Environment DEC
From the December 2008 issue
DEC Announces Environmental Justice Grants
DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis recently announced 50 projects that were awarded 2008 Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants. These grants are awarded to organizations serving communities across the state that face multiple sources of environmental harms and risks.
A Top Priority
Some of the grants were given to restore or add urban street trees. (Photo: New York City Dept. of Parks and Recreation)
Governor David A. Paterson commented, "The environmental justice grants we are awarding will support community gardens, environmental education programs for kids, and other environmental projects in low-income communities. Such communities bear significant environmental burdens from polluting facilities, have inadequate open space, and deserve special attention from government. I am proud to support this initiative and will continue to work to improve the quality of life in environmental justice communities."
"Working with our communities to help protect our environment and public health is a top priority for DEC," said Commissioner Grannis. "Programs like the environmental justice grants are critically important components of this effort."
List of Winners
The complete list of winners (PDF, 29 Kb), along with project descriptions, is available for download.
Interest in the Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant program has grown dramatically. This year, 92 groups from around the state applied for funding. Detailed reviews by DEC staff resulted in 50 grant awards totaling $1,663,258. Individual awards ranged from $14,500 to $50,000. A wide variety of projects will be supported this year, including community gardens and green roofs, air- and water-quality monitoring, lead poisoning prevention, urban forestry, subsistence fishing education, environmental education for urban youth, inventories of local pollution sources, and an international climate justice conference.
Funding comes from the Environmental Justice Community Impact Research Grant (EJ Grant) program. Launched in 2006, the program helps local organizations with projects that address environmental and public health concerns. The program concentrates on communities that have historically been overburdened by problems, such as a high density of contaminated sites, noise, air and water pollution, health problems, and lack of green space or waterfront access.
More Information
For more information on the EJ Grants Program or the Environmental Justice Advisory Group, visit the Environmental Justice page on DEC's website.
