Governor Hochul Announces $3.5 Million for Environmental Justice Initiatives

Governor Hochul Announces $3.5 Million in Funding for Environmental Justice Initiatives

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a total of $3.5 million in state funding to support environmental justice initiatives being led by more than 20 community-based organizations across the state. New grants invest in localized air monitoring initiatives and projects that take action to raise awareness and address environmental and health issues, helping to reach emission reduction requirements under the historic 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

“New York is committed to ensuring disadvantaged communities throughout the state have the funding, resources, and support they need to help address the disproportionate burden of air pollution and climate impacts that has been affecting communities and residents for far too long,” Governor Hochul said. “With $3.5 million in new funding, community organizations can help address local concerns and develop solutions in partnership with the state to improve quality of life, enhance air quality and the environment, and help to ensure a cleaner, greener future.”

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 13: Climate Action
2. Goal 15: Life on Land
3. Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants

• 22 community-based organizations received $2.1 million in grants
• Funding supports projects that address environmental and public health concerns
• Projects aim to build community consensus, set priorities, and improve public outreach and education
• Since 2006, the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Office of Environmental Justice awarded nearly $15 million for 236 projects

Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Air Quality Monitoring Grants

• 4 community-based organizations received $1.43 million in grants
• Funding supports initiatives to obtain air quality data tailored to community residents’ concerns
• Grants are funded by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)

Community Impact Grants Recipients

Capital Region

• Media Alliance, Inc. – $100,000
• Radix Ecological Sustainability Center – $100,000
• Kite’s Nest, Inc. – $99,996

Finger Lakes

• BluePrint Geneva, Inc. – $100,000

Hudson Valley

• Groundwork Hudson Valley – $100,000
• Poughkeepsie Farm Project – $100,000
• Sarah Lawrence College – $100,000
• Outdoor Promise, Inc. – $99,686
• Newburgh Urban Farm and Food, Inc. – $67,092

New York Metropolitan

• Concrete Safaris, Inc. – $100,000
• Fort Greene Park Conservancy, Inc. – $100,000
• Human Impacts Institute – $100,000
• Outstanding Renewal Enterprises, Inc. – $100,000
• The Bronx Is Blooming – $100,000
• Van Cortlandt Park Alliance – $100,000
• We Stay/Nos Quedamos, Inc. – $100,000
• Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, Inc. – $100,000
• Woodlawn Conservancy, Inc. – $94,218

Southern Tier

• Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments Inc. – $100,000
• Finger Lakes ReUse Inc. – $99,166

Western New York

• Clean Air Coalition of Western New York – $98,096

Air Quality Monitoring Grants Recipients

Finger Lakes

• BluePrint Geneva, Inc. – $463,400

Hudson Valley

• Groundwork Hudson Valley – $275,365

Long Island

• Starflower Experiences, Inc. – $192,000

New York Metropolitan

• West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc. – $499,925

The community air monitoring grants announced today are in addition to the first-of-its-kind air quality and greenhouse gas mobile monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state. The areas covered in the community air monitoring initiative are home to approximately five million New Yorkers and include neighborhoods overburdened by environmental pollution, which were selected for air quality monitoring using governor.ny.gov

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.