Biden-Harris Administration announces $4.5 million for environmental justice projects in communities across Connecticut as part of Investing in America agenda
Selections announced as part of largest investments through EPA's Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement & Environmental Justice Government-to-Government grant programs funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act
BOSTON (Oct. 25, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $4.5 million to fund five projects across Connecticut that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda. The organizations, which EPA has selected through its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions in alignment with the Biden-Harris administration's Justice40 Initiative.
Thanks to President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—this funding is a part of the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will announce before the end of the year.
"No President has invested more in environmental justice than President Biden, and under his leadership we're removing longstanding barriers and meaningfully collaborating with communities to build a healthier future for all," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Together, these community-driven projects will improve the health, equity, and resilience of communities while setting a blueprint for local solutions that can be applied across the nation."
"EPA strongly believes that historically disadvantaged and overburdened communities must have a place at the table as we work toward climate and environmental justice. Successful environmental justice programs are built with community collaboration, common goals, and community empowerment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash. "Across New England, these selectees are poised to catalyze lasting change and make a profound difference, bringing cleaner air and water to their communities, combatting climate change, creating green jobs, and improving environmental health. We eagerly anticipate the enduring impact the grants in Connecticut will have in our region, advancing our common goal of environmental justice."
"This federal funding will support local, community-based solutions to address the climate crisis and help accelerate Connecticut's green economy. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, these partnerships will make a positive impact on our low income communities that have suffered disproportionately from air and water pollution. I commend the Biden administration's focus on righting these wrongs, and will continue to push for investments in communities that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change," said Senator Blumenthal.
"Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, the EPA is investing $4.5 million in communities across the state of Connecticut. From creating opportunities for young people to solve environmental challenges in their city to improving climate resilience and reducing pollution, these projects will create good-paying jobs and help us reach our climate goals. I'll continue pushing to make sure Connecticut sees more of these federal dollars," said Senator Murphy.
"I was proud to help craft and support the Inflation Reduction Act, taking the action our nation has long demanded to combat climate change," said U.S. Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01). "We must advance environmental justice by ensuring all communities have the resources they need to mitigate existing hazards and thrive in America's clean energy future. I am thrilled to announce funding to support the Keney Park Sustainability Project, Blue Hills Civic Association, and Hartford NEXT, organizations that are doing the work on the ground to advance sustainable climate solutions through public outreach campaigns, workforce development programs, and engineering services."
"Congratulations to the organizations receiving grants through the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government grant programs. The Inflation Reduction Act, which I helped champion, included the largest ever investment in these two critical programs. This funding will now be used to support state governments and local organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities," said Rep. Joe Courtney.
"The historic climate investment made by the Inflation Reduction Act is directly impacting the communities I represent through the EPA's Environmental Justice grant program. I'm glad to see federal funds heading to the City of Bridgeport and CT DEEP to build more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly infrastructure in Bridgeport's East Side, improve Connecticut's sewer system to prevent flooding, and ensure a healthy and safe environment for our children to grow up," said Congressman Himes.
"Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden Administration is working to ensure all Americans have equal protection from health hazards and funding to address environmental inequities," said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). "Together, local partners are leveraging the historic Inflation Reduction Act to improve public health and safety. This federal grant will promote environmental justice across the City of Waterbury through education and increased monitoring. I will continue to advocate for federal investments in uplifting historically disadvantaged communities throughout the Fifth District and advancing climate-smart initiatives for all."
The grants announced today deliver on President Biden's commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States. The two grant programs directly advance the President's transformational Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program
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 grant selection in Connecticut:
- The New Haven Ecology Project in New Haven, Conn. has been selected to receive $500,000 to engage New Haven high school students in at least 200 paid jobs as environmental justice problem-solvers. These young people will work with community organizations and residents to set the vision and tackle goals by leading community outreach activities for New Haven's next comprehensive city plan.
Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G)
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 EJG2G grant selections in Connecticut:
- The City of New Haven has been selected to receive $1 million, which will fund an initiative with community-based organizations to enroll energy-burdened New Haven residents in a new program aimed at the electrification of aging heating and cooking systems.
- The City of Bridgeport has been selected to receive $1 million. The project focuses on implementing Complete Streets, a design approach that accounts for all transportation users in the public right-of-way, and Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate all transportation-related serious and fatal injuries, along a key commercial corridor within Bridgeport's East Side neighborhood.
- The City of Waterbury has been selected to receive $1 million. The Department of Public Health will launch a community-engagement pilot program in one of the most impoverished areas of the city. Public education and increased community participation are both primary goals in lead- and asbestos-remediation, blight, and recycling.
- The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been selected to receive $1 million. CT DEEP will be initiating a new program to work with community organizations in the North End of Hartford to engage with communities overburdened by issues associated with a combined sewer system.
Additional Background:
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 environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice