EPA Provides Grant Funding to Support Environmental
Justice Communities Impacted by COVID-19
DENVER (April 30, 2020)—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) is working to improve the environment and public health conditions of
low-income and minority communities through our daily efforts to ensure all
Americans have clean air, safe water, and access to information to make
decisions to protect personal and public health. In response to the
COVID-19 public health emergency, EPA is making $1 million in grant funding
available to states to help local environmental justice communities address
COVID-19 concerns faced by low-income and minority communities.
Through the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program, EPA
will provide funds to states, local governments, tribes and U.S.
territories to work collaboratively with environmental justice communities
to understand, promote and integrate approaches to provide meaningful and
measurable improvements to public health and the environment.
“Environmental justice grants aim to support public education, training,
and emergency planning for communities across the country impacted by
COVID-19, regardless of their zip code,” said EPA Administrator Andrew
Wheeler. “These grants are part of EPA’s effort to actively fight the COVID-19
pandemic that is having a disproportionate impact on low-income and
minority communities.”
The grant funding will be used to support public
education, training, and emergency planning for communities impacted by
COVID-19. Projects could include sharing information related to
EPA-approved disinfectants to combat COVID-19; addressing increased
exposure of residents to in-home pollutants and healthy housing issues; and
training community health workers.
EPA anticipates awarding five grants of approximately $200,000 each for up
to a two-year funding period. The agency encourages applicants to develop
innovative plans and processes to conduct effective outreach to underserved
communities, especially in places where Internet access may not be readily
available to all residents.
Interested applicants must submit proposal packages on or before June 30,
2020 to be considered for the available funding.
To apply for funding: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/state-environmental-justice-cooperative-agreement-program#tab-2
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