Apply Now! Deadlines Extended for EPA Grant Opportunities 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funding opportunities available and there are only a few weeks left to apply for two of this year’s largest environmental justice-focused funding programs. The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) and Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJTCG) grants are designed to promote resiliency and equity in vulnerable communities through financial support and collaborative efforts. These opportunities aim to uphold the goals of the Justice40 Initiative by advancing community-based collective sustainable action and funneling resources to areas burdened by historic underinvestment. 

Eligibility 

To be eligible for the EJG2G program, applying entities must include a government body (tribe, state, or local government) in partnership with a community-based nonprofit organization (CBO). Entities which fall outside of these descriptions may also be added into EJG2G eligible partnerships. Eligible project proposals must explain how the partnership will use EPA resources to address specific issues in communities disproportionately impacted by environmental or public health risks. The application should include solutions/action plans relating to historic, current, and/or future climate or health challenges faced by a community. Approximately 70 projects nationwide will be selected to receive up to $1 million in funding for their climate action plans over a 3-year project period. This year’s EJG2G application deadline is April 14, 2023. 

Eligibility for the EJ TCG program differs, as applicants can range from a solo CBO to a partnership of CBOs to a partnership between a CBO and either a tribal nation or an institution of higher education. The collaborative projects proposed for this grant should focus on reducing environmental harm and risks in historically underserved communities, particularly in relation to pollution impacts. The 11 selected cooperative agreements for this program will receive approximately $50 million in funding each over a 3-year period. The deadline for the 2023 EJTCGM applications is May 31, 2023. 

To create a compelling funding application, EPA recommends that applying entities “leverage existing resources to develop processes or tools that integrate environmental justice considerations into governmental decision-making at all levels.” Proposals are required to include many key layers of complex data, such as relevant community history, demographics, and geographic insights. Applying for these programs may seem daunting, but innovative technology and AI can make the process smoother and more efficient, while lowering barriers to entry for applicants of all sizes. 

True Elements is your solution 

True Elements’ capabilities allow for applicants to customize and blend disparate water and climate-related data, producing holistic and reliable insights which can be used to characterize an applicant’s target community. Our Project Management Dashboard allows users to easily save their work, download data, and switch between various map views. Our solutions also provide visualizations of digital layering and water quality scores for clear analysis, forecasting, and decision-making. Because the True Elements platform accesses and integrates information from a variety of diverse data sources, applicants can demonstrate the viability of their project plan with trusted, data-driven evidence. Following EPA guidelines, entities applying for these grants can use our capabilities to create meaningful insights around local water quality and quantity, contaminants (both regulated and unregulated), pollution sources, salinity, hazardous waste proximity, and other key physical, economic, and geographic factors. Users can choose to separate or combine our solutions as needed to paint a picture of environmental justice in their communities, showing patterns of risk and proving the need for funding in their area. 

To learn more, reach out via our contact page.