The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues in their communities.  The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions that will significantly address environmental and/or public health issue(s) at the local level.

Additionally, the EJCPS Program requires selected applicants, or recipients, to use the EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model as part of their projects. The model aims to address local environmental and/or public health issues in a collaborative manner with various stakeholders such as communities, industry, academic institutions, and others. Case Studies highlight some of the successful and effective strategies of previous projects.

• Is My Organization Eligible?
• Requests for Applications
• Pre-Application Assistance Calls and Webinars
• Resources
• Past Grant Recipients
• Previous Requests for Applications

Is My Organization Eligible?

If your organization is NOT eligible, we encourage partnering with eligible entities on an EJSG project. See the RFA for more information.  Eligible entities include:

• Incorporated non-profit organizations—including, but not limited to, community-based organizations, grassroots organizations, environmental justice networks, faith-based organizations and those affiliated with religious institutions

• US Territories

• Tribal governments, either federally-recognized or state-recognized – including Alaska Native Villages; or

• Tribal organizations

• Freely Associated States (FAS) – including state and local governmental entities and local non-profit organizations in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau

Request for Applications

There are No EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPS) Cooperative Agreement Program Grants Request for Applications Open at this Time.  

EPA  has selected 34 organizations to each receive up to $200,000 through the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program (EJCPS). Approximately $4.3 million of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds will support projects that address health outcome disparities from pollution and the COVID–19 pandemic and that identify and address disproportionate environmental or public health harms and risks in minority populations or low-income populations through activities authorized by section 103(b) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7403(b)) and section 1442(c)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–1(c)).  An approximate amount of $2.5 million from EPA’s Fiscal Year 2021 annual appropriation for environmental justice (EJ) will fund additional community-based projects.

See Fiscal Year 2021 EJCPS Project Descriptions (pdf)

Pre-Application Assistance Calls & Webinars

Applicants were invited to participate in conference calls and webinars with EPA to address questions about the CPS Program and this solicitation.

Resources

EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model Guide 
A guide to EPA's EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving program.

Case Studies from the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Program
In-depth descriptions of five successful CPS awards.

Fact Sheet on Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program 
(Program overview, eligibility, and model elements.)

Environmental Justice Program Funded Projects
View 2014 to 2020 Projects.

The Power of Partnerships: 45-minute video of EPA's EJ CPS Model at work in Spartanburg, SC featuring interviews of key EJ stakeholders and community members explaining their roles in successfully addressing EJ concerns in the area.

Frequently Asked Questions on Applying for EJ CPS Grants
Answers to FAQs on eligibility, types of projects, funding priorities, and application requirements.

Grant Recipients

• 2021 Project Descriptions (pdf)
• 2020 Project Descriptions
• 2018 Project Descriptions
• 2016 Project Descriptions
• 2014 Project Descriptions
• 2007 Project Descriptions

View all Project Descriptions in a database listed by State: Click Here!

Previous Requests for Applications

• FY2021 Request for Proposals - Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program (pdf)
• FY2021 Request for Proposals with Amendment - Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program (En Español) (pdf)
• FY2020 Request for Proposals - Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program
• FY2020 Request for Proposals - Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program (En Español)
• FY2018 Request for Proposals - Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program
• FY2018 Request for Proposals - Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program (En Español)
• FY2016 Request for Proposals - Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program
• FY2016 Request for Proposals - Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program (En Español)