Decision Tree_EPA Community Change Grants_DRAFT_1.24.24.xlsx

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2	DECISION TREE: EPA COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANTS
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4	Use this Decision Tree if you are interested in applying for a 2024 Community Change Grant. This form will help you determine if your organization’s project meets the grant's criteria for funding. The questions represent the baseline components of the NOFO1, a quick check for alignment with the funding priority areas, and identifies many of the requirements of the grant. The decision tree can be used to affirm very prepared organizations and projects that align with the objectives. The decision tree will also highlight areas for improvement and identifty projects that are not ready for the grant preparation stage. Is your project ready?
5	Community Change Grants: What is it?
6	The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new environmental and climate justice Community Change Grants Program that will award approximately $2 billion in federal funding.
7	The Grants are meant to empower and strengthen environmental and climate justice by:
8	• Providing resources for community-driven projects
9	• Investing in strong cross-sectional collaborations
10	• Unlocking access to additional and more significant resources
11	• Empowering communities and strengthen capacity
12	• Strengthening community participation in government decision-making processes
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14	I. BASIC REQUIREMENTS
15	SCORING SCALE: Does your organization fully meet (1 point) or not meet (0 points) the following?
16	ITEM	SCORE
17	The Community Change Grant must be submitted by you to EPA using Grants.gov. Is your organization's Grant.gov Registration2 active?	1
18	Is your organization a Community-Based Non-Profit Organization (CBO)?	1
19	Does your CBO have another CBO as a partner for this grant?	1
20	Does your CBO have a partner for this grant with one of the following units of government within your state? (County, City, Township, Parish, Local public authority, public housing agency, Special district, School district, Council of governments, and other agency or instrumentality of a local government.)	1
21	Does your CBO have a partner for this grant that is a Federally Recognized Tribe?	1
22	Does your CBO have a partner for this grant that is an Institution of Higher Education?	1
23	EPA encourages Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to participate in the grants. Does your CBO have a partner for this grant that is an MSI? (Historically Black Colleges/Universities, Tribal Colleges/Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and Predominantly Black Institutions)	1
24	BASIC REQUIREMENTS TOTAL SCORE (out of 7):
25	If this score is less than 3, go to Additional Context & Resources below for guidance on obtaining these must-have items.	7
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27	II. (A.) Inflation Reduction Act and Executive Orders
28	SCORING SCALE: Does your organization fully meet (2 points), partially meet (1 point), or not meet (0 points) the following?
29	ITEM	SCORE
30	Will the recipients of funding comply with competitive procurement contracting requirements as well as EPA’s rule on Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in EPA Programs in 40 CFR Part 33?	1
31	Are the recipients seeking funding to transform disadvantaged communities into healthy, climate resilient, and thriving communities?	1
32	Is the proposed grant project a community-driven project that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation?	1
33	Will the recipients of funding comply with Executive Order 139853 inculding a whole-of-government approach to advancing equity and opportunity?	1
34	Will the recipients of funding comply with Executive Order 140084 which created the government-wide Justice 40 Initiative that established the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities?	1
35	Will the proposed project address the goals of Executive Order 140915 and further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through Federal Government funding?	1
36	Will the recipients of funding comply with Executive Order 140966, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All?	1
37	Will your proposed project address the diverse and unique needs of disadvantaged communities (select all that apply) by:
38	a. Reducing and preventing pollution;	1
39	b. Building resilience to climate change and mitigating current and future climate risks;	1
40	c. Enhancing meaningful involvement in government processes related to environmental and climate justice;	1
41	d. Expanding access to high-quality jobs and economic opportunity through workforce development;	1
42	e. Bolstering community strength by ensuring that local residents receive the benefits of investments and have the opportunity to build on them for current and future generations.	1
43	Will the recipients of funding comply with Executive Order 140966 regarding environmental justice and ensure the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability?	1
44	Will your proposed project ensure that people are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers?	1
45	Will your proposed project ensure that people have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices?	1
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47	II. (B.) Statutory and Regulatory Authority
48	SCORING SCALE: Will your organization/project fully meet (2 points), partially meet (1 point), or not meet (0 points) the following?
49	ITEM	SCORE
50	Will your organization be able to obligate the grant funds by September 30, 2026? The grants cannot be longer than three years in duration, and no extensions will be granted.	1
51	Grant awards will fall under the Clean Air Act7 (CAA), select all of the following that apply to your proposed project:
52	• A community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation, and investments in low and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure and workforce development that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.	1
53	• Will mitigate climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events.	1
54	• Will address climate resiliency and adaptation.	1
55	• Will reduce indoor toxics and indoor air pollution.	1
56	• Will facilitate engagement of disadvantaged communities in state and federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.	1
57	Will your organization be able to comply with the grant's Indirect Costs Limitation and 20% cap on indirect costs for certain recipients and subrecipients?	1
58	II. (C.) Community Change Grants Objectives
59	SCORING SCALE: Will your project fully meet (2 points), partially meet (1 point), or not meet (0 points) the following?
