U.S. EPA REGION 7 COMMUNITY INFORMATION DIGEST Welcome to the Hatest EPA Region 7 Digest EPA Region 7's Community Information Digest provides communities with the latest news about funding and technical assistance opportunities, webinars, conferences, and other activities related to human health and the environment. The Community Information Digest comes from the Communities Section located in EPA Region 7's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Regional Administrator's Office. This small but mighty group leads Environmental Justice, Environmental Education, and Children's Environmental Health activities for the region. Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. This goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys: 1. The same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and 2. Equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn and work. Still have questions? Contact vour Regional Staff. An * indicates a new item Please Note: Headings are linked to more detailed source information. Jump to a Section: • Headlines • Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities • Meetings, Conferences & Events • Webinars & Conference Calls To Subscribe or Un-Subscribe from this newslet L-^-J ter, or to suggest content, please email; R7 POIS Communities Mailbox@epa.gov Find us on Social Media; ~ Headlines EPA's President's Environmental Youth Award Competition Due date has been extended to April 30, 2021 The President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) recognizes outstanding environmental projects by K-12 youth. The PEYA program promotes awareness of our nation's natural resources and en- courages positive community involvement. EPA's Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators Competition Due date has been extended to April 30, 2021 The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for learning for their students. Up to two teachers from each of EPA's 10 regions, from different states, will be selected to receive this award. Prepare for Spring Weather Spring weather can be unpredictable. When severe weather hits unexpectedly, the risk of injury and weath- er-related deaths increases, so planning makes sense. Prepare for storms, floods and tornadoes as if you know in advance they are coming, because in the spring, they very likely will. Back to Top U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Region 7 | pag© 1 ------- EPA Announces $600.000 in Brownfields Technical Assistance Funding to Advance Equitable Development and Address Historical Environmental Justice Challenges in Brownfields Communities U.S. EPA is announcing the selection of Groundwork USA, a national nonprofit organization, to receive $600,000 in funding to provide technical assistance to brownfields communities. This funding will help provide nationwide technical assistance to coach and train brownfields communities on a variety of innovative and effective community engagement approaches to provide low-income and minority residents the opportunity to participate in and directly benefit from brownfields revitalization in their communities. Report Environmental Violations Please contact EPA if you see what appears to be a possible violation of an environmental law or regulation. Environmental Justice Hotline: toll-free at 1 -800-962-6215 or email at EJHotline@eDa.aov More information, visit: FPA Hotlines Funding and Technical Assistance Opportunities U.S. EPA Region 7 Pollution Prevention Awards Program Submissions due: March 31, 2021 P2 is a multimedia environmental management technique, emphasizing the elimination or reduction of wastes at the source of generation. P2 also emphasizes the reduction of direct environmental impacts and the use of resources and materials. Award candidates should focus on projects implemented between 2018 and present to be eligible. U.S. EPA Publishes Fiscal Year 2021 National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Solicitation Notice Submissions due: March 31, 2021 The FY 2021 Exchange Network Grant Program Solicitation Notice (SN) has been published to Grants.gov. Applicants are encouraged to review the new FY21 SN in full, as significant updates have been made since the FY 2020 version. The purpose of Exchange Network grants is to foster better environmental management and decision-making through increased access to timely, high-quality, environmental information. Health Resources and Services Administration (HSRA) - Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals Submissions due: April 12, 2021 HRSA is accepting applications for fiscal year 2021 for the BHWET Program for Paraprofessionals. The program develops and expands community-based experiential training to increase the supply of students preparing to become peer support specialists and other behavioral health-related paraprofessionals, while also improving distribution of a quality behavioral health workforce. U.S. EPAAnnounces Cleaner Indoor Air During Wildfires Challenge Submissions due: May 17, 2021 EPA and its federal, state, local and tribal partners announce a challenge competition to encourage the development of effective, low-cost technologies to reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in indoor air and protect public health. Applicants can submit designs for an innovative technology, approach or technology combination. Winning submissions will receive up to a $10,000 prize. Meetings, Conferences and Events Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Regional Operations - Region 7 Grants 101 Virtual Workshop March 8 and 9, 2021 | 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. CST For any organization/individual who wants to learn more about working with federal funders, as well as foundations. Topics include the federal grant application process, federal funding opportunities panel, technical resources demonstration, and engaging and collaborating with foundations. m U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Region 7 | pags 2 ------- Webinars and Conference Calls *March 11, 2021: U.S. EPA Tribal Partnership Groups. Highlighting the National Tribal Air Association and Interests in Environmental Justice | 1:30 to 3 p.m. CST This webinar is part of the EPA Environmental Justice (EJ) Webinar Series for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples to build the capacity of tribal governments, indigenous peoples, and other EJ practitioners and discuss priority EJ issues of interest to tribes and indigenous peoples. This webinar will feature presentations on EPATribal Partnership Groups; a discussion on the work of the National Tribal Air Association (NTAA), as an example of how these partnership groups operate; and the NTAA's interest in Environmental Justice. *March 16, 2021: Radon in Schools: U.S. EPA Tools for Schools and Case Studies | 1 to 2:30 p.m. CST This is the first webinar in a series hosted by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors and the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists, in partnership with EPA's Indoor Environments Division. Additional details for each webinar and registration links will be posted in the coming weeks, radonleaders.org *March 17, 2021: Introducing EPA's Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit | 11 a.m. to noon CST This toolkit aims to inform and support state and local governments who are exploring adopting policies focused on reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from existing commercial and multifamily buildings in their communities. EPA experts will walk through the toolkit; provide an overview of key considerations for policy design; and describe opportunities for EPA technical assistance and further resources, including information on using EPA'S ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® tool as a backbone of program implementation. *March 17, 2021: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Webinar - The Future of Solar: A Tour of Cuttina-Edae Solar Research | Noon to 1 p.m. CST DOE's Solar Energy Technologies Office takes you on a tour of their coolest research projects: farming under solar panels, super- powered concentrating solar technology, community solar developments, and technology innovations for utility-scale solar. This digest is being provided by EPA Region 7 for informational purposes only. This digest contains links to information, agencies, sites, and organizations outside of the EPA website. EPA is not responsible for third-party links. EPA does not endorse third-party organizations or agencies. m U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Region 7 | pags 3 ------- |