This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to city of hampton, virginia

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the City of Hampton, Virginia $20,006,400 under the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CFDA 66.616) on March 1, 2025, to advance environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and community economic development. The project delivers green infrastructure solutions, workforce development initiatives, and community engagement activities including installation of 50 rain gardens and 300 residential rain barrels for stormwater management, creation of 27,500 square feet of native plant buffers at Aberdeen Elementary School, restoration of Aberdeen Creek, workforce development certifications in sustainable landscape implementation and maintenance, establishment of a community resilience center, and installation of community garden amenities. These infrastructure and environmental improvements are complemented by outdoor education features at Aberdeen Elementary School and infrastructure connectivity enhancements designed to address immediate environmental challenges while fostering economic growth in the local community.

The sub-awardee, Wetlands Watch, supports the project's training and educational components by delivering professional certifications for sustainable landscape and green infrastructure implementation, managing internship and employment programs for local residents and youth, deploying residential rain barrels, establishing outdoor education programming, distributing weatherization kits to increase climate resilience, and facilitating civic engagement through attendance at community meetings and joint committee sessions. The award was terminated effective May 1, 2025, requiring the recipient to immediately cease work and minimize further cost accruals.

Specifically, the project will work to create a sustainable, resilient future by addressing immediate environmental challenges and fostering economic growth through targeted green infrastructure, community engagement, and workforce development initiatives. Activities:the activities include installation of residential stormwater solutions; implementation of outdoor education features at aberdeen elementary school; creation of native plant buffers; workforce development certifications; establishment of a community resilience center; infrastructure and connectivity improvements; aberdeen creek restoration; and installation of community garden amenities. Subrecipient:the sub awardee, wetlands watch, will support training and educational initiatives through professional certification offerings for implementation and maintenance of sustainable landscapes and green infrastructure; support internships and employment programs to provide locals and youth with employment opportunities; deployment of residential rain barrels to manage and redirect water to minimize flood risks; establish outdoor education features at aberdeen elementary school to provide educational opportunities to youth and promote sustained community participation in sustainability practices; provision of weatherization kits to increase community resiliency to climate impacts; attendance at civic meetings and hosting of joint committee meetings to provide project updates and convene project leaders. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include installation of residential stormwater solutions through the creation of 50 rain gardens and deployment of 300 rain barrels; the installation of 27,500 square feet of native plant buffers at the local aberdeen elementary school; 85 certifications for an environmental workforce development program; establishment of a resilience center with trailers for emergency relief and medical aid; provision of 600 weatherization kits; improvement of 62,200 L.F. Of sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian pathways; restoration of 2,000 L.F. Of eroded creek banks of the aberdeen creek through vegetative buffers; installation of 3 hydrodynamic separators in aberdeen creek; 8,000-10,000 square feet of garden plots will be installed for local food production and community engagement. The expected outcomes include management and redirection of water away from buildings to minimize property damage and associated health risks; reduction in flooding; alleviation of pressure on local water supplies; increased community awareness about sustainable water management; enhancement of water quality in local water bodies; improvement in overall safety and habitability of homes; increased environmental resilience and biodiversity; increased environmental knowledge among residents and students; increased community connections through educational and recreational activities; job training opportunities created; economic and financial benefits for low income community residents; increased resilience and safety for community members during extreme weather events; safer pedestrian pathways and better connectivity between community assets; improved wildlife habitats; water pollution reduction; greater access to healthy food options to address food insecurity. The intended beneficiaries are disadvantaged communities.