02F33801

Description:
The agreement provides funding to New Mexico State University to lead an experienced team of community-based partners to create the South-Central Environmental Justice Resource Center. Specifically, the recipient will develop an equitable leadership model; develop and deliver training on grant writing, environmental justice, environmental management system, and clean energy technology; develop a web-based portal that navigates access to technical assistance resources; and develop and deliver leadership programs.

Activities:
The activities to be performed include training community partners on community-centered research strategies annually, developing and implementing a regional web-based portal that navigates access to technical assistance resources, developing and conducting grant writing training webinars twice a year, designing and hosting environmental justice and environmental management system training annually, creating and distributing a clean energy technology training video, creating and facilitating a ten-month Equity at Work Leadership Cohort, and facilitating a nine-course leadership program focused on ethics, policy, and diversity.

Subrecipient:
Beloved Community activities include deploying participatory action research with communities and businesses, training community partners on community-centered research strategies/processes, collating community insights into annual findings and disseminating to stakeholders and the public, and hosting an Equity at Work Leadership Cohort. Lifecity activities include creating environmental justice and environmental management system training, support creation of the web-based portal, and creating a communication plan and branding for the center. University of Texas at Arlington-Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center activities include delivering four environmental management systems workshops and producing eight video sessions supporting the training for webinar access. Santa Fe Green Chamber activities include partnering with community-based organizations, interfaith non-profits, environmental groups, and tribal advocacy groups; assisting in disseminating training materials; and promoting webinars, websites, and in-person meetings to chambers and non-governmental organizations. Together Louisiana activities include creating a list of rurally serving, historically disinvested organizations in Louisiana that could benefit from training on how to get federal grants, supporting outreach for one workshop annually for these organizations in Louisiana, and helping with a workshop on clean energy policy advocacy. Gulf States Renewable Energy Industry Association activities include marketing workshops, recruiting manufacturers and other industries to engage in the business workshops and membership network, and fostering awareness of the center's programs and services. Arkansas Capital Corporation activities include contributing to the development of the partnership network database of leaders, resources, services, and events, creating a list of rurally serving, historically disinvested organizations in Arkansas that could benefit from training on how to get federal grants and technical assistance for the business community, and promoting awareness of the center's programs and services. Inter-Tribal Council of Louisiana activities include contributing to the development of the partnership network database of leaders, resources, services, and events, fostering awareness of the center's programs and services to tribal communities, and marketing the center's activities and events across tribal networks and other constituents.

Outcomes:
The anticipated deliverables include one environmental justice partnership database, multiple community event gatherings, one environmental justice hotline, five annual findings and insight reports created on participatory action research, one South Central Environmental Justice Resource Center web portal, four grant writing workshops, and eight video sessions supporting the training for webinar access.

New Mexico State University

2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 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 6: Dallas [EPA - RO]

New Mexico 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 05/01/25 and the total obligations have increased 100% from $4,000,000 to $8,000,000.