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EPA awards $50,000 to two Utah organizations for environmental justice efforts

Release Date: 12/12/2011
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EPA awards $50,000 to two Utah organizations for environmental justice efforts

Two Utah nonprofits receive funding to address impacts of air pollution and recycling

CONTACT: Lisa McClain-Vanderpool, mcclain-vanderpool@epa.gov, 303-312-6077 ; April Nowak,nowak.april@epa.gov, 303-312-6528

(Denver, Colo. – Dec. 12, 2011) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it awarded more than $1 million in grants to 46 non-profit and tribal organizations working to address environmental justice issues nationwide. The Repertory Dance Theatre and the Utah Society for Environmental Education are two nonprofits in Utah receiving $25,000 each.

“Community-based action and participation in environmental decision-making are critical to building healthy and sustainable communities,” said Lisa Garcia, EPA’s senior advisor to the administrator for environmental justice. “By supporting local environmental justice projects in under-served communities, we are expanding the conversation on environmentalism and advancing environmental justice in communities across the nation.”

The Repertory Dance Theater uses the arts to educate Salt Lake City youth about the impacts of air pollution. The organization will conduct Arts/Environmental Residency Programs in K-6 schools in the west and central areas of Salt Lake City and will use the arts to help students understand the impacts of air pollution on the environment and their health. The project intends to produce innovative lectures, demonstrations and movement classes in 10 elementary schools.

The Utah Society for Environmental Education will create a waste recycling program for residents of Rose Park community. The mission of the Keep Rose Park Beautiful Project is to help alleviate improper waste management in Rose Park. The project will use information gathered in previous studies to create a waste/recycling education program that will meet the needs of the Rose Park Community.

EPA also announced it is seeking applicants for $1 million in environmental justice small grants expected to be awarded in 2012. The grants enable non-profit organizations to conduct research, provide education, and develop solutions to local health and environmental issues in communities overburdened by pollution. The 2012 grant solicitation is now open and will close on February 29, 2012. Applicants must be incorporated non-profits or tribal organizations working to educate, empower and enable their communities to understand and address local environmental and public health issues. EPA will host three pre-application teleconference calls on December 15, 2011, January 12, 2012 & February 1, 2012 to help applicants understand the requirements.

More information on the Environmental Justice Small Grants program and a list of grantees:http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html

Environment Justice Small Grants 2012 Request for Proposals and schedule of pre-application teleconference calls: http://1.usa.gov/utmmdh