Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $2 billion in discretionary grant funding through its Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant (Community Change Grants) program. The Community Change Grants are intended to fund community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. This is the first and only funding round for this program. Eligible applicants are (1) a partnership between two community-based nonprofit organizations, or (2) a partnership between a CBO and one of the following: a federally recognized Tribe, a local government, or an institution of higher education. The NOFO was released November 21, 2023. Applications are being accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through November 21, 2024
The City meets the criteria to be eligible to form a statutory partnership with a community-based nonprofit organization in Columbus. Department of Public Service, Columbus Public Health, and Sustainable Columbus staff have been working with Local Matters, a Columbus CBO, and the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge to develop a Community Change Grant application seeking more than $10 million to develop and support community resilience hubs, reduce waste, support a circular economy, and invest in workforce development programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This legislation will authorize the City of Columbus to support an application being prepared for the Community Grants Opportunity as a statutory partner of Local Matters. It also authorizes the execution of agreements with US EPA, Local Matters, or others in connection with the application for the grant, the award and subawards of the grant, the expenditure of grant funds, and the return of unused grant funds if any should remain at the end of the grant.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
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