The purpose of the environmental protection agency's (EPA) thriving communities grantmaking program ( EJ tcgm ) is to transform disadvantaged and underserved communities into healthy, thriving…

The purpose of the environmental protection agency's (EPA) thriving communities grantmaking program ( EJ tcgm ) is to transform disadvantaged and underserved communities into healthy, thriving places that can address the health and environmental challenges they face now and into the future. EPA will do this by using a pass-through model to distribute grant funds to communities via multiple grantmakers serving communities across the nation. Research triangle institute (RTI) international has been selected to serve as the EPA region 4 and national-central grantmaker providing support to communities across EPA regions 4-7, with a dedicated focus on EPA region 7. RTI's diverse team brings expertise in grant management, environmental science, environmental justice, equity#8208; centered research and evaluation. RTI's proposed solution advances racial equity by positioning community members, as part of a community advisory board (CAB), as decision makers in selecting sub awardees and subgrantees. RTI's process includes targeted outreach and recruitment strategies inclusive and accessible to potential applicants in various modalities, and culturally appropriate to reach communities. RTI international will support the infrastructure to quickly launch an applications intake, review, and award process that is significantly simplified from current federal grants processes. RTI international will receive an initial award of $25,000,000 of inflation reduction act (IRA) funding to stand-up the infrastructure to support communities directly, as well as support the regional grantmakers in the central regions and the EJ tcgm network as a whole. Once the infrastructure is established, RTI international will receive a subsequent award of $75,000,000 to implement subgranting programs in EPA regions 4 and EPA regions 7, as well as to provide support to the EJ tcgm network as a whole. This bifurcated awards process is being implemented by EPA to ensure that the grantmakers have sufficient time to establish the necessary grantmaking infrastructure before beginning to issue subgrants. The EJ tcgm program is a key lever to advance environmental justice and improve public health in communities across the central regions while ensuring that community members can shape the process.activities:RTI international and its partners will come together to serve as the region 4 and national-central grantmakers. Activities to be performed during this project are: 1) RTI will work, in consultation with EPA regional leaders and community representatives, to identify and engage three (3) new statutory partners located within region 7 to ensure tcgm provides direct support to communities within the region. 2) RTI international will implement the community-engaged transformative governance model to support the type of decision-making that acknowledges that community organizations have the authority to define success for their projects, decide on the type of interventions they most need, and contribute to the grantmaking process. The community advisory boards (cabs) are the cornerstone of the program. While applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, cabs will meet to make funding decisions on a quarterly basis. They are also charged with guiding the program implementation within the regions. In consultation with EPA regional leaders, tcgm partners, and community member input, RTI will develop selection criteria to select community advisory board (CAB) members. RTI will work closely to ensure that selection for CAB members considers contextual equity considerations so that the tcgm program can serve those communities that IT is intended to benefit. 3) the communications and outreach team will develop outreach strategies that include both direct in-person outreach and indirect communication channels for the complete life cycle of the grant program. For region 4 and region 7, the communications and outreach team will