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EPA Community Change Grants

In November 2023, the EPA released the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program, allocating $2 billion to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects to reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community response capacity. The program design integrated nationwide community and stakeholder input, and the resulting grants will focus on community-driven and place-based initiatives to advance Environmental Justice and climate equity.  Applications are being accepted by EPA on a rolling basis through November 21, 2024.

To maximize the impact of this funding for Environmental Justice and climate equity in Michigan, and to help meet the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, including addressing environmental injustices, the State of Michigan announced in May 2024 that through the Make It In Michigan Competitiveness Fund it will provide five percent (5%) match funding of the total awarded amount for eligible Community Change Grant applications awarded by the EPA to fund projects benefiting the disadvantaged community(ies) in Michigan, provided that the application for the Community Change Grant is fully submitted to the EPA prior to August 1, 2024.

To request a letter of commitment from the State of Michigan for this match funding to include in your Community Change Grant application, complete the following form prior to application submission. We ask for 5-7 business days to return the letter and language to include in your application.

Request for Community Change Grants Match Funding from the State of Michigan

In addition to these available match funds, the Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate, in partnership with the Office of Climate and Energy and the Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO), is offering connectivity support to interested Community Change Grant applicants.

To receive information about connecting with potential partners and other State of Michigan support updates for this opportunity, respond to the following survey:

Michigan Community Change Grants Interest & Support survey

Eligible projects

Track 1: Community-driven investments (awards of $10-20 million)

  • Climate resiliency and adaptation
  • Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events
  • Community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation
  • Investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure
  • Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants
  • Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution

Track 2: Facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in public processes (awards of $1-3 million)

  • Support for state and federal advisory groups for environmental and climate justice
  • Participation in workshops
  • Engagement in environmental and related rulemakings
  • Engagement in other public processes

Who can apply?

  • Partnerships of two or more community based non-profit organizations (CBOs)
  • Partnerships between a CBO and one or more of the following:
    • a Federally recognized Tribe
    • a local government
    • an institution of higher education

Resources

EPA Notice of Funding Opportunity

The EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available.

Webinar recording: Michigan support

This is a recording of a webinar held on January 10, 2024, on Michigan support for Community Change Grants.

Check out available technical assistance from:

5 Lakes Energy

Grant writing, project development, and application assistance.

Contact: Andy Draheim, ADraheim@5LakesEnergy.com; or Kate Madigan, Kate@KateMadigan.com

Blacks in Green Midwest Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TC-TAC)

Grant seeking and writing, community engagement assistance, capacity building, project implementation, Sustainable Square Mile replication.

Contact: Shauna Tucker, Shauna.Tucker@BlacksInGreen.org or Hello@BlacksInGreen.org

Environmental Protection Network

Public funding application guidesfederal funding and opportunities guidance email; webinars and convenings; SAM.gov office hours (every 2 weeks on Wednesdays from 2p.m. - 3p.m. eastern); one on one support to communities.  

Contact: Olivia Smith, Region 5 Outreach Associate, Olivia.Smith@EnvironmentalProtectionNetwork.org

Michigan Infrastructure Office Technical Assistance Center

Grant writing assistance for up to three Community Change Grant coalitions. 

Contact: Kristin Brady, BradyK4@Michigan.gov

Great Lakes Environmental Justice TC-TAC

Grant registration, project development, engineering/technical support, outreach and engagement assistance, and post-award assistance.  

Contact: tctac@umn.edu or via TC-TAC request form

Community Change Technical Assistance

Grant application, project development, and outreach and engagement assistance.

Contact: EJ_TechAssist@epa.gov or 1-800-540-8123

Need more help?

Contact us to request help connecting with potential project partners or technical assistance providers in Michigan.

Office of Climate and EnergyEGLE-OCE@Michigan.gov

Office of the Environmental Justice Public AdvocateEGLE-EnvironmentalJustice@Michigan.gov