This agreement approves funding in the amount of $19,889,515 under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to 2C mississippi: towards sustainable, educated, and empowered mississippi

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded $19.89 million on March 1, 2025, to 2CMS: Towards Sustainable, Educated and Empowered Mississippi under the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CFDA 66.616) to construct and operate the first Resiliency Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) in Jackson, Mississippi. This facility will serve dual purposes as an emergency shelter providing essential services—including potable water, electricity, and overnight accommodations—during system failures, while functioning as a community institution offering everyday services, educational programming, and workforce development. The project encompasses renovation and upgrades to 35,000 square feet of public space, installation of backup power generation, solar microgrid and battery systems, emergency response equipment, water infrastructure (wells and rain barrels), and electronic waste recycling capabilities.

The deliverables include comprehensive community programming such as workforce readiness training, literacy and parental education, financial management and homeownership counseling, food pantry distribution, and emergency response and climate risk training. Environmental components include green infrastructure installation through tree and native vegetation planting, rain gardens, and solar panel deployment. The project is designed to serve as a pilot model for a statewide network of resiliency hubs throughout Mississippi, with anticipated outcomes focused on increased shelter capacity, enhanced community resilience, and improved health and economic knowledge among disadvantaged populations. A subrecipient will collaborate on hub co-design, training delivery, and emergency response execution.

Specifically, the project will construct the first resiliency historically underutilized business (hub) in jackson, which will provide shelter, drinking water, electricity, and social support in times of system failure, while serving as an institution with everyday services for community events, services, and education. This project aims to serve as the lead example for a future network of resiliency hubs throughout mississippi. Activities:the activities include but are not limited to the following: renovation and upgrades to 35,000 SQ. Feet of public space, equip emergency wing for overnight stay with equipment and supplies, install backup generator, provide self-help and wellness education, provide space for workforce readiness training, provide literacy and parental training, provide financial management and budget counseling; mortgage; non-delinquency post-purchase workshops for homeowners; pre-purchase counseling; distribute food through food pantry; plant trees and native species of shrubs and ground cover; install solar panels and rain gardens, provide space to recycle battery and printer cartridges and install collection rain barrels and water wells. Subrecipient:activities will include CO-designing the resiliency hub with the lead applicant and statutory partner; hosting emergency response, workforce development, climate risk, and other trainings at the hub; and executing emergency response activities.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include but are not limited to the following: renovation of resiliency hub, trainings, outreach, workshops; a solar microgrid and battery system, electronic waste recycling, water well and rain barrel installations. The expected outcomes include increased building capacity for shelter, community resiliency, increased knowledge of health, wealth, literacy, parental care and workforce development for community members. The intended beneficiaries are disadvantaged communities in the area.