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News Releases from Region 09

EPA awards grants to local communities in Arizona, California and Nevada

10/30/2017
Contact Information: 
Nahal Mogharabi (mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov)
213-244-1815

San Francisco – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will award Environmental Justice Small Grants to Friends of Rio de Flagg in Flagstaff, Ariz., Vista Community Clinic in Vista, Calif., and Sierra Nevada Journeys in Reno, Nev., to support watershed planning, air quality and environmental education.

The environmental justice small grants were awarded to:

Friends of Rio de Flag, for “Helping Underserved Residents in Flagstaff Understand and Plan for the Future of their River and Watershed.” FoRio will lead a collaborative, community-based education and river planning initiative focused on Flagstaff’s Southside neighborhood. Through this project, residents will identify the economic and environmental hazards and health risks associated with periodic flooding. Friends of Rio de Flag will develop reports on information gathered from community surveys, community listening forums, and a larger community meeting. Public information from these activities will be included in watershed planning efforts and help decision makers prioritize projects. 

Vista Community Clinic (VCC), for Empowering Domestic Workers to Address Environmental Quality at Work and Home.” Located in the City of Vista, North San Diego County, the VCC will help educate domestic workers and examine ways to reduce risks when using certain cleaning and air freshening products. The project also includes domestic worker education about proper methods for recycling of cleaning products, and training social service providers. The VCC will also develop educational tools and training materials. The project aims to engage about 400 domestic workers in the local area.

Sierra Nevada Journeys (SNJ), for “Northern Nevada Healthy Waters Education.” The SNJ seeks to protect the local watershed in Washoe County by engaging students from underserved communities. The focus of the program will be educating youth to address polluted drinking water, groundwater threats, and water conservation through STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. The project aims to engage approximately 648 students, 72 volunteers, and 24 teachers who will receive first-hand experience with their local watershed and participate in hands-on activities to increase their understanding about the environmental issues affecting their community.

EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants Program is designed to help communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks, and funds projects up to $30,000 a year.

More information about EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants Program: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-small-grants-program
 

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