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A resolution approving an Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program application from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Office of the Mayor, to engage disadvantaged communities in governmental decision-making, aligning with the EPA’s objectives of enhancing community involvement in environmental justice efforts.
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WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for a Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program with an award of $1,983,500.00 with no cash match required to engage disadvantaged communities in governmental decision-making, aligning with the EPA’s objectives of enhancing community involvement in environmental justice efforts; and,
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government is eligible to participate in this grant program; and,
WHEREAS, the EPA requires local government applicants to partner with a community-based organization as part of their grant project; and,
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government will be partnering with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Inc. (CFMT) to complete the grant project; and,
WHEREAS, as part of the grant application, the Metropolitan Government is required to submit a partnership agreement describing their collaboration with the CFMT on this grant project; and,
WHEREAS, it is to the benefit of the citizens of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County that the grant application, including the partnership agreement, be approved and submitted.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program application by and between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in an amount not to exceed $1,983,500.00, to the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Office of the Mayor, to engage disadvantaged communities in governmental decision-making, aligning with the EPA’s objectives of enhancing community involvement in environmental justice efforts, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein, is hereby approved, and the Office of the Mayor is authorized to submit said application to the EPA.
Section 2. That the Partnership Agreement by and between the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Office of the Mayor, and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Inc., a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein, is hereby approved, and the Office of the Mayor is authorized to submit said agreement to the EPA as part of the application described in Section 1.
Section 3. That this resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This resolution approves an application for an Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to the Mayor’s Office. The application requests a grant award of $1,983,500 with no cash match to engage disadvantaged communities in governmental decision making. The grant program aligns with the EPA’s objectives of enhancing community involvement in environmental justice efforts.
The EPA requires local government applicants to partner with a community-based organization as part of their grant project. The Metropolitan Government will partner with The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, though The Village, to complete the grant project.
The grant would allow the Mayor’s Office to partner with The Village to support capacity-building among Nashville’s community-based organizations and align the mission and implementation of the project to achieve greater community impact. Resources would be available to provide workshops, training, cohorts, fellowships, mini-grants, research grants, and convenings. The Village would serve as a resource to the Metropolitan Government as it leverages the interests, programs, and networks community-based organizations of community-based organizations to solve some of the city’s most pressing issues. The grant would be focused on addressing climate and environmental issues, but the potential framework could be leveraged for several other projects.
The EPA also requires local government applicants to submit a partnership agreement describing their collaboration with community-based organizations for this grant program. The resolution also approves a partnership agreement between the Office of the Mayor and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and authorizes the Mayor to submit the agreement to the EPA as part of its grant application.
The partnership agreement states that Metro would be responsible for the overall management, performance, oversight, and reporting responsibilities under the grant. The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee would lead the design and implementation of project activities, lead data collection and research activities to support the grant, and provide detailed assessments, monitoring, and analysis of program impacts to the Metropolitan Government.