The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) established the Community Change Grants program to advance community-driven environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. This includes the use of nature-based solutions to address complex climate challenges, such as flood risk and urban heat island effects. There is a related Community Change Grants Technical Assistance program to assist with applicants.

Eligible Uses

  1. Community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation, and investments in low and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure and workforce development that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants;
  2. Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events;
  3. Climate resiliency and adaptation;
  4. Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution; or
  5. Facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in state and federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.

Track I applications – Community-Driven Investments for Change will focus on multifaceted applications with Climate Action and Pollution Reduction Strategies to meaningfully improve the environmental, climate, and resilience conditions affecting disadvantaged communities. 
Track II applications – Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance will facilitate the engagement of disadvantaged communities in governmental processes to advance environmental and climate justice.

Eligible Recipients

A partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs). A partnership between a CBO and one of the following: 

  • a Federally Recognized Tribe
  • a local government
  • an institution of higher education. 

Approx Annual Funding Amount

The IRA funded this program for $2 billion. Awards under Track I are expected to be between $10-20 million each and cannot exceed $20 million. Awards under Track II are expected to be between $1-3 million each and cannot exceed $3 million.

Cost Share Requirements

There is no cost-share required.

Application Cycle

Applications are typically due in the fall. EPA will allow applications to be submitted on a rolling basis during a 12-month period from release of the NOFO. EPA will also review and quickly select high-quality applications to deliver results and benefits to disadvantaged communities.

Contact

For more information, please contact CCGP@epa.gov.

Other Info

This program is covered under the Justice40 Initiative.