Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA R OEJECR OCS 23 01
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed to help communities that face disproportionate environmental harms and related public health risks. The core purpose is to fund projects led by community-based nonprofit organizations (often referred to as CBOs) that are ready to work side-by-side with a broader set of local and regional partners to create practical, community-informed solutions. Rather than focusing on isolated, one-off activities, the program emphasizes collaborative problem-solving that results in meaningful improvements to environmental conditions and health outcomes in underserved and disadvantaged areas.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its focus on partnerships. EPA is looking for projects where the CBO is not working alone, but is actively coordinating with stakeholders such as local businesses and industry, local governments, healthcare and medical service providers, and academic institutions. The idea is that long-standing environmental justice challenges are usually interconnected, involving multiple sources, decision-makers, and impacts, so solutions are more durable when they are co-developed and jointly implemented. The goal is to strengthen a community's ability to address both historic burdens (such as legacy pollution and chronic exposure) and emerging or future challenges, ultimately supporting healthier and more resilient neighborhoods.
Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, which typically means EPA expects a more involved relationship with recipients than a standard grant, with ongoing engagement, coordination, and technical involvement as appropriate. The opportunity is identified as EPA R OEJECR OCS 23 01 and is associated with CFDA number 66.306 under the environment funding activity category. The award ceiling is $500,000 per award, and EPA anticipated making about 83 awards, indicating a relatively broad national reach and the potential for many communities to receive support across different regions and issue areas.
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional details referenced in the full solicitation's eligibility section, which signals that applicants need to carefully confirm they meet the program's specific definition of eligible entities, especially around the requirement that projects support community-based nonprofit organizations. The original posting date for the opportunity was January 10, 2023, and the original closing date was April 10, 2023, with the note that applicants should rely on the official closing-date guidance in Section IV of the funding announcement.
Overall, EJCPS is structured to help communities move from identifying problems to building coordinated, locally grounded solutions that address real environmental and public health issues where the need is greatest. The program frames success not only as reducing specific risks, but also as helping communities become stronger, healthier, and better equipped to confront environmental justice challenges over the long term.Apply for EPA R OEJECR OCS 23 01
- 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 Jan 10, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 10, 2023 See Section IV of funding opportunity for close date 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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 83 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program FAQs
What is the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program?
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is designed to help communities experiencing disproportionate environmental harms and related public health risks by funding practical, community-informed solutions developed through collaboration.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to fund projects led by community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs) that work side-by-side with local and regional partners to create solutions that meaningfully improve environmental conditions and health outcomes in underserved and disadvantaged areas.
Who is the program intended to help?
The program is intended to support communities that face disproportionate environmental harms and associated public health risks, with an emphasis on underserved and disadvantaged areas.
What types of organizations are expected to lead projects?
Projects are expected to be led by community-based nonprofit organizations (often referred to as CBOs). The opportunity description emphasizes CBO leadership and community-driven project design.
Is partnership required, or can a CBO apply alone?
A defining feature of EJCPS is its focus on partnerships. EPA is looking for projects where the CBO is actively coordinating with a broader set of local and regional stakeholders rather than working alone.
What kinds of partners does EPA expect to be involved?
The program highlights collaboration with stakeholders such as:
- Local businesses and industry
- Local governments
- Healthcare and medical service providers
- Academic institutions
The intent is to co-develop and jointly implement solutions to interconnected environmental justice challenges.
What does "collaborative problem-solving" mean in the context of this program?
Collaborative problem-solving refers to moving beyond isolated or one-off activities and instead working with multiple stakeholders to develop coordinated, community-informed solutions. The approach recognizes that environmental justice challenges often involve multiple sources, decision-makers, and impacts, and that solutions tend to be more durable when developed and implemented together.
What outcomes is EJCPS trying to achieve?
EJCPS aims to support meaningful improvements to environmental conditions and health outcomes in communities with the greatest need. It also frames success as strengthening a community's long-term ability to confront environmental justice challenges, supporting healthier and more resilient neighborhoods.
Does the program focus only on historic environmental burdens?
No. The opportunity description indicates the goal is to strengthen community capacity to address both historic burdens (such as legacy pollution and chronic exposure) and emerging or future challenges.
What type of funding instrument is being offered?
Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement.
How is a cooperative agreement different from a standard grant (based on the announcement description)?
The description notes that a cooperative agreement typically means EPA expects a more involved relationship with recipients than a standard grant, including ongoing engagement, coordination, and technical involvement as appropriate.
What is the opportunity number or identifier?
The opportunity is identified as EPA R OEJECR OCS 23 01.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 66.306.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Environment.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $500,000 per award.
How many awards did EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making about 83 awards.
What does the anticipated number of awards suggest about the program's reach?
The description characterizes the anticipated 83 awards as indicating a relatively broad national reach, with potential for many communities to receive support across different regions and issue areas.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional details referenced in the eligibility section of the full solicitation. The description signals that applicants need to carefully confirm they meet the program's specific eligibility definition, particularly requirements tied to supporting community-based nonprofit organizations.
Where should applicants verify the official eligibility requirements?
The opportunity notes that additional eligibility details are in the full solicitation's eligibility section, meaning applicants should rely on the specific definitions and conditions stated in the official funding announcement.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date was January 10, 2023.
When was the opportunity originally scheduled to close?
The original closing date was April 10, 2023.
Which closing date guidance should applicants follow?
The opportunity includes a note that applicants should rely on the official closing-date guidance in Section IV of the funding announcement.
What is the overall program approach described in the announcement?
The program is structured to help communities move from identifying problems to building coordinated, locally grounded solutions that address real environmental and public health issues where the need is greatest, with an emphasis on long-term community strength and resilience.
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