(AGENPARL) – mar 24 ottobre 2023 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
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.