Funding Support for Local/Community Groups

[Romel Pascual <rpascual@calepa.ca.gov>]

It seems like our best resource for effective public participation/involvement are those groups on the ground who are working directly with communities.  EPA may want to consider ways in which to support groups to work on public participaton activities on specific issues.  I know that EPA currently has an Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, and embedded in many of the funded projects are components of community education and strategies for public engagement.  But over the years, the funding for EJ Grants program has been cut tremendously.

It's been my experience that working directly with groups on various environmental issues has enhanced the process.  But the challenge that groups face are limited resources.  I see more and more public agencies going to local groups asking for assistance in organizing meetings, outreach, etc.  But rarely are there any resources attached to the services requested of them.  We may also consider using some of our existing contracting dollars to contract out to community groups for public participation activities.