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EPA Awards $100,000 in Environmental Justice Grants

Release Date: 06/18/2007
Contact Information: LaTonya Sanders, (913) 551-7555, sanders.latonya@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., June 18, 2007) – EPA Region 7 has awarded two Environmental Justice small grants to organizations in Kansas City and Bloomfield in Missouri.

The Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG) Program provides financial assistance to support and empower communities that are working on local solutions to local environmental and/or public health issues. The EJSG Program supports projects that create collaborative partnerships, educate the community, develop a comprehensive understanding of environmental and/or public health issues, and identify ways to address these issues at the local level.

Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income in the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.

Projects selected were:

Black Health Care Coalition, Kansas City, Mo.
$50,000

The purpose of the project, entitled “Creating a Healthy Environment for Kansas City Kids,” is to focus on health education regarding lead and asthma in children. The focus areas of the project include ZIP codes: 64108, 64109, 64110, 64111, 64123, 64124, 64128 and 64130.

The project seeks to partner with local churches, community organizations, health organizations, and local government to reduce lead poisoning among high risk children and lessen asthma triggers in the home, by educating families, testing children and providing follow-up services.

Stoddard County Development Foundation, Bloomfield, Mo.
$50,000

The purpose of the project is to reduce the incidence and spread of diseases and conditions in the village of Penermon, through public education campaigns and community participation programs to promote trash reduction, recycling and reuse, better wastewater practices, and reduce burning of refuse. The project seeks to make significant improvements to the community well being, and promote a healthier, more sustainable and interdependent community that will be able to make well-informed decisions regarding the benefits of clean water, solid waste management and the control of vermin.