Christopher Schuler, christopher.schuler@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the recipients of the first round of grants awarded through the $2 billion Community Change Grant Program, an Inflation Reduction Act fund that amounts to the single largest investment in environmental justice ever to go directly to communities. The first set of awards, totaling $325 million, will go to 21 entities whose applications were selected by the EPA to help disadvantaged communities tackle environmental and climate justice challenges through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity.
The applications selected aim to advance collaborative efforts to achieve a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all. The EPA encourages organizations to continue to apply for awards by November 21, 2024, as selections will be made on a rolling basis.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement:
“Environmental justice is one of the most critical issues before us today. The Biden-Harris EPA funding is targeted to get resources to the areas that need it, to benefit and assist the people who have long deserved it. From investing in things like home weatherization and urban forestry to helping ensure that the clean energy workforce of tomorrow is properly trained and is as diverse as the America we all know, these awards will take steps toward a cleaner, healthier future for communities in need. This was a huge part of our fight to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Sierra Club thanks the Biden-Harris administration for their work prioritizing this program.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.