The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is offering funding for special projects related to the Environmental Health Risk Assessment Program (EHRAP). The goal of the funding is to engage with communities, educate them, and assess the impact of environmental hazards on public health. Through this program, RIDOH aims to investigate the public health implications of hazardous chemicals in the environment, educate affected communities, and proactively manage risks by exploring innovative solutions. The funding will be provided to organizations conducting community outreach, education, and assessments to complement and amplify RIDOH’s federally funded efforts, with a focus on hazardous sites, particularly abandoned ones.

EHRAP, funded by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) through its Cooperative Agreement Program, primarily targets abandoned hazardous waste sites on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Priorities List, known as Superfund sites. EHRAP also prioritizes sites with potential contaminants that pose significant risks to human health, especially to nearby communities. The primary objectives of this funding are to support projects that raise awareness about the health-related impacts of environmental hazards, conduct site-based investigations, and educate the public on contamination risks.

Funding will be awarded up to $4,950 per project, although some recipients may receive less than the maximum. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, schools, community-based agencies, coalitions, and grassroots organizations that have a Federal Employer Identification Number or Federal Tax Identification Number. For-profit entities are not eligible for this funding. The projects funded by RIDOH must complement its existing efforts in environmental health risk assessment and public education related to hazardous sites in Rhode Island.

The projects must focus on outreach and education activities aimed at specific sites of concern or address broader environmental health risks. The funding opportunity is designed to empower local organizations to conduct projects that engage their communities in discussions about the health implications of contaminated environments. However, the program does not fund investigations into issues that are regulated by other entities like the EPA or the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), such as vehicular or permitted industrial pollution.

Applications must be submitted electronically by 4 p.m. on March 21, 2025. The application process requires submitting a cover form, project application, and proposed budget, with an 8-page limit for the application. A minimum score of 60 out of 100 points is required for eligibility. The program suggests a four-month project period, but alternative timelines will be considered if they help achieve the project's deliverables. A 10% in-kind match is required from applicants, which must be reflected in the project’s budget.

Upon award, recipients will be provided with templates for mid-cycle and final reports. Two invoices must be submitted: one midway through the project and another at its conclusion. Payment is reimbursed upon submission of reports and invoices showing completed work. Applicants must also be registered in the Rhode Island Division of Purchases’ “Ocean State Procures” system, including submission of a valid and signed W9 form.

For any questions or assistance with the application process, applicants can contact Melissa Orpen-Tuz at RIDOH. The registration in the Ocean State Procures system can take up to three weeks, so early registration is encouraged to avoid delays in funding.