EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration announces more than $3.5 million for Environmental Justice projects in communities across Colorado as part of Investing in America Agenda

Projects part of largest investments through EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government grant programs funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act

DENVER (October 24, 2023) -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $3.5 million to fund projects across Colorado that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the City and County of Denver, the National Wildlife Federation, EcoAction Partners, Denver Urban Gardens and the Bessemer Historical Society will each receive EPA funding for projects 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 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.”

“These Environmental Justice grants will address local needs and challenges across a diverse set of communities in Colorado,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We are proud to support projects identified by our state, local and nonprofit partners and bring positive change to communities disproportionately impacted by pollution.”

“Access to clean water and the ability to breathe clean air are fundamental human rights,” said Senator Michael Bennet. “This funding will rightfully support Colorado communities that have long been disproportionately affected by poor water and air quality. It is an important step to ensure they receive the resources they need.”

“The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in combatting climate change ever,” said Senator John Hickenlooper. “We worked to make sure these investments would uplift whole communities, including those that have been historically disadvantaged or left behind. These locally-led grants improve public health, increase climate resilience and promote environmental justice.”

“Advancing environmental justice has been a top priority of mine for years,” said Representative Diana DeGette. “And these critical investments were one of the many reasons I supported the Inflation Reduction Act. With this announcement, we’re already beginning to see the positive effects the IRA will have on frontline communities, like many neighborhoods in Denver. These grants will ensure that more Coloradans have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink."

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 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.

EPA EJCPS grant selections in Colorado include the following:

The National Wildlife Federation will receive approximately $500,000 to address public health issues in the Globeville neighborhood, a historically underserved area in northeast Denver. The project team aims to decrease the impact of Interstate-70 on area residents by planting climate friendly trees and plants and installing green infrastructure that will mitigate impacts of the highway by reducing noise, air pollution, polluted runoff and the heat island effect.

EcoAction Partners will receive approximately $50,000 to address environmental and public health vulnerabilities related to wildfire and drought preparedness, energy, recreation and advocacy in San Miguel County and Montrose County. This funding will bolster access to programs that address inequalities around these vulnerabilities through education and outreach to underserved residents and and increase public health and climate and environmental resiliency among underserved populations.
Denver Urban Gardens will receive approximately $500,000 to deliver its Dig Deeper Initiative to targeted West Denver neighborhoods to achieve public health and environmental benefits and address environmental justice issues. Project goals include, 1.) decreasing urban heat island in neighborhoods through a Food Forest Initiative which brings fruit- bearing trees and perennials to existing community gardens, new gardens and other vacant lots; 2) increasing carbon sequestration capacity of community gardens and other greenspaces to improve air quality; and 3) decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by increasing local food options, thereby decreasing food miles required for residents to obtain fresh, healthy foods.
The Bessemer Historical Society of Pueblo will receive approximately $500,000 to work with Steelworks Center of the West to purchase, distribute and monitor 100 Class 2 electric bicycles to members of underserved communities in Pueblo.

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 Colorado include the following:

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will receive approximately $1 million to develop a stakeholder process and pilot study to encourage collaboration among small drinking water and wastewater systems in rural, underserved areas of Colorado. The project will increase resources to help systems effectively comply with health-based drinking water standards and wastewater discharge standards and address technical, managerial and financial barriers to compliance.
The City and County of Denver will receive approximately $1 million to establish a Healthy Affordable Home Electrification Program which will provide home electrification and weatherization retrofits for households with critical needs in Denver’s Globeville, Elyria Swansea and Northeast Park Hill neighborhoods and in Commerce CIty.

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.

Learn more about environmental justice at EPA.

See the full listing of all 98 organizations receiving an EJCPS grant and learn more about EJCPS.

See the full listing of all the selected 88 EJG2G projects and learn more about EJG2G