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U.S. EPA awards $252,692 to Tucson environmental group for air quality improvements

Release Date: 02/20/2007
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, Cell: (213) 798-1404, arcaute.francisco@epa.gov

$2.7 million awarded nationwide in Community Action for a Renewed Environment grants

LOS ANGELES - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $252,692 to the Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., for its efforts to reduce community exposure to air toxics by voluntary reductions in homes and local businesses.

This award is part of the EPA’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment program, which recently awarded $2.7 million nationwide to help community-based partnerships reduce air toxic risks through voluntary risk reduction activities.

“Through our Community Action for a Renewed Environment grant, the EPA is helping to empower the Tucson community with the tools they need to address their local environmental challenges,” said Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator, Region 9, EPA. “The EPA’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment program gives communities the power to make changes so they can deliver real environmental results."

"The Community Action for a Renewed Environment grant allows us to expand our community-driven, community-supported project which helps reduce exposure to toxic pollutants, improving the health of the community,” said Ann Marie Wolf, president, Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc.

Aiming to improve community health, the Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., in partnership with the Rose Family Center of the Tucson Unified School District, developed the Community Assist of Southern Arizona program, which teaches residents how to voluntarily improve air quality within their own community.

By using the Promotoras del Barrio program - over 50 local women who speak Spanish - for community outreach, the Community Assist of Southern Arizona program reaches area residents and businesses door-to-door, urging them to reduce environmental threats by encouraging careful storage of household cleaning supplies, and checking homes for lead, mold and other potential air pollutants.

Established in 2005, the EPA’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment program helps build broad-based local partnerships for reducing risks from toxic pollutants that come from numerous sources.

The EPA recently announced a new round of competitive funding for the Community Action for a Renewed Environment program. Community groups may apply for funding, including county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities. The EPA will conduct three conference calls, Feb. 20 and 26 and March 1, for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process. Applications are due April 9, 2007.

For more information on the EPA’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment program, please visit:
https://www.epa.gov/care/