Dear Colleagues,

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) Environmental Justice (EJ) Small Grants Program has extended the 2020 application deadline to Friday, May 1, 2020.

At least $1 million will be available during this funding cycle to eligible community-based nonprofit groups and federally recognized tribal governments, to support environmental justice-related projects across California.  Grants are awarded on a competitive basis for projects that are based in communities with the most significant exposure to pollution. The maximum grant amount is $50,000 and the grant term is 12 months.

“Environmental justice” is defined in Government Code section 65040.12 as “the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”

CalEPA will prioritize projects that increase participation in environmental decision-making, that promote community resilience, and support local capacity to respond to environmental and health challenges.  Community resilience is the sustained ability of a community to respond, adapt, recover, and grow from adverse situations.  Projects should align and adhere to the Governor's COVID-19 guidance regarding social distancing as these orders are currently indefinite.  Grant applicants have been asked to demonstrate in their applications how their projects would increase and improve community resilience by the address one or more of the following:

1. Improve Access To Safe and Clean Water
2. Mitigate, Respond, and Adapt to Climate Change Impacts through Community Led Solutions
3. Promote Pollution Prevention and Resource Conservation
4. Reduce Exposure To Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals
5. Build Community Capacity and Strengthen Community Collaborations with Schools and Local Government to Address Cumulative Pollution Impacts and to Uplift Community Knowledge

Applications will be accepted by electronic submission no later than by Friday, May 1, 2020 through the CalEPA EJ Program mailbox at: EnvJustice@calepa.ca.gov.

For more on the EJ Program application requirements and project examples updates information, please visit EJ program website at https://calepa.ca.gov/EnvJustice/Funding/

Funds for this program are provided by the boards, departments and office within CalEPA. The CalEPA EJ Small Grants Program was established by Assembly Bill 2312 (Chu, Chapter 994, Statutes of 2002) to provide grants to eligible nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribal governments. Since its inception, the program has awarded 180 grants totaling $5.3 million.

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)