The Thriving Communities EPA Grant is an initiative designed to support projects that aim to address environmental justice issues and improve community resilience in underserved, disadvantaged, and overburdened areas across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Hawaii. The EPA grant program focuses on promoting equity, sustainability, and community health by empowering organizations to tackle environmental challenges that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The program supports a range of projects from community-led assessments and planning to large-scale development initiatives that aim to enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations.

The primary goals of this program are to assist communities in identifying environmental and public health challenges, and to implement solutions that will foster long-term sustainability. With a focus on environmental health, public welfare, and community empowerment, the Thriving Communities Grant is targeted at addressing a wide variety of environmental justice issues such as air quality, water contamination, toxic substances, and stormwater management. The program is designed to encourage collaboration between local governments, tribal governments, nonprofits, and community groups to maximize the collective impact of these efforts.

This grant program is structured into three phases (Tier I, II, and III), each focusing on different stages of project development. The phases include Assessment, Planning, and Development, with varying funding amounts assigned to each stage. The phased approach ensures that projects are well-planned, scalable, and have a measurable impact on the targeted communities. The grant encourages innovative, community-driven approaches, which are expected to generate positive environmental, social, and economic changes within the affected regions.

The Thriving Communities EPA Grant places a strong emphasis on community engagement, requiring applicants to involve local populations in the planning, execution, and evaluation of the project. The program's focus on environmental justice ensures that funds are directed toward projects that prioritize the needs of communities suffering from historical neglect, environmental degradation, and public health disparities. It also encourages the integration of indigenous knowledge into projects where appropriate, recognizing the unique perspectives and solutions that indigenous communities bring to environmental challenges.

The application process for the Thriving Communities EPA Grant is open from December 3, 2024, to March 21, 2025. Organizations seeking to apply must meet specific eligibility requirements and submit comprehensive project proposals that outline their intended outcomes and performance measurement plans. The grant ensures that funding is used effectively by requiring a well-defined project budget and a clear strategy for monitoring and reporting progress toward achieving the project’s goals.