Environmental Justice Grant Program

The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) Office of Environmental Justice is currently accepting applications for the third round of its Environmental Justice (EJ) Grant Program. This program is designed to fund projects that address public health and environmental impacts in disproportionately impacted (DI) communities, and to promote equitable participation in rulemaking that may affect these communities. The program's core mission aligns with promoting environmental justice by actively supporting initiatives that aim to prevent, reduce, measure, or mitigate pollution and restore environmental health in areas most affected by environmental inequities. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are primarily disproportionately impacted (DI) communities within Colorado. The program aims to empower these communities through projects that either directly measure, prevent, or reduce pollution, protect public health, restore the environment, or enhance community participation in environmental policy-making. The overarching impact goal is to foster healthier environments and more equitable processes for these communities, ultimately contributing to a more just and sustainable Colorado. The grant program prioritizes projects focusing on a wide array of environmental and public health topics. These include air quality, water quantity and quality, waste management, land use, the built environment, climate change, noise pollution, chemicals, pesticides, natural assets (such as wetlands and tree planting), soil quality, and historical industrial contamination. Additionally, grants can support projects that facilitate community engagement in public engagement opportunities during CDPHE's rulemaking processes concerning environmental protection, thereby promoting a bottom-up approach to environmental policy. With approximately $3,000,000 in total funding available for Cycle 3, the EJ Grant Program anticipates supporting numerous projects with competitive awards structured in two tiers: Tier 1 for projects requesting $50,000 to $249,999, and Tier 2 for projects seeking $250,000 to $500,000. The funding period for awarded projects spans two fiscal years, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. Eligible applicants include a diverse range of organizations, such as non-profit organizations, local governments, federally recognized Tribal governments, universities and other educational institutions, for-profit corporations, and grassroots organizations, ensuring broad participation and varied approaches to achieving environmental justice outcomes.