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EPA to Award $10 Million in New Climate Change Grants to Communities

Release Date: 06/24/2009
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 or heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (June 24, 2009) - For the first time, EPA is making available up to $10 million in Climate Showcase Communities grants to local and tribal governments. These grants are designed to assist communities to establish and implement climate change initiatives to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agency expects to award approximately 20-30 cooperative agreements, each one ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Approximately five percent of the funds ($500,000) are set-asides for tribal governments.

“Creating a sustainable, clean energy future begins in our local communities,” said EPA Acting Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator William C. Early. “Now, when budgets are tight these grants offer local governments, school districts and tribal governments an opportunity to create and implement new initiatives which confront climate change at the grass-roots level. We are looking forward to some creative proposals which look beyond familiar programs like residential recycling and embrace the challenges of maintaining a clean and sustainable environment.”

The grants are only available to government agencies such as local governments, federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, local public authorities, school districts, special districts, intrastate districts, councils of governments, regional or interstate government entities.

The grants would be used to create models of sustainable community action, generate cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions, improve the environmental, economic, public health, and social conditions in a community, which can be replicated in other communities. A 50 percent cost-share is required for recipients, with the exception of tribal governments and intertribal consortia, which are exempt from matching requirements under this grant.

In addition to funding, the grant program will offer peer exchange, trainings, and technical support to grant recipients. Each grant recipient will be profiled online and in EPA materials. The agency will share lessons learned from the grant program with communities across the nation.

Proposals are due no later than July 22, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. EDT. Grants are expected to be awarded in January 2010.

For more information go to: http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/showcase.html or in the mid-Atlantic region, contact: Andrew Kreider, 215-814-3301 or kreider.andrew@epa.gov. To download the Request for Applications go to:https://www.epa.gov/air/grants/09-08.pdf