Rhode Island is receiving six of 22 community-improvement grants awarded across New England recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Nov. 18.
The six Healthy Community Grants, totaling $191,335, will be invested in projects "that will help to make progress on crucial public health, environmental and climate resilience-related challenges," the EPA states in the announcement, including food-waste diversion, floodplain protection and toxics awareness.
"These Healthy Communities Grants will help solve pressing environmental and public health issues in the Ocean State," U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), said in the announcement. "I'm grateful to the grant recipients for their work to improve the quality of life for Rhode Islanders, especially in our environmental justice communities."
The Rhode Island grant funding will be distributed to the Center of EcoTechnology, MEANS Database partnering with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, Environment Council of Rhode Island, Childhood Lead Action Project (CLAP) and Refugee Development Center, the EPA reports. Challenges these groups will address include food waste, sustainability, equity and education; watershed improvements to mitigate flooding, poor water and habitat quality, and erosion; and public health campaigns, according to the announcement.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, (D-R.I.), said the funding to "six outstanding Rhode Island recipients" will allow local entities to lead efforts to address concerns in their communities "and make our communities and the state a cleaner, healthier place for all."
"There is a strong, direct connection between the environment, public health, economic health, and community well-being," Reed, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in the announcement. "And it takes collaboration between both public and private entities to reach our goal of a stronger, safer, healthier Rhode Island."
The EPA New England's HCGP is awarding a total of $744,000 in funding to communities throughout the region, according to the report. The community-focused program funds projects that "strategically address critical environmental and public health issues burdening New England communities," the agency states in the announcement.
"Across New England, communities are grappling with climate change impacts, food waste-management challenges and other public health-related challenges," EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash said in the announcement, "and these issues are exacerbated in communities that have environmental justice concerns based on a history of being overburdened by pollution."
"EPA is thrilled to use its Healthy Communities Grant program to help fund projects that empower communities to address these challenges," Cash said.
