In November, 2023, President Biden announced approximately $2 billion in funding available to support community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges. EPA Community Change Grants are the single largest investment in environmental justice going directly to communities in history, and will advance collaborative efforts to achieve a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all. These funds, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, are made possible by the President’s Inflation Reduction Act—the biggest-ever investment in clean energy and climate action.
With a rolling deadline until November 21, 2024, hundreds of communities submitted grants under the two Tracks within the grant program. Track I grants, which the majority of the grant programs’s funding was set aside for, emphasize strong collaborations to achieve sustained impacts related to climate resilience, pollution reduction, community health, economic prosperity, and community strength. Track II grants intend to build the capacity of communities and governments to evaluate and redress environmental and climate injustices by giving disadvantaged communities a meaningful voice in government decision-making processes.
The following projects are in Region 5:
Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association and GRID Alternatives received a Track I award, and will work with 35 federally recognized Tribes to support energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades in homes to improve indoor air quality and lower energy costs. They will invest in leadership development training for Tribal Energy Champions to build their Tribes' capacity to access additional funding sources and implement projects to strengthen climate resilience and reduce pollution.
The MetroHealth System and Community Housing Solutions received a Track I award, and will identify 1,200 Cleveland-area households with at least one resident with asthma and work with them to reduce indoor air pollution. They will replace gas ranges with electric ranges, upgrade kitchen electrical systems as needed, and improve kitchen ventilation. They also will offer households financial incentives to switch to a cleaner electricity supplier and will install EV chargers upon request. All project activities will include extensive community outreach.
See You At the Top and Trust for Public Land received a Track II award, and will work with the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Parks and Greenspace Coalition to engage residents of eight historically disadvantaged neighborhoods in municipal decision making and planning processes related to parks and greenspaces.
To view the first round of awardees and their projects, please click here.
The EPA will continue reviewing Community Change Grant applications on a rolling basis and plans to announce new awardees until the grant funding runs out. Congratulations to all the first round of EPA Community Change Grant awardees and a special shout out to the Region 5 awardees!