Issued: Oct 24, 2023 (3:46pm EDT)

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New York Organizations and Agencies Slated to Get Over $6.1 Million in EPA Funding to Support Environmental Justice Work

Contact: Kenneth Labbe, labbe.ken@epa.gov

NEW YORK (October 24, 2023) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $6.1 million to fund 10 projects across New York that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda. The EPA has selected five community organizations, four city agencies, and one state office to receive funding through the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs. These projects will support disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment to achieve cleaner air and water and implement climate resilience solutions. The selected projects will focus on community outreach, climate resilience and nature-based programming among other focuses and goals.   

"It is really exciting to see community organizations and state and local governments in New York design creative projects to advance environmental justice," said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "These grant programs will give communities and local governments a new way to approach climate resilience and to develop solutions that can be replicated on other places. EPA continues to engage with and support communities that have traditionally been overburdened by environmental pollution."  

"When I led the Inflation Reduction Act to passage, I made sure this historic funding would go towards advancing environmental justice and uplifting community-based organizations to promote equity, grow greenspaces, and ensure a cleaner healthier environment for all," said Senator Chuck Schumer. "Now from Jamestown to the Bronx, neighborhoods big and small across New York will get the support they need to help build stronger more climate resilient communities. I will continue to fight for environmental justice and working with communities across New York to get this money where it is needed most."

"Providing support to, and partnering with, community-based organizations is a vital part of our commitment to ensuring a healthy environment, clean air, and clean water for all New Yorkers," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "These ten grantees selected under the EJCPS and EJG2G programs will help address local environmental and public health issues in communities that have been disproportionately burdened by environmental harms across New York State. I thank EPA for selecting these projects to advance environmental justice for those who have been excluded for generations, and I look forward to seeing the impact these grantees will continue to have in their communities." 

"As New York's Representative on the Regional Leadership Council, I'm thrilled to see New York receiving federal funds to advance environmental justice as part of the Inflation Reduction Act," said U.S. Rep. Grace Meng. "This funding allows smaller nonprofits and municipalities to participate in the continued effort to improve their local environment and communities, and is just another instance of President Biden's and Congressional Democrats' Investing in America Agenda delivering for New York."

"The Investing in America agenda means investing in every American, with no one left behind", said U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-12). "I applaud the Biden Administration for prioritizing environmental justice communities as we continue to rollout Inflation Reduction Act grants across the nation. I'm proud to have fought for this funding in Congress, which is essential to strengthening resiliency in the communities hit hardest by the climate crisis." 

"Ensuring environmental justice is bedrock to the health, wellbeing, and functionality of our communities and the constituencies who call them home," said U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "I commend the EPA for today's selection of each of these organizations, including the Bronx River Alliance in my district, as they each carry out their respective initiatives to help achieve our climate goals, advance climate justice, and ensure a more environmentally sustainable future." 

"Seeing the EPA support environmental justice projects throughout New York is promising", said U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (NY-14). "I look forward to seeing all ten programs improve our communities' environmental and public health outcomes as we strive for a more environmentally just future." 

"Last Congress, one reason I proudly supported the Inflation Reduction Act was because it represents the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in American history – particularly for communities like mine that for too long have been left behind," said U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15). "Now, we're seeing critical resources from that historic legislation come to the Bronx through the EPA's Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) program, which is awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to five extremely worthy nonprofit organizations to help address local environmental and public health issues in our communities. Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you for your commitment to working toward building a healthier, more sustainable future for all." 

"Everyone deserves clean air, greenspaces, and access to quality health care.  As our communities experience the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, it is more important than ever to prioritize local organizations that are addressing environmental and public health issues, said U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16). "I am excited to join the Environmental Protection Agency in announcing their Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Program and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government grant awardees right here in New York, including the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers. The recipient organizations are doing lifesaving work to make our communities healthier and I am proud to celebrate their efforts to combat the disproportionate environmental and public health impacts on marginalized communities. These grants are critical steps towards combating the ongoing climate crisis and the impacts of redlining, and I am excited to continue working with the EPA to fight for environmental justice for all." 

"Ensuring marginalized communities have the resources to combat the adverse impacts of environmental inequality opens the door to a fair and sustainable future," said U.S. Rep. Joseph D. Morelle (NY-25). "By allocating federal funding to those most affected by pollution and the climate crisis, we're working towards equity, and healthier neighborhoods. I'm grateful to the Biden Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency for making this investment in our city's future." 

EPA's EJCPS program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. The program builds upon President Biden's Executive Orders 13985 and 14008, creating a designation of funds exclusively for small nonprofit organizations, which are defined as having 5 or fewer full-time employees, thus ensuring that grant resources reach organizations of lower capacity that historically struggle to receive federal funding. Eleven of the organizations selected for EJCPS this year are small nonprofit organizations, receiving over $1.6 million in total. 

EPA EJCPS selectees in New York:  

Bronx River Alliance, Inc: Bronx. NY has been selected to receive $500,000 for its project, Partnership for Urban Waterways in Bronx and Lower Westchester Counties, New York. 

Sixth Street Community Center, Inc: New York, NY has been selected to receive $150,000 for its project, Sixth Street Community Center Citizen Science from Environmental Health & Climate Resiliency in Lower East Side. 

The Bronx is Blooming Inc: Bronx, NY has been selected to receive $150,000 for its project, Program for Leaders Advancing their Community's Environment (PLACE): Partnership Building for Program Expansion and Urban Forestry Workforce Development in Frontline Communities.

We Stay/Nos Quedamos: Bronx, NY has been selected to receive $500,000 for its project, Nos Quedamos Climate Justice, Community Resilience, and Emergency Preparedness Curricula for South Bronx Youth and Adults. 

Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice in the Bronx, NY has been selected to receive $500,000 for its project, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ)Bronx River Waterfront Redevelopment Health Impact Assessment.  

EPA's EJG2G provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and Tribal level to support government activities in partnership with community-based organizations that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.  

EPA selectees for EJG2G in New York:  

City of Jamestown, New York has been selected to receive almost $983,000 for its project, Retooling Homes for Improved Air Quality. 

City of Rochester, New York has been selected to receive $1,000,000 for its project, Home Electrification and Revitalization Opportunity (HERO) Program. 

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: New York, NY has been selected to receive nearly $336,000 for its project, The New York City Air Conditioner Recovery Program. 

Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers: Yonkers, NY has been selected to receive $1,000,000 for its project, Green Infrastructure at the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers.  

New York State Office of Resilient Homes and Communities: Brooklyn, NY has been selected to receive $1,000,000 for its project, Ensuring a Just Transition in Southwest Brooklyn, NY: Planning, Engagement, Design, Workforce Development, and Solar + Storage Construction in Sunset Park, Red Hook, and the Gowanus. 

As selectees begin their projects once funds are awarded the EPA hopes to see more environmental justice centered in the decision-making process and further embedded into agency programs.  

From day one of his administration, President Biden has made achieving environmental justice a top priority. And in August 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in appropriations to provide grants and technical assistance for activities advancing environmental and climate justice. 

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden's Investing in America Agenda. EPA has also launched and will award funds through the $550 million  Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program before the end of 2023. 

To learn more about more opportunities for funding and about what EPA is doing to bring environmental justice to communities, visit EPA's website. 

Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.  

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