Cooperative Agreement 84097701

DESCRIPTION:CCLR WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT IN ALASKA TO FACILITATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN THE EPA ROADSHOW WORKSHOPS ON INFLATION REDUCTION ACT FUNDING TO FACILITATE THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE. THEY WILL DO THIS BY VARIOUS MEANS INCLUDING: (1) BUILDING AND EXPLAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO BE ENGAGED IN GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES FOR AWARDING IRA FUNDING ('GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES') ; (2) LEARN ABOUT IRA FUNDED PROGRAMS SO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES CAN BE MORE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES THAT IMPACT THEM RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE, AND (3) WORKING WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS TO FACILITATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES. EPA WILL WORK WITH CCLR TO ENSURE THAT THE WORK IS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CONSIDERED DISADVANTAGED, BASED ON EPAS DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES MAP , IN GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES. CCLR WILL BE WORKING IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AS DESIGNATED ON THE EPA IRA DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES MAP, AVAILABLE IN EJSCREENACTIVITIES:EPA'S FY 2022-2026 GOAL 2.1 IS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS. THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTES TO THIS GOAL BY FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING, ORGANIZING, AND EDUCATION. SPECIFICALLY, IT ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF AVAILABLE TO CONFRONT THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND REDUCE POLLUTION. THE PUBLIC WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM THIS AWARD THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES. PUBLIC ATTENDEES WILL RECEIVE TRAVEL ASSISTANCE AND MEALS TO OFFSET THE COST OF PARTICIPATION. ATTENDEES WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECTLY ENGAGE WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS AND POTENTIALLY ESTABLISH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES BE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES. COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL HAVE A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND THE ROLE EPA PLAYS AS A FEDERAL AGENCY, AND HOW THEY CAN HAVE INPUT INTO DECISIONS EPA MAKES, AS WELL AS HOW THEY CAN LEVERAGE FEDERAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDE INPUT ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE ISSUES. LOCAL LEADERS WILL HAVE A GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THEY CAN COME TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY TO CREATE TANGIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND BE MORE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENTAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES. IN PERSON AND COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS SUCH AS THESE HELP PARTICIPANTS FROM DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. THESE EVENTS WILL GENERATE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THAT ENABLE THE COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY AND ACCESS FUNDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE ACTIVITIES. ALSO, IT GIVES THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT WILL FACILITATE THEIR ENGAGEMENT IN GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES. EPA WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM CCLR'S WORK BY OBTAINING INPUT FROM MEMBERS OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THAT WILL ASSIST EPA IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING IRA GRANT PROGRAMS MORE EFFECTIVELY.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:HELP PROVIDE ACCESS, RESOURCES, AND GRANT INFORMATION TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES SO THEY CAN BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEM. TRACK AND MAINTAIN CLIENT INFORMATION AND USE THE DATA TO ILLUSTRATE A COMMUNITIES' HISTORY OF ENGAGEMENT WITH CCLR, SUCH AS ATTENDING WORKSHOPS OR WEBINARS, ENGAGING IN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND/OR RECEIVING GRANT REVIEW. GENERATE AN INCREASE IN FUNDING REQUESTS FOR EPA AND OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING, INCLUDING GRANTS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. INCREASE IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE (CURRENT AVERAGE AROUND 75) GENERATE AN INCREASE IN EPA, TCTAC, TAB AND OTHER AGENCY REQUESTS FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT. INCREASE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES' UNDERSTANDING OF GOVERNMENTAL PROCESSES AND AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES AND RESOURCES