- The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has awarded $1 million in funding for the Colorado Environmental Justice Grants Program.
- The grant program aims to support community-driven projects that address environmental and public health concerns in low-income and diverse communities.
- The program received 73 proposals, and 13 grants were awarded, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 each.
- The funded projects focus on a range of issues, including air and water quality, food access, and community engagement in environmental decision-making.
- The program is part of CDPHE’s efforts to address environmental and health inequities and ensure that all Coloradans have equal access to a healthy environment.
By CDPHE | April 06, 2023
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is excited to announce that its Environmental Justice Advisory Board has selected the following projects to receive funding for the Colorado Environmental Justice Grants Program: Community Solutions to Improve Environmental Health.
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- San Juan Basin Public Health- $77,329.00
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- City of Las Animas- $55,000.00
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- Walking Mountains Science Center- $154,191.00
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- Black Parents United Foundation- $184,942.81
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- Americas for the Arts Inc. dba Americas for Conservation + the Arts- $199,385.19
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- Project Protect Food Systems Workers- $124,163.00
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- The Green House Connection Center- $127,890.00
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- Boulder Watershed Collective- $77,099.00
The grant opportunity was created by the Environmental Justice Act to fund projects in communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change. CDPHE’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board oversees the Environmental Justice Grants Program and selects the projects to fund…
“This is a significant opportunity for community members to highlight their community needs and find solutions,” said Aaron Martinez, Environmental Justice Advisory Board Co-Chair. “These projects will help reduce the environmental health disparities faced by communities across Colorado.”
“The Black Parents United Foundation (BPUF) is very excited to be launching our very first Environmental Justice Youth Program, thanks to the Environmental Justice Grant,” said Nikki Wells, Environmental Justice Program Coordinator, BPUF. “We have built strong partnerships with other leading EJ organizations and community members to support our efforts. With this EJ grant, we will empower the youth by teaching them what Environmental Justice and injustice are while connecting them to real world issues through educational experiences that impact their health and education. The ultimate goal is leadership.”
The Advisory Board will fund $1 million in projects to advance environmental justice this grant cycle. The funding period for projects is from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
CDPHE received 27 applications for the inaugural cycle of the EJ Grant Program. Projects not selected for funding were referred to the Supplemental Environmental Projects Idea Library to create opportunities for future funding. The grant program will re-open for the next round of applications later in 2023.
Read more from CDPHE.
