The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will kick off a nationwide series of free public events in Albany, where residents can connect with agency staff to learn about opportunities for federal funding for so-called environmental justice communities.
On Thursday, EPA officials will hold their first regional roadshow event at the Albany Housing Authority. It’s the third part of EPA’s Community Equity and Resiliency Initiative.
Officials say the events will inform people about grant money available under the Inflation Reduction Act, help them navigate the federal grant system, facilitate environmental justice training, and offer other means of support.
To learn more, WAMC’s Lucas Willard spoke with Jasmine Davenport, Senior Advisor for Climate Justice in EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.
So, at these events, we're going to connect people with each other. They're going to sit down and be able to hear from our colleagues at We Act for Environmental Justice, who is EPA’s Region 2 Technical Assistance Center. And these are the folks who are helping people prepare those grant applications, talk through the programs that are available, and then also being able to sit around with one another and talk through what are those solutions that need to happen locally, within Albany, New York? What are the partnerships that are needed to make those impacts happen? And what's the right funding programs that they need to be able to make that impact?
And Jasmine, can you tell me why Albany was selected on the list of cities across the country for this program?
Yeah, no problem. So, we are looking to have pilots in three of our regions and then continue to have events across the nation. And so, when we went and sat down with our regions, as headquarters staff, Region 2 decided for Albany to be their pilot event, and this is an area that has experienced quite a bit of flooding lately. There are community members and community leaders who are really speaking up about climate justice and climate change and what solutions can happen. So we wanted to have our first event in Albany, New York.
So, the funding that's being made available through the inflation Reduction Act, how can that be used and who can apply for funding?
That's a great question. The EPA was dedicated $41 billion from the Fnflation Reduction Act. But when I hear that I don't hear the dollar amount, I hear the tool needed to make monumental change on the local level to confront the climate crisis. And so, there are many different programs across the EPA. This initiative is specifically hosted by the Office of Air and Radiation and the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. And so, there are a series of programs available to eligible entities vary between those programs. So, it can be from nonprofits to state and local entities, and community organizations. And so really, each of those programs have different eligible entities. So, I would welcome people to head to our Community Equity and Resiliency website page and be able to see what each of those are for every program.
And you sort of hit on what was going to be my next question was, how does EPA view this funding at the federal level can spur action at the local level?
Yes, it is all about being on the local level. For example, when I think about the change that can happen, it's going to be quite different in Albany, New York, then from Monroe, Louisiana, where I'm from. And so, I think it is really important that we know, we have this amazing tool that's available right now and so think of all of the solutions that you would like to see go on in your local community, in Albany, New York, and being able to have access to this funding to make those happen.
And just where can people get more information on the upcoming event? And how can they share input if they cannot attend in person?
Yeah, no problem. So, one, if you're not able to attend in person, then please make sure to get in touch with your EPA Region 2 contacts, and you can just head to the EPA site for that, but also, if you want to learn more about the event, just head to epa.gov/community-equity-resiliency. And you will be able to click on regional roadshows and register for the event. We're very excited for it, it's next Thursday, January 18, at 5 p.m. at the Albany Housing Authority.
The EPA Community Equity and Resiliency Initiative environmental justice roadshow event is scheduled from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Albany Housing Authority at 200 South Pearl Street. To learn more visit: https://www.epa.gov/community-equity-resiliency/regional-roadshows
