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Texas Organization Awarded EPA Environmental Justice Grant

Release Date: 03/24/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Anthony Suttice at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

Local community health workers will promote environmental protection

(Dallas, Texas – March 24, 2009) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the City of Alton, Texas, $20,000 as part of the EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program. The City of Alton and the Center for Community Health Development will continue to improve their history of educating and training Alton colonia residents on key environmental health issues. The city’s goal for this project includes development of a replicable training program for promotoras (indigenous community health workers) to educate residents on solid waste disposal, clean water protection, disease prevention and environmental protection.

The EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program awards community-based organizations with funding for projects in low-income communities on environmental and public health issues such as exposure to toxins, farm worker pesticide protection, fish consumption, indoor air quality, drinking water contamination, and pollution from shipping ports. Nationally, EPA awarded $800,000 in local grants for environmental improvements.

Financial assistance under the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program is available to all non-profit organizations designated by the IRS or recognized by the state, territory, commonwealth or tribe in which it is located. The funding is to help affected communities develop strategic solutions to their environmental justice issues and to achieve community health and sustainability.

Since 1994, EPA has provided more than $32 million to an estimated 1,100 community-based organizations that are committed to protect human health and the environment.

Additional information on environmental justice grants is available at https://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html

More about activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/region6

EPA audio file is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/mar2009.html