Note: The funding opportunity restricts submission to 2
proposals as a lead applicant. As UC is one legal entity, approved applicants
chosen from UCR will move forward to a second internal submission round at the
UC level.
The Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change
Grant program (Community Change Grants) – the subject of this NOFO – offers an
unprecedented opportunity to transform disadvantaged communities across the
United States into healthy, climate resilient, and thriving communities for
their current and future residents. The Community Change Grants will fund
community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution
while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. The historic
levels of support provided by these grants will enable communities and their
partners to overcome longstanding environmental challenges and implement
meaningful solutions to meet community needs now and for generations to come.
The Community Change Grants are the final and most
comprehensive piece of EPA’s implementation of ECJP IRA funding. The Community
Change Grants will complement grant programs that EPA launched in 2022 and
2023, including those for the Collaborative Problem-Solving,
Government-to-Government, and Thriving Communities Grantmaker programs.
Collectively, these programs will empower communities and their partners to
design, develop, and implement multi-faceted community-driven projects. These
programs will address the diverse and unique needs of disadvantaged communities
by: 1. Reducing and preventing pollution; 2. Building resilience to climate
change and mitigating current and future climate risks; 3. Enhancing meaningful
involvement in government processes related to environmental and climate
justice; 4. Expanding access to high-quality jobs and economic opportunity
through workforce development; and 5. Bolstering community strength by ensuring
that local residents receive the benefits of investments and have the
opportunity to build on them for current and future generations.
The entities eligible to apply under this NOFO are:
A partnership between two community-based non-profit
organizations (CBOs).
A partnership between a CBO and one of the following:
a Federally-Recognized Tribe
a local government
an institution of higher education.
Anticipated funding: Awards under Track I are expected to be between $10-20
million each and cannot exceed $20 million. Awards under Track II are expected
to be between $1-3 million each and cannot exceed $3 million.
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