On January 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $100 million in environmental justice funding through two new grant programs, including $70 million through the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program and $30 million through the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement (EJCPS) Program. Funded Authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the two programs award grants for environmental justice projects in underserved communities. Counties are directly eligible to receive funding through the EJG2G program and applicants for the EJCPS program are encouraged to partner with local governments. Applications for both programs are due April 10.

Of the $70 million provided for the EJG2G program, $20 million is available for local governments. In order to be eligible for funding, counties must apply in partnership with a community-based nonprofit organization. The EJG2G program aims to integrate environmental justice into governmental operations and processes. Eligible projects under the program must focus on:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention and remediation low- and zero-emission resilient technology and infrastructure and workforce development initiatives
• Mitigating risks to human health and the climate from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions and wildfire and promoting climate adaptation and resiliency
• Reducing indoor air pollution and toxics

Ensuring the involvement of marginalized communities in local government decision making

EPA intends to award 20 grants of up to $1 million under the EJG2G program. The Agency will hold a webinar on the program on January 26.  

Only community-based nonprofit organizations are eligible to receive funding under the EJCPS program. The program aims to assist these organizations in working with other relevant stakeholders, including local governments, in addressing environmental and public health issues in overburdened communities. EPA will hold a webinar on the EJCPS program on January 24.

Environmental stewardship is a primary function of county governments to ensure healthy, safe and vibrant communities for residents. Counties have urged the federal government to provide financial assistance to protect all residents from environmental harm, and welcome the announcement of this funding opportunity.