Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OP OEJ 21 02
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity designed to help underserved communities tackle environmental and public health problems through locally led, collaborative projects. The program is grounded in EPA's broader environmental justice work, with a clear emphasis on improving conditions in low-income communities and communities of color by advancing racial equity. It aligns with Executive Order 13985 on advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities across the federal government, and Executive Order 14008 on confronting the climate crisis, including actions that strengthen resilience at home and abroad. Within that context, the announcement highlights two urgent and overlapping priorities: responding to the impacts of COVID-19 and building climate and disaster resiliency.
At its core, the EJCPS program supports community-based organizations that can bring together a range of local partners to develop and implement solutions that reflect community needs and priorities. The EPA explicitly encourages applicants to build partnerships with stakeholder groups such as local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, and academic institutions. The intent is not just to fund isolated activities, but to support coordinated, community-driven problem solving where residents and local institutions work together to address real-world environmental hazards and related health risks.
The program uses a broad definition of "underserved community" that centers on environmental justice concerns and vulnerable populations. This includes, but is not limited to, people of color, low-income communities, rural communities, tribal and indigenous communities, and people experiencing homelessness. A key requirement is that projects must demonstrate use of the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model during the project period, meaning applicants need to show a structured approach to collaboration and solution-building rather than simply describing a problem or proposing a one-off intervention. Another important eligibility-related expectation is that the applying organization should have a direct connection to the underserved community experiencing the environmental harms or risks described in the workplan, reinforcing that these projects are meant to be rooted in lived community experience and local accountability.
Administratively, this opportunity is a discretionary grant program offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means EPA expects to have substantial involvement during the life of the project compared with a standard grant. The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number EPA-OP-OEJ-21-02 and is associated with CFDA number 66.306, within the environmental funding activity category. The award ceiling is $160,000 per award, and EPA anticipated making about 20 awards under this announcement. The original posting date was March 2, 2021, and the original closing date was May 7, 2021 (with the note to consult Section IV of the announcement for detailed submission instructions). Eligibility is broadly categorized as "Others" with further clarification provided in the announcement's eligibility section, which commonly signals that certain types of nonprofit or community-based entities may qualify, subject to the specific requirements spelled out in the full notice.
Overall, the EJCPS Cooperative Agreement Program is aimed at helping communities that have historically carried disproportionate environmental burdens build practical, partnership-based solutions, especially those that address the ongoing public health effects of COVID-19 and the growing risks tied to climate impacts and disasters. The program prioritizes collaboration, a clearly defined community connection, and a structured problem-solving framework as the foundation for funded work.Apply for EPA OP OEJ 21 02
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.306.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 02, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2021 Please see Section IV for additional submission information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $160,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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| SERVIR WEST AFRICA 2 Apply for 72062421RFA00003 Funding Number: 72062421RFA00003 Agency: Agency for International Development, Ghana USAID-Accra Category: Environment Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
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| USAID/Honduras Generating Green Economic Opportunities through Local Partnerships to Deter Irregular Migration (Local Works) Activity Apply for 72052221RFA00001 Funding Number: 72052221RFA00001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Honduras USAID-Tegucigalpa Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,700,000 |
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| Natural Resources and Endangered Species Research and Support at Fort Hood, Texas Apply for W81EWF 21 SOI 0015 Funding Number: W81EWF 21 SOI 0015 Agency: Department of Defense, CEERD-CERL Category: Environment Funding Amount: $977,000 |
| Sustainable Materials Management Grants Apply for EPA R5 LCRD 2021 Funding Number: EPA R5 LCRD 2021 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Improve the oversight functions of key stakeholders in the mining sector Apply for AF MWI FY21 01 Funding Number: AF MWI FY21 01 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malawi Category: Environment Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Conservation Works Apply for 72066921RFA00001 Funding Number: 72066921RFA00001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Liberia USAID-Monrovia Category: Environment Funding Amount: $19,500,000 |
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