouse. “This federal funding will help reduce childhood lead poisoning and expand the state’s efforts to improve air quality in urban communities.”
“Access to clean air and water must be a right for every Rhode Islander,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “This federal funding is vital to keeping Rhode Islanders healthy by ensuring clean air, preventing lead poisoning, and reducing contaminants entering waterways.”
The grants announced today deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States. The two grant programs directly advance the President’s transformational Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program
EPA’s EJCPS program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. The program builds upon President Biden’s Executive Orders 13985 and 14008, creating a designation of funds exclusively for small nonprofit organizations, which are defined as having 5 or fewer full-time employees, thus ensuring that grant resources reach organizations of lower capacity that historically struggle to receive federal funding. Eleven of the organizations selected for EJCPS this year are small nonprofit organizations, receiving over $1.6 million in total.
EPA EJCPS grant selections in Rhode Island:
Childhood Lead Action Project, Inc. in Providence, RI has been selected to receive $500,000 to work strategically to reduce the incidence of childhood lead poisoning, improve the safety of rental housing, and increase the capacity of residents, government regulators, housing funding agencies, and other stakeholders to work together to address the lead issue on a local level.
Refugee Development Center in Providence, RI has been selected to receive $500,000 to address housing safety and lead poisoning among refugees in Rhode Island. The main objectives are to increase awareness about Lead Safety and decrease the incidence of lead poisoning among refugees.
The Nature Conservancy in Providence, RI has been selected to receive $500,000 to develop community-led approaches to build the capacity to implement the plan’s goal to add 30,000 new trees in low-canopy, environmental justice neighborhoods.
Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G)
EPA’s EJG2G provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and Tribal level to support government activities in partnership with community-based organizations that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
EPA EJG2G grant selections in Rhode Island:
The Rhode Island Department of Health has been selected to receive $1 million to measure and report the impact of air quality on asthma outcomes among underserved communities living throughout Providence, Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has been selected to receive nearly $1 million to collaborate with environmental and racial justice community-based organizations to build capacity for direct participation by impacted communities in the development and implementation of environmental policy decisions.
Additional Background:
From day one of his administration, President Biden has made achieving environmental justice a top priority. And in August 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in appropriations to provide grants and technical assistance for activities advancing environmental and climate justice.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. EPA has also launched and will award funds through the $550 million Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program before the end of 2023.
To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—this funding is a part of the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will announce before the end of the year.
“No President has invested more in environmental justice than President Biden, and under his leadership we’re removing longstanding barriers and meaningfully collaborating with communities to build a healthier future for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, these community-driven projects will improve the health, equity, and resilience of communities while setting a blueprint for local solutions that can be applied across the nation.”
“EPA strongly believes that historically disadvantaged and overburdened communities must have a place at the table as we work toward climate and environmental justice. Successful environmental justice programs are built with community collaboration, common goals, and community empowerment,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash. “Across New England, these selectees are poised to catalyze lasting change and make a profound difference, bringing cleaner air and water to their communities, combatting climate change, creating green jobs, and improving environmental health. We eagerly anticipate the enduring impact the grants in Rhode Island will have in our region, advancing our common goal of environmental justice.”
“When we invest in public health and environmental justice, we are strengthening our state for generations,” said Senator Whitehouse. “This federal funding will help reduce childhood lead poisoning and expand the state’s efforts to improve air quality in urban communities.”
“Access to clean air and water must be a right for every Rhode Islander,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “This federal funding is vital to keeping Rhode Islanders healthy by ensuring clean air, preventing lead poisoning, and reducing contaminants entering waterways.”
The grants announced today deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States. The two grant programs directly advance the President’s transformational Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program
EPA’s EJCPS program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. The program builds upon President Biden’s Executive Orders 13985 and 14008, creating a designation of funds exclusively for small nonprofit organizations, which are defined as having 5 or fewer full-time employees, thus ensuring that grant resources reach organizations of lower capacity that historically struggle to receive federal funding. Eleven of the organizations selected for EJCPS this year are small nonprofit organizations, receiving over $1.6 million in total.
EPA EJCPS grant selections in Rhode Island:
Childhood Lead Action Project, Inc. in Providence, RI has been selected to receive $500,000 to work strategically to reduce the incidence of childhood lead poisoning, improve the safety of rental housing, and increase the capacity of residents, government regulators, housing funding agencies, and other stakeholders to work together to address the lead issue on a local level.
Refugee Development Center in Providence, RI has been selected to receive $500,000 to address housing safety and lead poisoning among refugees in Rhode Island. The main objectives are to increase awareness about Lead Safety and decrease the incidence of lead poisoning among refugees.
The Nature Conservancy in Providence, RI has been selected to receive $500,000 to develop community-led approaches to build the capacity to implement the plan’s goal to add 30,000 new trees in low-canopy, environmental justice neighborhoods.
Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G)
EPA’s EJG2G provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and Tribal level to support government activities in partnership with community-based organizations that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
EPA EJG2G grant selections in Rhode Island:
The Rhode Island Department of Health has been selected to receive $1 million to measure and report the impact of air quality on asthma outcomes among underserved communities living throughout Providence, Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has been selected to receive nearly $1 million to collaborate with environmental and racial justice community-based organizations to build capacity for direct participation by impacted communities in the development and implementation of environmental policy decisions.
Additional Background:
From day one of his administration, President Biden has made achieving environmental justice a top priority. And in August 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in appropriations to provide grants and technical assistance for activities advancing environmental and climate justice.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. EPA has also launched and will award funds through the $550 million Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program before the end of 2023.
To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice