The Environmental Finance Center at Wichita State University has been selected by
the EPA as a site for a new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance
Center.
EPA selects Wichita State as site for environmental justice center
April 14, 2023
By Strategic Communications
Environmental Finance Center
The WSU Environmental Finance Center (EFC), housed within the Hugo Wall School of
Public Affairs, is one of 10 Environmental Finance Centers located across the country
that provide communities with professional training, technical assistance and applied
research to bolster efforts to manage the costs of environmental protection for the
public.
Wichita State University’s Environmental Finance Center is one of 17 locations selected to establish an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities
Technical Assistance Center. This new center will promote environmental and energy
justice in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and adjoining Indigenous nations.
According to the EPA’s news release, the environmental justice centers will be tasked with “removing barriers and improving
accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. The centers will
also provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal
grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing
grant funding.”
Each of the EJ TCTACs will receive at least $10 million over the next five years from
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with the U.S. Department of
Energy.
"This grant from the EPA is a phenomenal opportunity for Wichita State to drive prosperity
for rural and underserved communities, who unfortunately carry a disproportional share
of pollution and environmental hazards,” said Wichita State President Rick Muma. “We
look forward to the opportunity to advance environmental justice in our region and
promote healthy growth for Kansas and our Midwestern neighbors."
As EPA Region 7’s only environmental justice center, the EFC at Wichita State will
implement an engagement and community assessment process to learn from communities
about their burdens, barriers, priorities and opportunities, then work with the communities
to address their unique needs by providing training, technical assistance, support
services, applied research, tool development and other resources that will help remove
barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns.
Each of the technical assistance centers will also create and manage communication
channels to ensure all communities have direct access to resources and information.
Wichita State’s EJ TCTAC will partner with eight nonprofit organization throughout
the four-state region to provide training and technical assistance. Partners include
Center for Rural Affairs, Climate and Energy Project, Community Engineering Corps,
Environmental Protection Network, Iowa Environment Council, Kansas Rural Center, Kansas
State University Engineering Extension, and Metropolitan Congregations United.
“The Environmental Finance Center at Wichita State University is excited to start
supporting communities and organizations in our four states as they tackle environmental
justice and energy justice challenges close to home,” said director of the Wichita
State Environmental Finance Center at Tonya Bronleewe. “We have a strong team of partners
who are ready to connect with local champions to start this important work.”
This historic national investment of $177 million to advance environmental justice
will help underserved and overburdened communities across the country access targeted
funds from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
“Wichita State University has worked with EPA Region 7 for many years, and we’re thrilled
to build upon that partnership to better serve those here in the Heartland who need
it most,” said EPA Region 7 administrator Meg McCollister. “This new center will provide
communities throughout Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska with the training, guidance
and technical assistance needed to make the most of EPA’s historic funding opportunities.”
Wichita State’s EFC was established in 2010 and is housed within the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs, which aims to engage in applied research and applied learning that benefits the
community — a mission that aligns directly with the role of the new EJ TCTACs.
About Wichita State University
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling
almost 22,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from
every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are
recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in
the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),
Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of
applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one
of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing
over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
