Title
Grant Application - EPA Community Change Grant - County Manager's Office
Action
ACTION:
1) Approve submission of a grant application for up to $20,000,000 to the Environmental Protection Agency - Community Change Grant to be used for environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities.
2) If awarded, recognize, receive, and appropriate the awarded grant funds in the General Grants Fund (G001) in County Manager's Office.
3) Adopt a grant project ordinance to account for all grant revenues and expenses for the life of the grant.
Staff Contact: Erin Stanforth, Sustainability and Resiliency Manager
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
In October 2021, Mecklenburg County began work on an Environmental Justice Framework. This Framework is comprehensive in nature and is intended to improve our most environmentally unjust areas throughout the County. The EPA is advertising a funding opportunity targeting improvement in environmental justice communities entitled, "Community Change Grant."
Mecklenburg County's application submission will target the following Community Change Grant Climate Action Strategies and Pollution Reduction Strategies:
Climate Action Strategies
• Mobility and Transportation Options for Preventing Air Pollution and Improving Public Health and Climate Resilience
• Workforce Development Programs for Occupations that Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollutants
• Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions
• Energy-Efficient, Healthy, and Resilient Housing and Buildings
Pollution Reduction Strategies
• Outdoor Air Quality and Community Health Improvements
• Clean Water Infrastructure to Reduce Pollution Exposure and Increase System Resilience
The Community Change Grant application submission will also include a Community Engagement and Collaborative Governance Plan, a Community Strength Plan, a Readiness Approach and a Compliance Plan.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
N/A
POLICY IMPACT:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding of up to $20,000,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency Community Change Grant. No impact on County funding.