Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OP OEJ 21 01
The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed to help improve environmental and public health conditions in low-income communities and communities of color by advancing racial equity and environmental justice. The program is framed around the federal government-wide priorities in Executive Order 13985 (advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities) and Executive Order 14008 (addressing the climate crisis). In practical terms, the EPA is looking to fund community-focused projects that reduce environmental harms, strengthen local capacity, and support more equitable outcomes in places that have historically experienced disproportionate pollution burdens and related health impacts.
This particular funding announcement places strong emphasis on projects that respond to multiple overlapping crises. First, it highlights COVID-19 impacts, reflecting EPA priorities during the pandemic period, including efforts that help communities understand, address, or reduce environmental and public health risks exacerbated by COVID-19. Second, it prioritizes climate and disaster resiliency work, supporting projects that help communities prepare for, adapt to, and recover from climate-related and disaster-related threats that can intensify existing environmental justice challenges. Third, the solicitation specifically calls attention to diesel pollution in underserved communities located near ports and railyards, aligning with EPA's Ports Initiative. This focus recognizes that freight movement corridors and transportation hubs often concentrate diesel emissions and associated health risks in nearby neighborhoods.
Funding is provided as a grant under CFDA number 66.604, with an award ceiling of $50,000 per project and an anticipated total of 56 awards. The opportunity was created on March 2, 2021, with an original application deadline of May 7, 2021 (with additional submission details referenced in the solicitation's Section IV). While the eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others," the announcement indicates there are specific eligibility clarifications in the full text.
A central equity feature of this competition is that roughly half of the total available funding is intended to be reserved for small nonprofit organizations with 10 or fewer full-time employees, depending on application quality and other considerations. To support that goal, EPA planned to develop two separate ranking lists during the review process: one ranking list specifically for these small nonprofits and a second list for all other eligible applicants. This structure is meant to improve accessibility to federal grant funding for smaller community-based organizations that may have fewer administrative resources but deep local knowledge and strong community ties.Apply for EPA OP OEJ 21 01
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.604.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 02, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2021 Please see Section IV for additional submission information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 56 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Environmental Justice Small Grants Program (EPA) - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program?
The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intended to improve environmental and public health conditions in low-income communities and communities of color by advancing racial equity and environmental justice.
2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity focuses on funding community-centered projects that reduce environmental harms, strengthen local capacity, and support more equitable outcomes in communities that have historically experienced disproportionate pollution burdens and related health impacts.
3) What federal priorities or executive orders does this program align with?
The program is framed around federal government-wide priorities in Executive Order 13985 (advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities) and Executive Order 14008 (addressing the climate crisis).
4) What types of communities is the EPA trying to support through this program?
The program is designed to support low-income communities and communities of color, particularly those that have faced disproportionate pollution burdens and associated health impacts over time.
5) What kinds of projects are being prioritized in this announcement?
This announcement places strong emphasis on projects that respond to multiple overlapping crises, including COVID-19 impacts, climate and disaster resiliency, and diesel pollution issues in underserved communities near ports and railyards.
6) How does the program address COVID-19 impacts?
The announcement highlights COVID-19 impacts and reflects EPA priorities during the pandemic period. It includes efforts that help communities understand, address, or reduce environmental and public health risks that were exacerbated by COVID-19.
7) What does the program mean by climate and disaster resiliency?
Within this solicitation, climate and disaster resiliency refers to projects that help communities prepare for, adapt to, and recover from climate-related and disaster-related threats that can intensify existing environmental justice challenges.
8) Why does this opportunity emphasize diesel pollution near ports and railyards?
The solicitation specifically calls attention to diesel pollution in underserved communities located near ports and railyards, aligning with EPA's Ports Initiative. Freight movement corridors and transportation hubs often concentrate diesel emissions and associated health risks in nearby neighborhoods.
9) Is this a discretionary or formula-based grant?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity, meaning awards are competitive and based on a review process rather than a predetermined formula distribution.
10) What is the CFDA number for this grant program?
The CFDA number listed for this grant is 66.604.
11) How much funding can be requested per project?
The award ceiling is $50,000 per project.
12) How many awards does the EPA anticipate making?
The EPA anticipated a total of 56 awards under this opportunity.
13) When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 2, 2021.
14) What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was May 7, 2021. Additional submission details are referenced in the solicitation's Section IV.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others." The announcement also indicates that there are specific eligibility clarifications in the full text of the solicitation.
16) Does the program include any special equity features for smaller organizations?
Yes. Roughly half of the total available funding was intended to be reserved for small nonprofit organizations with 10 or fewer full-time employees, depending on application quality and other considerations.
17) How does the EPA plan to reserve funding for small nonprofits?
To support this goal, the EPA planned to develop two separate ranking lists during the review process: one ranking list specifically for small nonprofits with 10 or fewer full-time employees, and a second ranking list for all other eligible applicants.
18) Is the funding reserved for small nonprofits guaranteed?
No. The announcement describes the reservation as an intention that depends on application quality and other considerations.
19) What does "strengthen local capacity" mean in the context of this program?
Based on the description provided, strengthening local capacity refers to supporting community-focused work that builds the ability of local groups and residents to address environmental harms and improve public health outcomes in their own communities.
20) Where can applicants find the submission details referenced in the announcement?
The announcement points applicants to the solicitation's Section IV for additional submission details.
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