60	ITEM	SCORE
61	• Comprehensive community and place-based approaches to redressing environmental and climate injustices for communities facing legacy pollution, climate change, and persistent disinvestment.	1
62	• Local investments will fund community-driven, change-making projects that center collaborative efforts for healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities	1
63	• Designed with meaningful community, Tribal, and other stakeholder involvement	1
64	Community Change Grants are intended to achieve the following objectives (select all that apply):
65	a. Provide resources for community-driven projects to address environmental and climate challenges in communities facing disproportionate and adverse health, pollution, and environmental impacts, and suffering from generations of disinvestment.	1
66	b. Invest in strong cross-sectoral collaborations with partners who bring a robust commitment to working with and for communities with environmental and climate justice concerns.	1
67	c. Unlock access to additional and more significant resources to advance environmental and climate justice goals from across the federal government and other sources.	1
68	d. Empower communities and strengthen their capacity to drive meaningful positive change on the ground for years to come.	1
69	e. Strengthen community participation in government decision-making processes that impact them.	1
70	EXECUTIVE ORDERS, AUTHORITY, OBJECTIVES TOTAL SCORE (out of 31):
71	If this score is less than 31, go to Additional Context & Resources below for guidance on obtaining these must-have items.	31
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73	II. (D.) NOFO Competition Features
74	EPA will consider applications under two separate tracks (select either Track I or Track II by entering 10 points).
75	ITEM	SCORE
76	Track I applications – Community-Driven Investments for Change will focus on multi-faceted applications with Climate Action and Pollution Reduction Strategies to meaningfully improve the environmental, climate, and resilience conditions affecting disadvantaged communities. Awards under Track I are expected to be $10-20 million each and cannot exceed $20 million. Track I Two-Phase Evaluation Process. Applicants for Track I whose applications score well following the written application review will be invited to participate in an oral presentation.	10
77	Track II applications – Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance will facilitate the engagement of disadvantaged communities in governmental processes to advance environmental and climate justice. Awards under Track II are expected to be $1-3 million each and cannot exceed $3 million. The Track II application process does not involve an oral presentation.	0
78	III. (G.) Funding Track I: Community-Driven Investments for Change
79	If you selected Track I complete this section. If you selected Track II skip to Section H). SCORING SCALE: How well will your project narrative address fully meet (2 points), partially meet (1 point), or not meet (0 points) the following?
80	ITEM	SCORE
81	Track I projects will be implemented through strong collaborations to achieve sustained impacts related to climate resilience, pollution reduction, community health, economic prosperity, and community strength.
82	Populations of concern such as children and pregnant women, older adults, and those with low incomes, limited-English-proficiency, disabilities or chronic medical conditions, or other risks that may put them at greater vulnerability.	2
83	Community Vision Description that, at a minimum, provides an overview of the Project Area (as described in Appendix A) to benefit from the grant, a clear description of the challenges the Project Area faces, and a vision for how the grant will respond to those challenges to advance environmental and climate justice in the Project Area.	1
84	The Climate Action Strategies focus on strengthening the community’s climate resilience and / or reducing GHG emissions.	1
85	The Pollution Reduction Strategy can include monitoring, prevention, reduction, and remediation activities that support community efforts to address quantifiable and health-harming pollutants.	1
86	The community itself drives project development and implementation, applicants must submit a Community Engagement and Collaborative Governance Plan which should demonstrate how the applicant will inform, respond to, and engage community members throughout project development and implementation.	1
87	A Community Strength Plan that describes how their proposed projects will enhance the overall strength and economic prosperity of the community, including maximizing the benefits of the projects for existing residents and minimizing potential risks associated with investing significant resources into the Project Area.	1
88	Feasibility: Will the organization be able to initiate grant performance upon award, or generally no later than 120 days after award, so they can successfully complete the grant within the three-year period of performance.	2
89	Readiness Approach: Score a 0 if any of the following considerations are not fully addressed: all required Government approvals, Federal requirements for Construction Projects, alignment with existing organizational plans, organization has site control, and provides all operations and maintenance.	2
90	A Compliance Plan that describes how the organization will ensure compliance with the grant’s terms and conditions.	1
91	Past Performance narrative will describe federally funded and / or non-federally funded assistance agreements that the Lead Applicant performed within the last three years.	1
92	III. (H.) Funding Track II: Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance
93	If you selected Track II complete this section. SCORING SCALE: Will your project narrative address the items select yes (2 points), maybe (1 point), or no (0 points) the following?
94	ITEM	SCORE
95	Track II projects - eligible applicants may submit projects, as described in CAA § 138(b)(2)(E), for “facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in State and Federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.” EPA has interpreted “other public processes” as encompassing local, Tribal, and other governmental processes.
96	Grants may be awarded for the purpose of “facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in State and Federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.”	2
97	Does the project focus on breaking down systemic barriers to community participation in government processes impacting environmental and climate justice?	0
98	Does the project involve partnerships between community organizations, governments, philanthropic organizations, the private sector, and / or third-party facilitators and evaluators who can support collaboration across sectors to facilitate the engagement of disadvantaged communities in governmental decision-making processes?	2
99	Track II applicants must demonstrate how they will facilitate the engagement of disadvantaged communities in governmental processes (select all that apply) by:
100	1. Educational and Training Programs - Does your project prepare, train, and educate members of disadvantaged communities on how to engage in government processes related to environmental and climate justice activities?	2