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Meramec Funding Sources

Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPS) Cooperative Agreement

Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPS) Cooperative Agreement

Aug. 1, 2019
By EPA

Story summary:

  • The EPA provides funding to community organizations to build partnerships and to work on projects to address environmental and/or public health issues in their community using the “Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model.”

Quick Facts

EPA’s Mission
Protect human health and the environment 

Grant’s Goal
Address local environmental and/or public health issues in a strategic and collaborative manner with a variety of stakeholders 

Eligibility
Community-based organizations 

What do they fund?
Partnership building, Planning for local environmental or public health issues in the community using EJ Collaborative Problem Solving Model 

Length of funding
2 years 

Amount of funding
~$120,000 

Match 
No 

Timing
Request assistance during the spring or summer, annually

About

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPS) Cooperative Agreement Program provides funding for eligible applicants for projects that address local environmental and public health issues within an affected community.

CPS program helps recipients build collaborative partnerships to understand and address environmental and public health concerns in their communities.

CPS Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working on or planning projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues in their communities, using EPA's "EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving Model." The CPS Program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships to help them understand and address environmental and public health concerns in their communities.

Environmental justice is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Environmental justice will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn and work.

 Project Examples

EPA has funded over $6 million in EJ grants from 2014-2018. Go to the interactive story map to view a few recent project successes.

New Orleans, LA, Mary Queen of Viet Nam Community Development Corporation, 2016

Mary Queen of Viet Nam Community Development Corporation (MQVN) and its partner organizations, empowered community members of Village de l’Est, a low-income, minority neighborhood in New Orleans East, to take meaningful action to address the pervasive issue of local water pollution.

Buffalo, NY, People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH)

PUSH partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Buffalo Museum of Science, and Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (a local coalition) to address the demand for job training in environmental restoration and green infrastructure by developing a peer-education program for youth in the city of Buffalo. This project trained local young adult residents to create green infrastructure installations along the Buffalo River. 

More Info/Resources

Contact Info

Environmental Justice Hotline
1-800-962-6215
ejhotline@epa.gov 

EPA Region 7 Environmental Justice Contact
Althea Moses
913-551-7649
Moses.althea@epa.gov

Consult your community’s attorney and financial advisors prior to moving forward with any of these funding options. Any reference in this website to any person, or organization, or activities, products, or services related to such person or organization, or any linkages from this website to the website of another party, do not constitute or imply the endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of companies or organizations.
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