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Dear partners,
We want to inform you that the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) has officially opened the grant proposal solicitation for its new Environmental Justice Action Grants Program!
How this funding can support water-related projects
The Water Boards are one agency within the CalEPA umbrella, and this new funding program can support community and tribal engagement in many water-related decision-making processes. Here are a few select examples of potential water-related projects:
Community projects:
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Water education, outreach, and advocacy,
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Engagement with the Water Boards on basin plan updates, policy development, and programs,
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Building coalitions to address water pollution within a watershed,
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Community science water testing, data collection, monitoring, and mapping, and
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Development and distribution of subsistence fish consumption surveys
Tribal-specific projects:
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Tribal Beneficial Use designation: This program can fund projects dedicated to water decision-making, including the process to designate tribal beneficial uses.
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Fund tribal staff time to engage with Water Boards staff in consultations, meetings, and working groups,
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Hire tribal legal counsel, scientific staff, toxicologists,
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Development and distribution of tribal cultural and subsistence surveys,
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Education and outreach,
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Transcription of oral histories,
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Collection and documentation of traditional ecological knowledge,
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Education and outreach,
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Water quality testing and monitoring, and
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Flood preparedness, emergency response, and climate resilience planning
With these examples, we encourage you to consider how this funding can support your community's own priorities. If you have an idea for a water-related project and you'd like to speak to a Water Boards representative, please let us know, and we can connect you to the right person.
More information about the Environmental Justice Action Grants fund is below:
What will the Environmental Justice Action Grants fund?
The CalEPA EJ Action Grants will consider funding any project that does both of the following:
(1) Supports tribes and community-based organizations and/or residents to engage in at least one of the following four project categories:
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supporting emergency preparedness,
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protecting public health,
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improving environmental and climate decision-making, and
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strengthening enforcement.
(2) Serves an environmental justice purpose. CalEPA will focus on those projects that meaningfully involve and engage disadvantaged communities to serve environmental justice purposes.
This will ensure that grant funds are used to lift the burden of pollution, natural disasters, and toxic waste for those most vulnerable to their effects.
To date, the Legislature has committed to appropriating a total of $25 million to CalEPA to be directed to these areas of concern.
Who is eligible to apply?
CalEPA will accept applications from: federally recognized tribes; 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations; and organizations receiving fiscal sponsorship from 501(c)(3) organizations.
Grant Amount
Applicants may apply for as many grants as they wish but CalEPA will not award more than $300,000 per project, or $500,000 per applicant per fiscal year. Grants may be for up to 24 months.
CalEPA administers the new Program as part of its overall mission to restore, protect and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality, and economic vitality.
Learn more and apply:
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