Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM) Region 4 is a funding initiative created through the Inflation Reduction Act and managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) in partnership with RTI International. The program aims to support community-based organizations, local governments, and tribal governments in addressing environmental justice concerns in the eight states of EPA Region 4. The overarching goal is to empower communities in cultivating and sustaining healthy environments by reducing barriers to accessing federal grants. The TCGM Region 4 program is part of a broader national effort that includes other regional grantmaking entities serving EPA Regions 5, 6, and 7, as well as a National-Central entity serving groups across these regions. The program helps distribute federal funds to local community-driven projects that focus on environmental health and sustainability. Additionally, it provides guidance on application processes, grant administration, and peer learning programs to enhance community participation and leadership. Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofit organizations, local governments, tribal governments, and intertribal consortia. Native American and Indigenous organizations are also eligible to apply. The program does not require cost matching, which lowers financial barriers for smaller organizations seeking to address local environmental issues. The program operates under a cooperative agreement model where the EPA provides funding to selected grantmakers, who then distribute grants to local projects. The grantmakers include RTI International, North Carolina Central University (NCCU), the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), and the University of Kentucky (UKY). These partners play a critical role in administering funds, assisting with applications, and ensuring equitable access to grant resources. TCGM Region 4 also collaborates with the EPA Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTAC) to provide further support to applicants. These centers help communities navigate the application process and develop strong proposals that align with environmental justice goals. Applicants and interested stakeholders can stay connected with the program by signing up for updates and receiving guidance on grant opportunities. For further assistance, questions about the program can be directed to TCGM Region 4’s administrators through the provided contact channels.