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Below, you will find:
- Direct Pay Virtual Briefing
- Community Change Grants Updates and Assistance
- EPA Grants Webinar Series
Direct Pay Virtual Briefing
1) Leveraging Federal Funds for Clean Energy Projects
Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPCC), and the Environmental Protection Network (EPN) invite you to a virtual briefing, “Leveraging Federal Funds for Clean Energy Projects,” on Thursday, August 29, at 1pm ET. You can learn more about Direct Pay; hear examples of how NGOs, religious organizations, community-based organizations, and other 501(c)3s can seize this opportunity; and get briefed on new, free tools that can help you navigate building new clean energy projects to take advantage of Direct Pay. RSVP here.
As a reminder, this webinar will be at a 201 level and anyone can always brush up with L4GG’s 101 basics page in preparation to join us. And in case you are unable to join live, the briefing will be recorded.
Community Change Grants Updates and Assistance
2) EPA Community Change Grants Updates
EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) has published an updated version of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Community Change Grants Program (CCGP). This new version, known as Modification No. 3, replaces the previous versions of the NOFO. Modification No. 3 makes two major changes to the NOFO:
- The first change is to the EPA map used to identify disadvantaged communities, so that it now reflects the most recent data in OEJECR’s update of EJScreen. For CCG applicants’ convenience, EPA has created a map called EPA Disadvantaged Community Environmental and Climate Justice Program, that merges versions 1.0 and 2.0 of the EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities Map. New applicants should use this map to identify and describe disadvantaged communities per Appendix A of the NOFO. This new map also designates as disadvantaged any area of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. This change does not affect any applications already submitted.
- The second change is to remove the oral presentation component of the Track I Application process to reduce the burden to applicants and expedite the review and selection process to ensure funding benefits disadvantaged communities as quickly as possible.
The Community Change Grants Program is still accepting applications through November 21, 2024, and EPA encourages applicants to submit applications as soon as they completely meet the NOFO requirements. EPA will be making additional selections on a rolling basis for the remainder of 2024.
3) EPN Pre-Award Webinar and Q&A for CCG Selectees and Potential Selectees
EPA Community Change Grant selectees have a number of pre-award requirements and milestones to be met before signing their cooperative agreements with EPA and launching their project. In order to streamline this process and provide support, the Environmental Protection Network will hold a webinar and Q&A session on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 1pm ET. To register, please go here.
This webinar will introduce the Environmental Protection Network (EPN) and its funded work with TRC Consulting to provide an Introduction and Checklist that guide entities through grant negotiations and to grant award acceptance. In addition, there will be time devoted to answering questions, and an email will be provided to request 1:1 assistance. Slides used in the workshop as well as a recording will be sent out after the event and will be posted on on our website.
4) Community Change Grants Technical Assistance (CCTA) Office Hours
The CCTA program is offering a hands-on series to help communities effectively manage their time and resources while completing and submitting their grant applications before the deadline of November 21, 2024. Scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (from September through October), these 75-minute webinars are designed to offer specialized, group Technical Assistance on specific aspects of the grant application process. Click on the registration links in blue to register.
Week of September 3 & 4, 2024
Session #1: Project Scheduling & Guidance
Register for Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 1pm ET
Session #2: Transformative Partnerships
Register for Wednesday, September 4, 2024, 1pm ET
Week of September 10 & 11, 2024
Session #1: Project Scheduling & Guidance
Register for Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 1pm ET
Session #2: Budget, Financial Management
Register for Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 1pm ET
Week of September 17 & 18, 2024
Session #1: Project Scheduling & Guidance
Register for Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 1pm ET
Session #2: Mapping with EJScreen
Register for Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 1pm ET
Week of September 24 & 25, 2024
Session #1: Project Scheduling & Guidance
Register for Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 1pm ET
Session #2: Budget, Financial Management
Register for Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 1pm ET
Week of October 1 & 2, 2024
Session #1: Project Scheduling & Guidance
Register for Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 1pm ET
Session #2: Describing Environmental Justice
Register for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 1pm ET
Week of October 8 & 9, 2024
Session #1: Project Scheduling & Guidance
Register for Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 1pm ET
Session #2: Budget, Financial Management
Register for Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 1pm ET
Week of October 15 & 16, 2024
Session #1: Project Scheduling & Guidance
Register for Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 1pm ET
Session #2: Grant Writing Checklist
Register for Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 1pm ET
Week of October 22 & 23, 2024
Session #1: Project Scheduling & Guidance
Register for Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 1pm ET
Session #2: Budget, Financial Management
Register for Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 1pm ET
EPA Grants Webinar Series
5) EPA Grants Webinar Series for Applicants and Recipients
EPA is hosting a series of three webinars for assistance agreement (grant) applicants and recipients. During each webinar, EPA staff will review key aspects of EPA’s grants processes and requirements, and you will have the opportunity to submit questions. You must register in advance for each webinar using the links provided below.
Competition Process
Thursday, September 12, 2024: 1-2pm ET
This webinar intends to help grant applicants learn how to find and successfully apply for competitive EPA grants. EPA will also provide an overview of the competition process from application through evaluation and selection. Register here.
Training for EPA Pass-Through Grant Applicants, Recipients, and Subrecipients
Wednesday, September 18, 2024: 1-2pm ET
This webinar intends to help grant applicants learn how to find and successfully apply for competitive EPA grants. EPA will also provide an overview of the competition process from application through evaluation and selection. Register here.
Federal Civil Rights Compliance for Recipients & Subrecipients of EPA Financial Assistance
Thursday, September 19, 2024: 1-2pm ET
This training by the EPA Office of External Civil Rights Compliance (OECRC) will provide information about federal civil rights laws and regulations, why they matter, and how they apply to EPA grant recipients and subrecipients. We will discuss requirements and best practices for a strong and effective civil rights program, as well as what to expect from OECRC in its oversight role. The training will include an open Q&A session. Register here.