EPA Announces Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Funding Opportunity

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applicants for a total of $1.2 million in Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) cooperative agreements to be awarded in 2016. Cooperative agreements will be awarded to local community-based organizations seeking to address environmental and/or public health concerns in their communities through collaboration with other stakeholders, such as state and local governments, industry, academia and non-governmental organizations. Organizations are encouraged to have a connection between the proposed project activities and applicable neighborhood, local, city, or regional land use planning efforts.

The FY 2016 solicitation is now open and will close on Feb. 12, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. EDT time. Read the RFP.

One award will be made per region in amounts of up to $120,000 per award for a two-year project period. Pre-Assistance calls have been schedule to assist applicants.

In 2003, EPA's Office of Environmental Justice launched the first solicitation for the EJCPS Cooperative Agreement Program. Since the Program's inception, EPA has provided funding to 62 projects to help communities understand and address exposure to environmental harms and risks. Projects must use the Collaborative Problem Solving model, comprised of seven elements of a successful collaborative partnership, to address local environmental and/or public health issues.

Environmental justice is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process. These awards represent EPA's commitment to promoting localized, community-based actions to address environmental justice issues.

Source: GreenStream