00E03451

Description:
With a skilled network of specialized partners spread across the entire six-state-and-tribal geography of EPA Region V, this Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) is uniquely situated to shape equity by providing assistance, training, and resources to program participants. Each operational partner has evolved through grassroots efforts, comprehensively integrating science, tradition, and culture. The consortium derives its power from the people.

Located near the EPA Region 5 headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, BIG serves as the epicenter of the EJ TCTAC. Powerful partners ensure that this targeted, specialized program extends throughout the 35 tribal lands, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. This dedicated team ensures that each EJ TCTAC focus area outlined by EPA is carried out professionally, thoroughly, and continuously, incorporating real-time advances, arising challenges, and meaningful involvement of the communities.

To help achieve equity, in alignment with Executive Order 13985, each involved organization envisions a Technical Assistance Center that empowers communities to remediate social, economic, and health burdens by seeking environmental and energy justice. For maximum impact, services provided engage participants at every level of readiness to design solutions, obtain needed funding and resources, and direct activities and resources toward their identified needs with emphasis on those disproportionately harmed.

To best ensure that all eligible services of EJ TCTAC objectives are provided throughout the entire geographic area, including remote and rural areas, 23 documented, supporting partners provide valuable assistance. To create a new chapter of hope, healing, and regeneration, the whole-system solution proposed by BIG and conveyed through this EJ TCTAC empowers individuals and communities to lessen barriers to healthy living and economic freedom.

The EJ TCTAC will offer hybrid virtual and on-site services. The widespread network of partners will operate satellite offices to ensure physical and virtual services are accessible to remote and underserved communities. SEDAC will deploy a dedicated 1-800 call-center. BEL and MTERA will develop multilingual resources and continue to leverage existing tribal networks across the region. Services include production of and instruction on how-to-produce physical, digital, and virtual resources that include storytelling, fact sheets, case studies, infographics, and best-practice tip sheets.

To teach capacity building at both regional and local levels, the EJ TCTAC will facilitate stakeholder engagement discussions, listening sessions, and outreach with government and private sectors. BIG will also closely collaborate with the University of Minnesota which is also receiving an EJ TCTAC award to support EPA Region V communities.

Activities:
- Subrecipient: There are nine sub-awards under this grant agreement. Activities for each differ based on expertise but include, for example, tribal relations expertise, energy sovereignty expertise, translation and interpretation services, rural communities outreach, outreach and education, grants training and writing, public health, energy design, etc.

Outcomes:

BIG, Nfp

2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.2 - EMBED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS INTO EPA’S PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND ACTIVITIES 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.2 - EMBED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS INTO EPA’S PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND ACTIVITIES

66.309 - Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Training and Special Purpose Activities Relating to Environmental Justice

EPA Region 5: Chicago [EPA - RO]

Illinois United States

State-Wide

Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program (EJ TCTAC) (EPA-I-OP-OEJ-22-02)

Termination This cooperative agreement was reported as terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in July 2025. See All
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been shortened from 05/31/28 to 02/25/25.