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Thank you for your continued efforts to legally and properly implement your grant/s despite the many distractions and illegal activities coming out of this administration.
An update: Per an internal EPA email that went out last Thursday, February 13, saying that all obligated funds would be released for payment, except for those under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) program, we are hearing that most grantees (except for those under GGRF) now have access to draw down funds from their ASAP accounts!!! Unfortunately, we believe that the $20 billion of GGRF funds in Citibank are temporarily frozen for “review.”
Here are some potential actions to consider:
1) Check ASAP, asap! Once you have access again, consider trying to get as much of your funding properly and legally drawn down as quickly as possible.
– As always, make sure you are 100% clear on your award obligations and that you remain 100% in compliance.
– Remember, for most grants, you will need to spend these funds within 5 days (payroll, purchases, etc.)
– Do not draw down funds improperly. If you have questions about a potential drawdown, please reach out to our contractors, who can provide pro bono assistance to you on these matters.
2) Keep moving forward and stay in compliance.
– The best way to respond to unsubstantiated attacks is to successfully, legally, and properly implement your project. If you can, proceed with your work!
– Last week we hosted a webinar for over 250 participants on Financial Management Best Practices. Here is a recording and slides as well as a comprehensive and helpful Financial Management Best Practices Handbook.
– Please register here for our upcoming Procurement Best Practices webinar on February 26, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. eastern. You must register to join as each attendee has their own unique link.
– If you have specific financial or programmatic compliance questions, please reach out to our contractors, who can provide pro bono assistance to you on these matters.
3) If your funding continues to be missing or suspended from ASAP or if you are otherwise being denied a drawdown, it is important to document all of your efforts to legally draw down funding from your ASAP account and to build your administrative record.
– Email your Program Officer now. You can use this email template, adding details relevant to your specific grant (including actual harm on the ground). If you have legal counsel, we recommend that you consult with them to help refine the email template and get tailored legal advice for your situation.
– AND, report that you are locked out by filling out Lawyers for Good Government’s fund protection clinic intake form so they can track this violation and reach out to you about potential next steps. Litigators are ready to fight this, but we need documentation that folks are still locked out. Your specific info will not be shared with anyone without your permission.
– If your ASAP account says that your funds are in “warehousing” and the effective date on your award is in the future, please send me an email with the subject “warehousing,” and I will get back to you if this is a concern. We’re not convinced it is yet.
4) Talk to your elected officials and the press.
– Consider reaching out to your elected officials and the press and educating them on the benefits your project will provide, especially in terms of jobs, stimulating the economy, energy independence, decreased exposure to pollution, and more.
– Consider joining the Climate Action Campaign and the League of Conservation Voters TODAY, Monday, February 24, at 8pm eastern for a (non-lobbying!) meeting with House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rep. Rosa DeLauro to learn how to uplift real stories of the human consequences of the freeze and other efforts to frustrate federal grantees as a 501c3. Register here.
5) Continue to reach out.
– If your PO has been terminated or put on administrative leave, email the person whose name is on their out office if there is one. If not, please check on EPA’s system (go to our website for the link) in a few days to see if you have been assigned a new PO. If this issue persists, please reach out to me to get advice on who else you can reach out to.
6) Don’t give up on applying for more funding!
– EPN staff can help folks apply for $75,000-$350,000 Thriving Communities Grantmakers opportunity via our step-by-step Thriving Communities Grantmakers Application Guide, including: information on regional Grantmakers opportunities, a Budgets for Beginners Worksheet and Presentation, information on projects that do and don’t trigger a Quality Assurance Project Plan, and more!
– The Municipal Investment Fund grant opportunity provides local governments and participating partners up to $250k in funding as well as supporting resources and technical assistance to build market-ready clean energy projects. They are especially looking for applications from Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota and West Virginia. The application is brief, consisting of a 1,000 word narrative and questions on your community’s profile. Key links include: Municipal Investment Fund, RFP, Application, FAQ. The deadline to apply is March 5, 2025.
7) Please share EPN’s resources for Federal employees.
– EPN regularly posts helpful links, resources, and guidance for Federal Employees, including open employment opportunities in the environmental sector for those who have been terminated without cause. If you know someone who could benefit from this information and support, please share!
8) Finally, consider joining T.H.E. E.J. Lab GIS webinar series.
– T.H.E. E.J. Lab GIS team will be hosting a monthly workshop series. The first workshop, focused on the Mid-Atlantic EJSCREEN tool, is on February 26, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Please register here to secure your spot!