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Malama Learning Center
Small Grant Success Story
In 2010, with a $25,000 Environmental
Justice Small Grant award, the Malama
Learning Center formed a partnership
with Leeward Community College, as
well as local businesses, government and
community groups to launch the Hawaii
Green Collar Institute. The purpose of the
institute was to engage high school and
college students in learning about public
health and climate change issues affecting
their communities.
Students learned from professionals about
environmental justice issues, conducted
team-based research projects, and received
training to become better prepared to
enter Hawaii's green collar job industry. In
March 2011, the Institute honored its first
graduating class of 36 students, 40% of
which were of Native Hawaiian descent.
The Institute supported its students'
transitions into the workforce by offering
them career counseling services that
include bulletins to alert them of green
job openings, resume writing workshops,
practice job interview sessions, and career
fair opportunities.
To read about more projects like this, visit
environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants
In 2010, the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice
recieved a grant for the "Hartford Recycles" project to educate 900
residents on how to recycle, to protect local air quality by reducing
the amount of trash burned at the city's incinerator.
Supporting Community-Based Action Programs
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson's priorities are the focus for 2012 Environmental Justice
(EJ) Small Grants. Among the top priorities are: reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
improving air quality; managing chemical risks; cleaning up hazardous waste disposal sites;
protecting America's water; expanding the conversation on environmentalism and working for
environmental justice; and building strong state and tribal partnerships.
The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) supports the Plan EJ 2014 strategy through
the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program.The program uses grants to strengthen
community-based programs that engage overburdened communities and build partnerships to
promote environmental and public health issues.
About The EJ Small Grants Program
The Environmental Justice Small Grants program provides financial assistance to community-
based organizations, and local and tribal governments working on community projects aimed
at addressing environmental and public health issues. Since 1994, the program has awarded
nearly $23 million to 1,253 grant recipients. The goal of the program is to help affected
communities create self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will continue to
improve local environments in the future.
Is My Organization Eligible?
An eligible applicant MUST BE one of the following entities:
1. Incorporated, non-profit, community-based organizations. This includes environmental
justice networks, faith based organizations and those affiliated with religious institutions;
2. Federally recognized tribal governments; OR
3. Tribal organizations
AND an eligible applicant must be:
1. Located within the same state, territory, commonwealth, or tribe that the proposed
project will be located; federally recognized tribal governments; OR
2. Able to demonstrate that it has worked directly with the affected community.
How To Apply
To find the application or more information, visit environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants
EPA awarded environmental justice grants to local
organizations helping communities affected by the
BP oil spill. Funds are being used to help
address and adapt to the spill's long-term effects.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Environmental Justice
Continued on back
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working for
environmental
justice How Have Grants Been Used!
Funding for EJ Small Grants in Fiscal Year 2010 was dispersed among 76 projects across 32 states
to support the Administrators' priorities. The types of projects and priorities supported by grants
included:
^ 14 projects that reduced America's greenhouse gas emissions. Little village
Environmental Justice Organization received funding to weatherize 100 housing units,
and worked with the Chicago Transit Authority to begin a new, 12-mile cross-town bus
service that will serve 300,000 people in seven Chicago community areas and the town
of Cicero.
18 projects that managed chemical risks. The Philadelphia Department of Public
Health used an environmental justice grant to provide outreach support and training for
children and pregnant women at-risk and/or affected by lead exposure.
10 projects that cleaned up hazardous-
waste disposal Sites. Citizens' Environmental
Coalition (CEC) educated low-income citizens
in the City of Geneva, New York, about the
environmental and public health issues associated
with the Seneca Meadows Landfill. They also
conducted an air monitoring study to determine if
the air quality near communities surrounding the
landfill is within national air quality standards.
CEC educated students on how
to reduce landfill intake.
8 projects improved air quality. Commun/tfes United for Action provided education
and outreach to four low-income communities on how to protect families from air toxics
in Mill Creek Valley, OH, and developed strategies to reduce air pollution.
10 projects that protected America's
water. In Richmond, California, The Watershed
Project used a grant to create a greenway
garden as a low-impact way to remove storm
water pollutants, as well as to encourage green
approaches to cleaning storm water. Recently, the
project expanded its efforts by partnering with
the City of Oakland to manage the Department
of Public Works' Rain Barrel Program.
16 projects that focused on addressing climate equity, energy efficiency,
renewable energy, local green economy, and green jobs capacity. An award on
the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota funded the Thunder Valley Community
Development Corporation to provide training on community energy use, organic
gardening, and opportunities for green-jobs.
2010 Small Grant
FACTS
Grant Partnerships
EPA awarded $1.8 million for grants in
2010. Of the 76 projects, community-based
nonprofit grant recipients created
partnerships with 313 other organizations,
averaging 4 partners per project.
Jrivate
10% Schools
13%
Nonprofit Government
*43%
34%
* Percent of $1.8 million awarded
There was a wide array of parnterships from
all sectors, including:
Nonprofits: Grassroots groups, community
councils, community health centers,
Development corporations
Educational Institutions: Elementary, high
school and universities, technical and
vocational institutes
Government: Federal, State and local
governments, advisory commissions, task
forces, planning committees
Private: Farmer's markets, construction
companies, local businesses, consulting firms
Geographic Diversity
Grants awarded in 2010 supported 6 tribal
governments or organizations in urban and rural
areas.
Grant Totals
Rural
Urban
Non-Tribal
19
4>EPA
EPA 300F12001
February 2012
For More Information
To find out more about the EJ Small Grants Program, call 202-564-2515
or visit www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html
Connect with EPA
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