Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2 Million in Hawaii for Environmental Justice Projects as Part of Investing in America Agenda
Hawaii projects announced as part of nationwide investments through EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement program, funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act
HONOLULU — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $2 million for three projects across Hawaii that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The organizations, which EPA has selected through its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions in alignment with the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative.
Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—this funding is a part of the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will announce before the end of the year.
“No President has invested more in environmental justice than President Biden, and under his leadership we’re removing longstanding barriers and meaningfully collaborating with communities to build a healthier future for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, these community-driven projects will improve the health, equity, and resilience of communities while setting a blueprint for local solutions that can be applied across the nation.”
“People deserve fair access to a clean and healthy environment and to be protected from environmental hazards, so this funding will invest in communities disproportionately affected by environmental burdens,” said Senator Mazie Hirono. “I am proud to have helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act last year—historic legislation which made this funding possible—and I will continue working to ensure historically marginalized communities have access to the resources they need to live healthier, more sustainable lives.”
“Despite being disproportionately impacted by industrialization and climate change, marginalized communities across our country have been sidelined from being part of solutions. I am proud to join the EPA in announcing this critical investment to support conservation initiatives led by Kaunalewa, a Native Hawaiian founded organization that has championed environmental remediation and stewardship in Hawai‘i utilizing Native Hawaiian practices and knowledge. These grants continue to underscore the significant impact of the Inflation Reduction Act in supporting community-led efforts to protect public health along with our lands, waters, and natural resources for future generations,” said Representative Jill Tokuda.
The grants announced today deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States. The two grant programs directly advance the President’s transformational Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program
EPA’s EJCPS program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. The program builds upon President Biden’s Executive Orders 13985 and 14008, creating a designation of funds exclusively for small nonprofit organizations, which are defined as having 5 or fewer full-time employees, thus ensuring that grant resources reach organizations of lower capacity that historically struggle to receive federal funding. Eleven of the organizations selected for EJCPS this year are small nonprofit organizations, receiving over $1.6 million in total.
EPA EJCPS grant selections in Hawai’i include the following:
- Kaunalewa in Kauai will receive $500,000 for a comprehensive environmental mitigation and revitalization program that will elevate the capacity of existing programs and widely supported initiatives.
- Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement in Kapolei will receive $500,000 for its Solarize808 project, an initiative that will provide at least 100 households with energy efficiency education.
Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G)
EPA’s EJG2G provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and Tribal level to support government activities in partnership with community-based organizations that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
EPA EJG2G grant selections in Hawai’i is:
- The City and County of Honolulu will receive $1 million for the O’ahu Climate Champions program will pair community-based organizations with local climate champions to implement adaptation projects. To support this work, the city and county government will provide guidance on projects, aid in recruitment, and host professional development workshops in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi.
Additional Background:
From day one of his administration, President Biden has made achieving environmental justice a top priority. And in August 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in appropriations to provide grants and technical assistance for activities advancing environmental and climate justice.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. EPA has also launched and will award funds through the $550 million Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program before the end of 2023.
To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
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