Thriving Communities Grants: Funding Environmental Justice at the Local Level

Join NCRC and Green & Healthy Homes Initiative on Tuesday, October 8 at 10 am ET to learn about EPA Region 3 Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, a grant program designed to make it easier for small, community-based organizations to access federal environmental justice funds. 

Local grassroots and community-based organizations located in areas affected by environmental, climate and human health risks are encouraged to apply for grants between $150,000-$350,000 over 1-2 years. 

Grants are intended to support community organizations advance community-driven projects to address local environmental justice issues. 

Applications are due November 30, 2024.

Types of projects funded include but are not limited to:  

• Healthy homes that are energy/water use efficient and reduce indoor toxics and indoor air pollution 
• Workforce development that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants
• Facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in State and Federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes
• Illegal dumping activities, such as education, outreach, and small-scale clean-ups 
• Stormwater issues and green infrastructure 
• Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events
• Environmental justice training for youth 
• Climate resiliency and adaptation 
• Community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation, and investments in low- and zero emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure 
• Monitoring of effluent discharges from industrial facilities 
• Water quality & sampling 
• Small cleanup projects 
• Improving food access to reduce vehicle miles traveled 

Please note that this particular application is available to organizations in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC but other EPA Regions throughout the country will be opening similar opportunities soon.