Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program

NOW OPEN!

EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments.

The entities eligible to apply under this NOFO are:

  • A partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs). 

  • A partnership between a CBO and one of the following: 

    • a Federally-Recognized Tribe

    • a local government

    • an institution of higher education.  

Other organizations and entities may be able to participate and be involved in the Community Change Grants projects as collaborating subrecipients and/or procurement contractors selected in compliance with competition requirements. 

See Frequently Asked Questions - Community Change Grant Program under ‘Resources’ below for more information on CBOs, local governments, and Federally-Recognized Tribes. Further details about applicant eligibility and partnership requirements are outlined in the NOFO. 

Technical Assistance and Resources

Technical Assistance

Technical Assistance (TA) assists eligible applicants to apply for and use EPA grant funding. Through EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR), eligible entities can receive TA in all stages of the Community Change Grants. This includes application support, capacity building, project planning, and more. There are two TA programs for the Community Change Grants:

  • Community Change Technical Assistance (CCTA)

  • Community Change Equitable Resilience Technical Assistance (CCER TA)

Learn more about TA for the Community Change Grants

Learn more about upcoming informational webinars on CCTA

Through the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA was provided $200 million for technical assistance to eligible applicants. Endyna was selected as EPA's technical assistance contractor for the Community Change Grants. While Endyna will provide a range of technical assistance services, including individualized technical assistance to eligible entities, EPA will continue to be available to answer questions on the Community Change Grants NOFO. If you have a question regarding technical assistance, please email EJ_TechAssist@epa.gov. If you have question regarding the NOFO,  please email CCGP@epa.gov

Resources

Funding opportunitiesinfofunding, external funding, climate