Decision Tree_EPA Community Change Grants_DRAFT_1.30.24.xlsx

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2	DECISION TREE: EPA COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANTS
3	LAST UPDATED JANUARY 31, 2024
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 NOFO, 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?
6	Community Change Grants: What is it?
7	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 in Inflation Reduction Act funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges.
12	The Grants are meant to empower and strengthen environmental and climate justice by:
13	• Providing resources for community-driven projects
14	• Investing in strong cross-sectional collaborations
15	• Unlocking access to additional and more significant resources
16	• Empowering communities and strengthen capacity
17	• Strengthening community participation in government decision-making processes
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19	I. BASIC REQUIREMENTS
20	SCORING SCALE: Does your organization fully meet (1 point) or not meet (0 points) the following?
21	ITEM	SCORE
22	The Community Change Grant must be submitted by you to EPA using Grants.gov. Is your organization's Grant.gov Registration active?	0
24	Is your organization a Community-Based Non-Profit Organization (CBO) as defined at 2 CFR 200.1?	0
26	The Lead Applicants must have a Statutory Partner. The partnership must be documented and legally binding. Additional details about partner agreements can be found in the NOFO Appendix B, page 72. Does your CBO have another CBO as a partner for this grant?	0
27	Does your CBO have a partner for this grant with one of the following units of government within your state?	0
29	Does your CBO have a partner for this grant that is a Federally Recognized Tribe as defined in §302(r) of the CAA?	0
31	Does your CBO have a partner for this grant that is an Institution of Higher Education?	0
33	EPA encourages Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to participate in the grants. Does your CBO have a partner for this grant that is an MSI? HBCU-serving definition Hispanic-serving definition Tribal-serving definition Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions	0
38	Will the Prime applicant and Statutory Partner include Collaborative Entities to implement and perform specific grant project activities? Additional details about Collaborative Entities can be found in the NOFO Section III B, page 32.	0
39	BASIC REQUIREMENTS TOTAL SCORE (out of 7):	0
40
41	II. (A.) Inflation Reduction Act and Executive Orders
42	SCORING SCALE: Does your organization fully meet (2 points), partially meet (1 point), or not meet (0 points) the following?
43	ITEM	SCORE
44	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?	0
46	Grant projects and programs must take place in or directly benefit communities designated as disadvantaged to be eligible. To determine if your community is eligible check the EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities Map. The map combines multiple datasets (including CEJST and EJScreen). Additional details can be found in the NOFO Appenix A, page 68. Are the recipients seeking funding to transform disadvantaged communities into healthy, climate resilient, and thriving communities?	0
48	Is the proposed grant project a community-driven project that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation?	0
49	Will the recipients of funding comply with Executive Order 13985 Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government?	0
51	Will the recipients of funding comply with Executive Order 14008 Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad which created the government-wide Justice40 Initiative (Sec. 223.) that established the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities?	0
53	Will the proposed project address the goals of Executive Order 14091 Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through Federal Government funding?	0
55	Will the recipients of funding comply with Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All?	0
57	Will your proposed project address the diverse and unique needs of disadvantaged communities (select all that apply) by:
58	a. Reducing and preventing pollution;	0
59	b. Building resilience to climate change and mitigating current and future climate risks;	0
60	c. Enhancing meaningful involvement in government processes related to environmental and climate justice;	0
61	d. Expanding access to high-quality jobs and economic opportunity through workforce development;	0
62	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.	0
63	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 systemic barriers?	0
64	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?	0
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66	II. (B.) Statutory and Regulatory Authority
67	SCORING SCALE: Will your organization/project fully meet (2 points), partially meet (1 point), or not meet (0 points) the following?
68	ITEM	SCORE
69	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.	0
70	Grant awards will fall under the Clean Air Act (CAA), select all of the following that apply to your proposed project:
71	• 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.	0
72	• Will mitigate climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events.	0
73	• Will address climate resiliency and adaptation.	0
74	• Will reduce indoor toxics and indoor air pollution.	0
75	• Will facilitate engagement of disadvantaged communities in state and federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.	0
76	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?	0
77	II. (C.) Community Change Grants Objectives
78	SCORING SCALE: Will your project fully meet (2 points), partially meet (1 point), or not meet (0 points) the following?
79	ITEM	SCORE
80	• Comprehensive community and place-based approaches to redressing environmental and climate injustices for communities facing legacy pollution, climate change, and persistent disinvestment.	0
81	• Local investments will fund community-driven, change-making projects that center collaborative efforts for healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities	0
82	• Designed with meaningful community, Tribal, and other stakeholder involvement	0
83	Community Change Grants are intended to achieve the following objectives (select all that apply):
84	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.	0
85	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.	0
86	c. Unlock access to additional and more significant resources to advance environmental and climate justice goals from across the federal government and other sources.	0
87	d. Empower communities and strengthen their capacity to drive meaningful positive change on the ground for years to come.	0
88	e. Strengthen community participation in government decision-making processes that impact them.	0
89	EXECUTIVE ORDERS, AUTHORITY, OBJECTIVES TOTAL SCORE (out of 31):	0
90
91	II. (D.) NOFO Competition Features
92	EPA will consider applications under two separate tracks (select either Track I or Track II by entering 10 points).
93	ITEM	SCORE
94	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.	0
95	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
96	III. (G.) Funding Track I: Community-Driven Investments for Change
97	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?
98	ITEM	SCORE
99	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.
100	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.	0
101	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.	0
102	The Climate Action Strategies focus on strengthening the community’s climate resilience and / or reducing GHG emissions. Applicants must include at least one project aligned with at least one of the Climate Action Strategies identified below. Additional details and project examples can be found in the NOFO Appendix C, page 73.
103	Strategy 1: Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions	0
104	Strategy 2: Mobility and Transportation Options for Preventing Air Pollution and Improving Public Health and Climate Resilience	0
105	Strategy 3: Energy-Efficient, Healthy, and Resilient Housing and Buildings	0
106	Strategy 4: Microgrid Installation for Community Energy Resilience	0
107	Strategy 5: Community Resilience Hubs	0
108	Strategy 6: Brownfield Redevelopment for Emissions Reduction and Climate Resilience	0
109	Strategy 7: Waste Reduction and Management to Support a Circular Economy	0
110	Strategy 8: Workforce Development Programs for Occupations that Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollutants	0
111	The Pollution Reduction Strategies can include monitoring, prevention, reduction, and remediation activities that support community efforts to address quantifiable and health-harming pollutants. Applications must include at least one project aligned with at least one of the Pollution Reduction Strategies identified below. Additional details and project examples can be found in the NOFO Appendix D, page 80.
112	Strategy 1: Indoor Air Quality and Community Health Improvements	0
113	Strategy 2: Outdoor Air Quality and Community Health Improvements	0
114	Strategy 3: Clean Water Infrastructure to Reduce Pollution Exposure and Increase Overall System Resilience	0
115	Strategy 4: Safe Management and Disposal of Solid and Hazardous Waste	0
116	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.	0
117	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.	0
118	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.	0
119	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.	0
120	A Compliance Plan that describes how the organization will ensure compliance with the grant’s terms and conditions.	0