Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA R OEJECR OCS 23 04
The Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program is a major U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity created through the Inflation Reduction Act to support community-driven work that tackles climate-related challenges, reduces pollution, and strengthens local resilience. The program is structured to help communities that have faced persistent environmental burdens move from planning to action by financing projects designed and led with community needs at the center. The EPA frames this as a long-term investment in solutions that deliver practical benefits now while also setting communities up for healthier and more sustainable outcomes in the future.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) makes available a total of 2 billion dollars through cooperative agreements, which generally means funded projects are expected to involve a more active partnership and oversight relationship with the EPA than a simple pass-through grant. The funding is offered under a discretionary assistance model in the environmental funding category (CFDA 66.616). In total, the EPA expects to make about 170 awards under this NOFO, reflecting a significant national effort to scale environmental and climate justice solutions across many places rather than concentrating resources in only a few sites.
Funding is split into two distinct tracks that serve different community needs and stages of readiness. Track I is designed for large, transformational community-driven investment projects. The EPA expects to fund roughly 150 awards in this track, with award sizes ranging from 10 million to 20 million dollars. These awards are intended for communities and partners that are prepared to implement substantial, on-the-ground investments that can meaningfully reduce pollution, address climate risks, and produce visible improvements in environmental conditions and community well-being. Track II is aimed at meaningful engagement, with approximately 20 awards anticipated. Track II award amounts range from 1 million to 3 million dollars and are oriented toward deepening community engagement and building the conditions needed for successful implementation, such as inclusive planning, coordination, and other engagement-centered activities that ensure projects are truly community-driven and equitably carried out.
Across both tracks, projects must be time-limited: awards cannot exceed a three-year period of performance. The maximum possible award under the NOFO is 20 million dollars, matching the upper end of Track I. The official closing date listed for submissions is November 21, 2024. Eligibility is not fully detailed in the short summary text provided, and applicants are directed to consult Section III of the NOFO for the complete eligibility rules and any specific requirements about who can apply, what partnerships are expected or allowed, and what documentation must be included.
In practical terms, this opportunity is meant to fund locally grounded solutions where communities identify priorities and shape implementation, whether the work involves reducing exposure to pollution, addressing climate vulnerability, improving environmental conditions, or strengthening community capacity to sustain those improvements. Interested applicants should rely on the NOFO for the full list of eligible activities, evaluation criteria, required components, and application steps, since those details determine what types of projects are most competitive and how proposals must be structured for review.Apply for EPA R OEJECR OCS 23 04
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.616.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 170 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (EPA) - FAQs
1) What is the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program?
It is a major U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity created through the Inflation Reduction Act to support community-driven work that tackles climate-related challenges, reduces pollution, and strengthens local resilience. The program emphasizes projects designed and led with community needs at the center, especially in places that have faced persistent environmental burdens.
2) What is this funding announcement (NOFO) trying to accomplish?
The NOFO is meant to help communities move from planning to action by financing practical projects that reduce pollution, address climate risks, and improve environmental conditions and community well-being. EPA describes it as a long-term investment that delivers near-term benefits while supporting healthier and more sustainable outcomes over time.
3) How much total funding is available under this NOFO?
The NOFO makes available a total of 2 billion dollars.
4) What type of funding mechanism is being used?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements. This generally indicates an active partnership and oversight relationship with EPA, rather than a simple pass-through grant.
5) What is the assistance listing / CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 66.616 in the environmental funding category.
6) About how many awards does EPA expect to make?
EPA expects to make about 170 awards under this NOFO.
7) How is the funding structured?
Funding is split into two tracks: Track I (large, transformational community-driven investment projects) and Track II (meaningful engagement projects focused on deepening community engagement and building conditions for future implementation).
8) What is Track I and who is it meant for?
Track I is designed for large, transformational, community-driven investment projects. It is intended for communities and partners that are ready to implement substantial on-the-ground investments that can meaningfully reduce pollution, address climate risks, and create visible improvements in environmental conditions and community well-being.
9) How many Track I awards does EPA expect to fund?
EPA expects to fund roughly 150 awards under Track I.
10) What is the funding range for Track I awards?
Track I awards are expected to range from 10 million to 20 million dollars.
11) What is Track II and what types of activities does it support?
Track II is aimed at meaningful engagement. It is oriented toward deepening community engagement and building the conditions needed for successful implementation, such as inclusive planning, coordination, and other engagement-centered activities that help ensure projects are truly community-driven and equitably carried out.
12) How many Track II awards does EPA expect to fund?
EPA anticipates approximately 20 awards under Track II.
13) What is the funding range for Track II awards?
Track II awards are expected to range from 1 million to 3 million dollars.
14) What is the maximum award amount possible under this NOFO?
The maximum possible award under this NOFO is 20 million dollars (the upper end of Track I).
15) How long can projects last (period of performance)?
Projects are time-limited. Awards cannot exceed a three-year period of performance.
16) When is the application submission deadline?
The official closing date listed for submissions is November 21, 2024.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is not fully detailed in the summary provided. Applicants are directed to consult Section III of the NOFO for complete eligibility rules, including who can apply, what partnerships may be required or allowed, and what documentation must be included.
18) Are partnerships required or allowed?
The summary indicates that details about partnerships are part of the full eligibility rules. Applicants should review Section III of the NOFO to confirm partnership expectations or options.
19) What kinds of projects does EPA want to support through this program?
The opportunity is intended to fund locally grounded solutions where communities identify priorities and shape implementation. Examples of the types of outcomes described include reducing exposure to pollution, addressing climate vulnerability, improving environmental conditions, and strengthening community capacity to sustain improvements.
20) Does this program focus on communities with longstanding environmental burdens?
Yes. The program is framed as supporting communities that have faced persistent environmental burdens, helping them advance from planning into action.
21) Is this funding meant for planning or for implementation?
Both, depending on the track. Track I is for large implementation-focused investments, while Track II is for meaningful engagement activities that build the conditions needed for successful implementation (such as inclusive planning and coordination).
22) Where can applicants find the complete list of eligible activities and requirements?
Applicants should rely on the NOFO for the full list of eligible activities, evaluation criteria, required components, and application steps. The summary provided does not include those details.
23) How competitive proposals are evaluated (and what makes an application competitive)?
The evaluation criteria are not included in the summary provided. Applicants should consult the NOFO for the official review criteria and the required structure of the proposal, since those details determine competitiveness.
24) What does it mean that the awards are "community-driven"?
In this program description, community-driven means communities identify priorities and help shape implementation, with community needs at the center of project design and delivery. Track II in particular emphasizes engagement-centered work intended to ensure projects are truly community-driven and equitably carried out.
25) Why does the NOFO emphasize cooperative agreements rather than a standard grant?
The summary notes that cooperative agreements generally involve a more active partnership and oversight relationship with EPA than a simple pass-through grant. Specific expectations would be reflected in the NOFO and award terms.
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