Environmental Justice Grants, Funding and Technical Assistance
EJ Grants
Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) program
The Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) Program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, provides funding for financial and technical assistance to carry out environmental and climate justice activities to benefit underserved and overburdened communities. Congress has appropriated $2.8 billion for financial assistance, and $200 million for technical assistance, to implement this new program at the EPA.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program - 2023 Selectees Announced!
EPA has selected 98 EJCPS awardees to receive a total of $43.8 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding for community-based nonprofit organizations to receive up to $500,000 in grant funding.
The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program - 2023 Selectees Announced!
EPA has selected 88 EJG2G cooperative agreements that will receive a total of $84.1 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and annual appropriation act funding to receive up to $1,00,000 in grant funding.
The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) Program
The new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) Program is a competition to select multiple Grantmakers around the nation to reduce barriers to the application process communities face and increase the efficiency of the awards process for environmental justice grants. Grantmakers will design competitive application and submission processes, award environmental justice subgrants, implement a tracking and reporting system, provide resources and support to communities, all in collaboration with EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights.
The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC) Program
EPA's new EJ Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program will establish technical assistance centers across the nation providing technical assistance, training, and related support to communities with environmental justice concerns and their partners. The services provided will include training and assistance on writing grant proposals, navigating federal systems such as Grants.gov and SAM.gov, effectively managing grant funds, community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants.
The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
EPA's EJ Small Grants Program supports and empowers communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues. The program is designed to help communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks. For information on grant-writing, make sure to check out these federal grant resources.
Other EJ-Related Funding Opportunities
Brownfields Grants
EPA's Brownfields Program provides direct funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loans, and environmental job training. To facilitate the leveraging of public resources, EPA's Brownfields Program collaborates with other EPA programs, other federal partners, and state agencies to identify and make available resources that can be used for brownfields activities. In addition to direct brownfields funding, EPA also provides technical information on brownfields financing matters.
Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants
EPA's Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grants allow nonprofit and other organizations to recruit, train, and place predominantly low-income and minority, unemployed and under-employed people living in areas affected by solid and hazardous waste. Residents learn the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field, including assessment and cleanup. These green jobs reduce environmental contamination and build more sustainable futures for communities.
Urban Waters Small Grants program
The goal of the Urban Waters Small Grants program is to fund research, investigations, experiments, training, surveys, studies, and demonstrations that will advance the restoration of urban waters by improving water quality through activities that also support community revitalization and other local priorities.
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Grants
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Grants - Since 2008, EPA has funded nearly 60,000 pieces of clean diesel technology through the National Clean Diesel Campaign. These technologies include emissions and idle control devices, aerodynamic equipment, engine and vehicle replacements, and alternative fuel options. The projects meet critical local air quality needs by deploying both proven and emerging technologies much earlier than would otherwise occur.
Extramural Research: STAR Grants, P3, Fellowships, & SBIR Programs
Extramural Research: STAR Grants, P3, Fellowships, & SBIR Programs - Supporting high quality research by the nation's leading scientists and engineers to improve EPA's scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues. EPA supports leading edge extramural research in exposure, effects, risk assessment, and risk management through competitions for STAR grants, fellowships, and research contracts under the Small Business Innovative Research Program.
Other EPA Technical Assistance Resources
Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) Program
EPA's national Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) program provides independent assistance through an EPA contract to help communities better understand the science, regulations and policies of environmental issues and EPA actions.
TASC services can include:
- information assistance and expertise
- community education
- information assistance needs evaluation and plan development
- other assistance to help community members work together to participate effectively in environmental decision-making
Learn more about the Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) Program.
Brownfields Technical Assistance, Training and Research
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Brownfields Amendments authorize EPA to provide funding to organizations to conduct research and to provide training and technical assistance to communities to help address their brownfields challenges.
Financial Technical Assistance and Tools for Water Infrastructure
The Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center works with on-the-ground partners to provide financial technical assistance to communities.
The Center provides:
- Objective financial advice to help communities make informed decisions on funding drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects.
- Access to tools that help utilities make financing decisions that meet their local infrastructure needs.
Smart Growth Technical Assistance Programs
EPA offers technical assistance to help communities learn about and implement smart growth approaches.