(AGENPARL) – mer 08 gennaio 2025 2021_EPA_NewsRelease_cision.png (https://www.epa.gov/newsroom)
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $22 Million in Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants for New Mexico Organizations
DALLAS, TEXAS (January 8, 2025) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it has selected two New Mexico organizations for the Community Change Grants Program, totaling $22,990,000 in awards to advance local, on-the-ground projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity. The selectees for New Mexico are Santa Fe Indian School, Inc. and Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship. This funding is made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the Community Change Grants Program is the single largest investment in environmental and climate justice in history.
The funding announced represents the latest round of applications that have been selected on a rolling basis since the program launched in November 2023. EPA previously announced (https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-more-325-million-environmental-and-climate)  21 selectees in July. This announcement adds 84 new selectees, bringing the total number to 105.
 “On day one of his Administration, President Biden promised to target investments to communities that for too long have been shut out of federal funding,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today, thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is delivering on that promise. These selections will create jobs, improve public health, and uplift community efforts in all corners of this country, regardless of geography or background.”
“TPL is proud to partner with the Bureau of Indian Education, Environmental Protection Agency, and Santa Fe Indian School on this important initiative. This collaborative project will transform the Santa Fe Indian School campus into a climate-resilient learning environment. By integrating Indigenous-led and nature-based solutions like bioswales, native vegetation, and first foods, we’re not only mitigating flooding and erosion, but also creating hands-on learning opportunities in Indigenous land stewardship. This transformation will strengthen cultural identity, provide exceptional outdoor recreation, and make the entire community safer from the increasing threat of flash floods,” said Dr. Jennifer Santry, TPL’s Director of Tribal Community Schoolyard.  
The Santa Fe Indian School, Inc. (SFIS) will partner with the Trust for Public Land organization to receive $20 million to implement a SFIS Campus Vision Plan. The project will mitigate campus flooding and erosion by restoring bioswales, arroyos, rain gardens, and preferred water pathways; constructing stormwater detention ponds; installing permeable pavements; and planting trees and native vegetation. The project will integrate landscaping with native vegetation and locally grown traditional foods. To reduce energy costs and improve indoor air quality, SFIS will perform an energy audit; perform radon testing and an HVAC assessment; and complete modest capital improvements. Additionally, the project also will build upon SFIS’s existing workforce development and technical education programs and will employ four student ambassadors and one workforce development program coordinator.
The Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship will partner with the Indigenous Design and Planning Institute, School of Architecture and Planning, University of New Mexico to receive $2.99 million to conduct a project for the Eight Northern Pueblos (ENP) of Northern New Mexico. The project will support ENP community leaders and organizations in hosting 40+ community engagement workshops and events directly engaging 840 ENP residents; publish and widely disseminate three annual ENP reports with policy recommendations to solve local problems; design, launch, and host a Leadership Development Program graduating 30 young adults (cohorts) from ENP communities; and establish three seminal agreements among Tribes, states, counties, and community-based organizations to reduce barriers to meaningful resident participation.
See the full listing of the 105 selections receiving a Community Change grant and learn more about the program (https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/community-change-grants-selections) .
Of the 105 total selections, 32 are for Target Investment Areas, totaling $600 million. Target Investment Area funding is intended to ensure that Community Change Grants Program funding is directed towards disadvantaged communities with unique circumstances, geography, and needs. This includes approximately $150 million for Alaska Native communities and organizations.
Applications to the Community Change Grants Program, administered through EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-environmental-justice-and-external-civil-rights), closed on November 21, 2024. The agency received approximately 2,700 applications, totaling over $40 billion in requested funds and over 2,495 requests for technical assistance. The Community Change Grants Program addresses the diverse and unique needs of disadvantaged communities by reducing and preventing air, water, and soil pollution, building resilient infrastructure to extreme weather events, and bolstering workforce development.
EPA is on track to obligate the majority of selected Community Change grants by January 2025. Given the overwhelming number of applications still under review and the limited amount of remaining funds available, EPA’s work to evaluate the remaining applicants will need to continue beyond the end of the Biden-Harris Administration. To ensure all applications are given fair consideration, EPA will not make any additional selections until all these applications are evaluated according to the processes described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity issued in November 2023.
To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit EPA’s Environmental Justice webpage (https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice) .