The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is excited to announce that they are seeking applicants for their 2013 environmental justice small grants. These grants, which will total $1.5 million, aim to ensure equal environmental and health protections for all Americans. The grants enable non-profits to conduct research, educate and develop solutions to local environmental and health issues in areas affected by harmful pollution. One to five grants per EPA region will be made in amounts of up to $30,000.
“Environmental justice grants support efforts to raise awareness about local health and environmental concerns,” said Lisa Garcia, EPA’s senior advisor to the administrator for environmental justice. “By supporting local projects in under-served communities, communities are able to develop plans and partnerships that will continue to improve their local environment and better protect human health into the future.”
The deadline for entry is January 7, 2013. All applicants must be incorporated tribal or non-profit organizations working to empower, educate and enable their communities to understand and address local public and environmental health issues. The EPA will host three pre-application teleconference calls to help applicants understand the requirements on November 14, December 1 and December 13.
The principles of environmental justice uphold the idea that all communities overburdened by pollution – particularly minority, low income and indigenous communities – deserve the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, equal access to the decision-making process and a healthy environment in which to live, learn and work. Since 1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided funding in more than 1,300 communities, to community-based non-profit organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues. The grants represent EPA’s commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.
