The Biden administration released on Thursday another tranche of grants to help communities address climate change and environmental justice challenges.
More than $325 million will go to 21 awardees of the Community Change grants program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced. The grants are geared toward communities most negatively and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution and historical disinvestment, according to the EPA.
Several cities are among the groups receiving funding. They will use the funds for projects ranging from a trail system in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the planting of thousands of trees in Houston and Springfield, Massachusetts. Bakersfield, California, will train 150 residents to install solar panels, repair electric vehicles and enroll in electrician apprenticeships. Cleveland and its partners, meanwhile, will undertake an effort to engage historically underserved neighborhoods in municipal decision-making around parks and green spaces.
It’s been a big week for federal climate funding, with the EPA awarding $4.3 billion to state, local and tribal governments through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. Some cities plan to use their portion of that funding for projects similar to those planned by awardees of the Community Change grants.
A common theme of these grant programs is that they allow communities to craft solutions distinct to their localities. In both the announcement for the Climate Pollution Reduction grants and the one for the Community Change grants, John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for international climate policy, said that the programs put communities “in the driver’s seat.”
“Our ability to deliver tangible results for communities depends on listening to them and developing innovative solutions through inclusive stakeholder engagement,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.
Cities hoping for a grant through the Community Change program still have a chance. The EPA is accepting applications for technical assistance through Aug. 16 and for funds through Nov. 21, 2024. The agency will announce award selections on a rolling basis. The Inflation Reduction Act-funded program is expected to award a total of nearly $2 billion. Local governments must team up with a community-based nonprofit organization to be eligible to apply.
