Application Process for EPA’s Community Change Grants Track I

EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants are place-based investments focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the potential of the Inflation Reduction Act for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments.

Below are the suggested steps you should follow to apply for Track I. Although EPA’s deadline for submission is November 21, 2024, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so EPA encourages applicants to apply as early as possible. In addition, if you apply early, there may be time to resubmit an updated application, after a debriefing with EPA, if not initially selected.

Steps to apply

To track these 6 suggested steps, you can use this Track I Community Change Grants Checklist with links to a Project Narrative template, Mandatory Documents, and additional resources (including those provided by EnDyna and Anese & Associates). Using the Track I Community Change Grants Checklist can help you divvy up sections among partners, track your work, and mark sections as complete. All of the sections on this checklist need to be included in your final application.

	If You Are Not Already, Register for SAM.gov and Grants.gov – Three Months Before Submission You must be registered with SAM.gov (and have your Unique Entity Identification (UEID)) and Grants.gov. Registering can take weeks (if not months). To register on SAM.gov,* go here. For help, access the registration checklist and EPN’s SAM.gov registration webinar. In addition, EPN holds SAM.gov registration office hours every two weeks on Wednesdays from 2-3 p.m. ET. We’ll help you begin, continue, or finish up your registration process. To sign up and get the Zoom link, go to tinyurl.com/EPNSAM. To register at Grants.gov,* go here. For help, use the registration checklist and watch this Youtube video. Also, please review the Intro to Grants.gov – Understanding User Roles and Learning Workspace – User Roles and Workspace Actions to assist with application submission. If you need additional help, send us an email. *To check your registration status, go here for SAM.gov, and here for Grants.gov.
	Review EPA Resources – Two Months Before Submission A: Use the Track I Community Change Grants Checklist to track your application progress. B: Carefully read the Community Change Grants Summary and the entire Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to ensure that your project is a good fit. You can also watch EPN’s Community Change Grants overview and access the slides here. C: Double check the Community Change Grants Eligibility. In addition, the Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP) in partnership with GrantScribes created a Federal Grant Readiness Checklist: EPA CCG. This assessment will help organizations determine their eligibility, readiness, and capacity to apply for this funding opportunity. D: Read about the Community Change Grants New Features (page 7 in the NOFO). E: Watch a recording of the December 7, 2023, webinar, and sign up for upcoming webinars here. F: Read the Community Change Grants FAQs and answers to EPA Subaward Frequent Questions intended to provide information on EPA’s interpretations of the Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG) and EPA’s Subaward Policy. G: Watch the following webinars: December 7th Informational Webinar and Indirect Costs Limitation Webinar (Passode: 91869331), and view the Informational Webinar Slides and the Indirect Costs Limitation Slides. H: Sign up for EPA CCG Teachnical Assistance: As the EPA Community Change Grants (CCG) Program deadline is fast approaching, eligible entities interested in receiving TA must submit a completed TA intake form no later than August 16, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. EDT. I: Carefully Review EPA’s Track I Application Development Workbook.
	Solidify Partners & Envision – One to Two Months Before Submission A: Fill out EPN’s Technical Assistance Request Form. B: Reach out to these potential partners and/or others. C: Solidify your partners and schedule a time to collectively envision and brainstorm about your proposal. D: Watch EPN’s Community Change Grants overview, and access the slides here. Then read through the Community Change Grants Track I Project Narrative Template. Create a copy of the Track I Template, in Google Docs, that all partners can access. You can also utilize SEAP and GrantScribes’ Decision Tree: EPA CCG. This assessment will help organizations determine if their project meets the criteria for funding and serves as a funding notice blueprint. E: Divvy up sections of the project using the Track I Project Narrative Template (see instructions below, Step 4), and Mandatory Documents (see instructions below, Step 5) among partners and complete Steps 4 and 5.
	Read, Write, and Review the Project Narrative – Three Weeks Before Submission A. Access EPA’s Track I Development Workbook and Worksheets. B: Complete the Track 1 Executive Summary. C: Write the full Project Narrative using the Track I Project Narrative Template and referring to the Track I Sample Project Narrative (or the Resilience Hub Sample Project Narrative) and the Outputs and Outcomes Checklist created by Path Consulting as needed. D: Review your Project Narrative using the Track I Evaluation Criteria and EPN’s Track I Evaluation Criteria Worksheet for applicants to ensure that all requirements have been met in each section and that all possible points should be awarded.
	Complete Mandatory Documents – Two Weeks Before Submission A: Create the following Mandatory Documents, all of which should be completed directly in Grants.gov: – Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) – Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) – EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54 – EPA Form 4700-4 Preaward Compliance Review Report – Program Narrative: Use the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” to submit the file. This is a PDF of your Project Narrative document (20 page max). B: Use the “Other Attachments Form” in Grants.gov for the following additional documents. Note: We have replaced our previous Attachments instructions and samples with EPA-approved EnDyna resources, including Worksheets that we highly recommend you use to think through and identify specific items you should include in your attachments. – Attachment A: Program Budget Description Worksheet, Budget Template and Sample Budgets. Your budget should be simple and clear, like the samples provided. – Attachment B: Statutory Partnerships Worksheet and Sample Agreement – Attachment C: Any other documents or information not listed above, such as an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. – Attachment D: “How to Create a Project Area Map Using EJScreen Video.” Please make sure your project area map clearly corresponds to the Project Area, and shows which Census block groups within the Project Area are EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities. – Attachment E: Community Engagement and Collaborative Governance Worksheet. Your Community Engagement and Collaborative Governance Plan can be up to 10 pages long and should be very comprehensive. – Attachment F: Community Strength Plan Worksheet. Your Community Strength plan needs to include all of the requirements specified in the NOFO, including the economic benefits of your project and anti-displacement measures. – Attachment G: Readiness Approach Worksheet. Your Readiness Approach should be concise but also specific. For example, it should define any specific government approvals. – Attachment H: Compliance Plan Worksheet. Your Compliance Plan can be up to 5 pages long and should be detailed and comprehensive. – Proof of Nonprofit Status C: Review your application using the Track I Evaluation Criteria as well as EPN’s Track I Evaluation Criteria Worksheet for applicants to again ensure that all requirements have been met in each section and that all possible points should be awarded.
	Review and Submit – As Soon as You are Ready! EPA will be granting these funds on a rolling basis. Although the final deadline is listed as Thursday, November 21, 2024, we recommend that you plan to submit to Grants.gov ASAP. This may give you the opportunity to resubmit, after a debriefing with the agency, if your initial application is unsuccessful. These step-by-step instructions and video can help. Please plan to set aside at least three hours to submit your application to Grants.gov. A: To begin the submission process, go to Grants.gov and click the red “Apply” button at the top of the “view grant opportunity” page associated with this opportunity. B: Upload your application, including: All Project Narrative elements from Step 4 via the Project Narrative Attachment Form. Mandatory Documents listed in Step 5, uploaded directly into Grants.gov via their individual submission forms or the “Other Attachments Form.” C: Submit and confirm that all verifications & confirmations from Grants.gov are received & saved. D: Take …a nap!