What Happened?
Newark, New Jersey, is taking advantage of federal grants designed to support community programs directly addressing environmental and public health issues at the local level. The federal funding will aid municipalities implementing policies and efforts to improve the health of neighborhoods through urban farming and gardening strategies.
The Goal
Newark’s Ironbound Community Corporation received the funds through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Small Grants Program and will leverage the money to reduce local pollution, improve residential quality of life and launch urban garden projects in vacant city lots. The Ironbound Community Corporation is especially eager to allocate some of the grant money toward educational programs to boost community awareness of initiatives in progress.
The educational materials and presentations will discuss many strategies for creating a more sustainable, eco-friendly community such as:
- Soil restoration
- Reducing toxic substances
- Urban gardening programs
- Green infrastructure
The goal of the project is to encourage residential participation in the transformation of vacant, unused city lots for community green spaces by adding plants, trees, gardens and small farming projects. The installation of green infrastructure will mimic natural ecosystem cycles to encourage sustainable growth in the midst of an urban, developed environment. The more residents know about greening options and how to proactively improve the community, the faster the project will catch on.
Environmental Justice
The EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants Program is responsible for awarding more than $24 million to 1,400 communities across the country looking to correct environmental concerns since 1994. The grants support efforts at the local level to increase education and activity surrounding eco-friendly, sustainable development and public wellness initiatives.
The EPA works collaboratively with local governments, organizations and residents to plan, fund and implement the programs to address environmental issues. For the strategies to have long-term sustainability, the local organizations must be engaged in the project to follow through on all strategies. Eligible organizations include:
- Incorporated, nonprofit or community organizations
- Tribal governments recognized by the federal government
- Tribal organizations
The top priorities of the EPA when determining which programs will receive funding are:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Improving air quality
- Managing chemical risks
- Cleaning up hazardous waste disposal sites
- Protecting water supplies
- Environmentalism education
- Building strong partnerships at the local level
Take A Deep Breath
The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe in Hogansburg, New York, recently received $30,000 from the EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants Program to create an educational program on what substances can trigger asthma and how to eliminate them in the community.
The Mohawk’s Air Quality Program is addressing the increasing prevalence of asthma attacks in the community, as the respiratory disease impacts children and adults often sending patients to a hospital for care. By educating the public and taking proactive steps to reduce exposure to asthma triggers, the Mohawk Tribe hopes to lower hospital admission rates and deaths related to respiratory issues.
Keep It Green
Gov1 has followed similar community wellness efforts including summer food services and urban farming.