EJ Action Grants Program
Providing grant funding to projects intended to lift the burden of pollution from those most vulnerable to its effects. Environmental Justice HomeAbout the Grants Program
The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) announced the establishment of the new CalEPA EJ Action Grants Program (Program) in June 2023.
CalEPA is administering the Program to provide grant funding to a wide variety of projects. CalEPA administers the new Program as part of its overall mission to restore, protect and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality, and economic vitality.
On March 7, 2024, CalEPA announced the Program’s first 27 grantees.
Check out the blog post | En español
Please see below for Round 2’s timeline, and an archive of resources and documents from Round 1. If you have any questions, please contact us at EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov.
Key Information
Important Due Dates and Timelines
- November 20, 2024 – Draft Guidelines Released for Tribal Comment and Public Comment
- December 11, 2024 – Listening Session 1
- December 19, 2024 – Listening Session 2
- January 8, 2025 – Anticipated Grant Management System Workshop
- January 10, 2025 – Tribal Comment and Public Comment Period Closes
- January 21, 2025 – Anticipated Round 2 Solicitation Release
- February 28, 2025 – Anticipated Round 2 Solicitation Closing
Round 2
Opportunity for Tribal Comment and Public Comment and on Draft Guidelines
On November 20, 2024, CalEPA released draft Program Guidelines for the EJ Action Grants Program for tribal comment and public comment.
[DRAFT] Round 2 Environmental Justice Action Grant Guidelines
[BORRADOR DE LINEAMIENTOS] Programa de Subvenciones de Accion de Justicia Ambiental, Ronda 2
We respectfully request tribal comment and public comment be sent by January 10, 2025. Written comments can be sent via email to EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov with the subject line “Draft Guidelines Public Comment” or “Draft Guidelines Tribal Comment.”
Given delayed mailing times, email submission is preferred for comments, but you may also submit comment via mail to:
California Environmental Protection Agency
ATTN: Yvonne Chi, Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice and Equity
1001 I Street, 25th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
CalEPA will also accept comments at either of the two Public Listening Sessions as described in more detail in the following section.
Public Listening Sessions
Please join CalEPA for two public listening sessions on the draft Program Guidelines for Round 2 of the EJ Action Grants Program. We welcome public comments on the draft Program Guidelines and invite members of the public to join either session listed below to share comments and questions about the new Program.
CalEPA is also accepting written comments, which can be sent to EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov by January 10, 2025.
Virtual Listening Session 1
Date: December 11, 2024
Time: 2:30 – 4:00pm
Location: Zoom
Registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJElceChqjkrG9IVpszHd1gE_f4_EZgTyOJ-
Virtual Listening Session 2
Date: December 19, 2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:00pm
Location: Zoom
Registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUlc-CpqD4tG9Apy40_lLLVfYiOALeLgBM9
Access and Accessibility
CalEPA will host two virtual listening sessions with remote participation options. Both sessions will have opportunities for public comment. Spanish translation services for both listening sessions will be available solely through Zoom. CalEPA remains steadfast in its goals to promote transparency and public participation. To do so, CalEPA has arranged multiple options to listen, view, and/or comment during the public listening sessions.
If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact Chloe Skewis as soon as possible to discuss your accessibility needs.
Email: EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov | PH: (916) 866-0014
Translation and interpretation services (in addition to Spanish) may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of these services, please make your request no later than ten working days prior to the workshop by contacting Chloe Skewis.
Email: EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov | PH: (916) 866-0014
[Spanish]
Servicios de accesibilidad adicionales, como traducción de inglés a otros idiomas, pueden hacerse disponibles si usted los pide. Para asegurar la disponibilidad de estos servicios, por favor haga su petición 10 días antes del taller público, a Chloe Skewis at EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov.
[Tagalog]
Pagsasalin at pagpapaliwanag ay maaring ipakiusap (karagdagan sa Espanyol). Upang masiguro na mayroon ang mga serbisyong inaalok, mangyaring makipagugnayan kay Chloe Skewis sa EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov sa loob ng 10 araw ng paggawa.
[Chinese]
可应要求提供翻译和口译服务（除西班牙语外）。为了确保这些服务的可用性，请在研讨会开始 前的十天内与 Chloe Skewis, EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov.
[Vietnamese]
Có thể cung cấp các dịch vụ biên dịch và phiên dịch (ngoài tiếng Tây Ban Nha) theo yêu cầu. Để đảm bảo việc có thể cung cấp các dịch vụ này, quý vị vui lòng đưa ra yêu cầu không trễ hơn mười bờn ngày làm việc trước ngày hội thảo bằng cách liên hệ với Chloe Skewis, EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov.
FAQ and Additional Resources
Guideline Changes from EJ Action Grants Round 1
Tribal Beneficial Uses Overview
Council on Environmental Quality Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
Health and Human Services Environmental Justice Index
FEMA risk index for natural hazards
Map of CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Results
Mapa de Resultados de CalEnviroScreen 4.0 (en español)
Map of CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Indicators
Grant Management System
To support applicants navigating the Program, CalEPA will be utilizing a Grant Management System (GMS) for online application submission in Round 2. Applicants are encouraged to read the entirety of the Environmental Justice Action Grants draft guidelines and note that additional GMS information and application instructions will be provided once the guidelines have been finalized.
Contact the Program
Chloe Skewis
EJActionGrants@calepa.ca.gov
(916) 866-0014
Join our EJ Action Grants Listserv to stay up to date on Program news.
Round 1 Archive
Round 1: EJ Action Grants Workshop and Virtual Office Hours
- Virtual Office Hours
Our virtual office hours have concluded. They were held:
- Tuesday, October 3 (4:00-5:00 PM)
- Monday, October 9 (4:00-5:00 PM)
Virtual Workshop
The EJ Action Grants Application Workshop was held on September 27, 2023.
Round 1: Application Form and Templates
Round 1 EJ Action Grant Guidelinesopens in a new windowPDF download
Las lineamientos de la programa de subvenciones para acciones de justicia ambiental
Application [WORD]opens in a new windowWord document download
Application [PDF]opens in a new window
Budget Table Sampleopens in a new windowExcel download
Round 1: Draft Guidelines and Listening Sessions
- Draft Program Guidelinesopens in a new windowPDF download were released on June 5, 2023
- Program Public Listening Session 1 was held on June 27, 2023
- Program Public Listening Session 2 was held on July 12, 2023