Funding Available Through Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering about $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funding available under the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program. The objective of the Community Change Grants Program is to distribute funds to support activities and programs that address climate change and environmental justice. The funding is targeted specifically to those communities that are most affected by increasing levels of pollution and do not have the resources needed to implement projects to improve environmental conditions.

EPA is accepting and reviewing grant applications on a rolling basis for initiatives that will provide resources to disadvantaged communities, enabling them to be more prepared to face the challenges of climate change, accelerate work on environmental justice, and bring forth ways to lessen air pollution through increased use of clean energy technologies. The deadline to apply for these grants is November 21, 2024.

What Kind of Work Will Be Funded?

Some types of projects expected to be funded under the Community Change Grants Program are as follows:

• Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Actions to mitigate health and environmental risks associated with excessive heat and related events.
• Workforce development aimed at improving air quality.
• Efforts to increase the participation of disadvantaged communities in governmental planning directed at environmental and climate justice.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible to apply for a Community Change Grant, applicants must be involved in a partnership between community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs) or a partnership between a CBO and a Federally-Recognized Tribe, a local government, or a higher education institution. Other organizations that work with eligible partnerships as well as contractors involved in the projects may also be awarded grant funding.

More information about the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program can be found here.

If you are part of an eligible organization and would like assistance with the application process, Walden’s grant writing experts can help. Please contact us at 516-548-2974 to discuss any of your needs related to the Community Change Grants Program.