Environmental Justice Grants, Funding and Technical Assistance

EJ Grants

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPS) Cooperative Agreement Program - EPA's EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program provides funding for eligible applicants for projects that address local environmental and public health issues within an affected community. The CPS Program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships to help them understand and address environmental and public health concerns in their communities.

The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program - EPA's EJ Small Grants Program supports and empowers communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues. The program is designed to help communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks. 

The State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program (SEJCA) - EPA's State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program provides funding to eligible applicants to support and/or create model state activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health results in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks. These models should leverage or utilize existing resources or assets of state agencies to develop key tools and processes that integrate environmental justice considerations into state governments and government programs.

And for information on grant-writing, make sure to check out these federal grant resources.

Other EJ-Related Funding Opportunities

Brownfields Grants - EPA's Brownfields Program provides direct funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loans, and environmental job training. To facilitate the leveraging of public resources, EPA's Brownfields Program collaborates with other EPA programs, other federal partners, and state agencies to identify and make available resources that can be used for brownfields activities. In addition to direct brownfields funding, EPA also provides technical information on brownfields financing matters.

Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants - EPA's Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grants allow nonprofit and other organizations to recruit, train, and place predominantly low-income and minority, unemployed and under-employed people living in areas affected by solid and hazardous waste. Residents learn the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field, including assessment and cleanup. These green jobs reduce environmental contamination and build more sustainable futures for communities.

Urban Waters Small Grants program - The goal of the Urban Waters Small Grants program is to fund research, investigations, experiments, training, surveys, studies, and demonstrations that will advance the restoration of urban waters by improving water quality through activities that also support community revitalization and other local priorities.

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Grants - Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Grants - Since 2008, EPA has funded nearly 60,000 pieces of clean diesel technology through the National Clean Diesel Campaign. These technologies include emissions and idle control devices, aerodynamic equipment, engine and vehicle replacements, and alternative fuel options. The projects meet critical local air quality needs by deploying both proven and emerging technologies much earlier than would otherwise occur.

Extramural Research: STAR Grants, P3, Fellowships, & SBIR Programs - Extramural Research: STAR Grants, P3, Fellowships, & SBIR Programs - Supporting high quality research by the nation's leading scientists and engineers to improve EPA's scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues. EPA supports leading edge extramural research in exposure, effects, risk assessment, and risk management through competitions for STAR grants, fellowships, and research contracts under the Small Business Innovative Research Program.

Other EPA Technical Assistance Resources

EPA's national Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) program provides independent assistance through an EPA contract to help communities better understand the science, regulations and policies of environmental issues and EPA actions.  TASC services can include:

• information assistance and expertise
• community education
• information assistance needs evaluation and plan development
• other assistance to help community members work together to participate effectively in environmental decision-making

Brownfields Technical Assistance, Training and Research
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Brownfields Amendments authorize EPA to provide funding to organizations to conduct research and to provide training and technical assistance to communities to help address their brownfields challenges.

Financial Technical Assistance and Tools for Water Infrastructure
The Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center works with on-the-ground partners to provide financial technical assistance to communities. The Center provides:

• Objective financial advice to help communities make informed decisions on funding drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects.
• Access to tools that help utilities make financing decisions that meet their local infrastructure needs.

Smart Growth Technical Assistance Programs
EPA offers technical assistance to help communities learn about and implement smart growth approaches.