This grant is authorized under section 6 of the national environmental education act

Climate Resilient Communities received a $133,350 Project Grant award effective July 1, 2025, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 under the Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951). The award supports environmental education and career development services for 32 young adults ages 14-21 in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and North Fair Oaks, California through June 30, 2027. The project delivers 16 full-day workshops addressing extreme weather events and environmental solutions, skill-building and leadership internships facilitated by partner organizations with placement for at least 75% of youth participants, youth-led mentorships, and environmentally-focused community workshops co-created and co-facilitated by program graduates. These activities align with Pillar 3 of the Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, emphasizing permitting reform, cooperative federalism, and cross-agency partnership.

The grant increases public awareness and knowledge of environmental issues within target communities while equipping youth participants with the competencies necessary to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible action. Climate Resilient Communities partners with multiple 501(c)(3) nonprofit subrecipients to implement workshops and provide internship matches. Pre-award costs have been approved retroactive to July 1, 2025, and subawards are incorporated within the overall assistance agreement structure to meet all EPA reporting requirements for youth environmental education programming.

This environmental education grant's workplan aligns with pillar 3 of the powering the great american comeback initiative, 'permitting reform, cooperative federalism, and cross-agency partnership.' as detailed in the workplan, this project will support environmental education and career development for 32 young adults ages 14-21 in east palo alto, belle haven, and north fair oaks. The project will result in a total of 16 full-day work shops, facilitated internship matches for at least 75% of youth participants with partner organizations, and environmentally-focused workshops for community members CO-created and CO-facilitated by program graduates. This agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $100,000. Subawards are included in this assistance agreement. See general terms and conditions. Preaward cost are approved back to 7/1/2025. Activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in east palo alto, CA. Belle haven (menlo park), CA. North fair oaks, CA and provide youth ages 14-21 the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Activities to be performed during this project period include: (1) educating and exposing youth to extreme weather event issues and tangible solutions, (2) skill-building and leadership internships for youth, (3) workshops facilitated by youth addressing extreme weather event topics, and (4) youth-led mentorships.subrecipient:we have a variety of 501(c)(3) nonprofits that we have worked with and anticipate working with for this iteration of the project. We will interview these nonprofits individually to determine if they can meet the required eligibility criteria and have the capacity to host a YC workshop. If they meet these criteria, we will then cosign a grant agreement to meet all EPA reporting requirements for educating our youth and become subaward recipients. We have federal procurement policies in place that meet or exceed EPA standards. If any organization is deemed ineligible by failing to meet the requirements set forth by EPA, they will not receive funding and a new organization will be involved.outcomes:IT is anticipated that this project will result in the following deliverableshellip; - 16 youth per year engaged in a series of 8 environmental resiliency workshops hosted by different environmental organizations. - each workshop will engage at least one environmental organization than CRC to facilitate. - 12+ youth help lead a workshop on a extreme weather event resiliency with local community member attendance. - 5+ youth leaders will CO-facilitate at least one workshop per year. - FRAC34; of the youth who participate in YC each year will be placed in an internship or mentorship opportunity with an environmental organization expected outcomes of the project includehellip; - 16 youth each year are aware of environmental issues affecting their community - short term - youth engaged in efforts to improve the quality of the environment by applying knowledge learned - medium term - youth report choosing an environmentally focused major in college or career choice - long term the intended beneficiaries include youth (age 14-21), recruited from high schools and grantees networks in east palo alto, belle haven, and north fair oaks.