EPA Announces More Than $17 Million to MetroHealth Systems and Community Organizations for a Community Change Grant in Cleveland
The selection is part of the Inflation Reduction Act program - the largest single environmental justice investment in history – delivered by President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda
CHICAGO (September 11, 2024) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore joined MetroHealth System in Cleveland to highlight a more than $17 million grant to reduce indoor air pollution. The grant, which includes seven partnering community organizations, will help disadvantaged communities tackle environmental and climate justice challenges through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity. Made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the Community Change Grants program is the single largest investment in environmental and climate justice in history.
“This grant will help Cleveland-area residents with asthma reduce indoor air pollution in their homes,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, people will have healthier homes and be able to breathe easier.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act continues to make a difference in Northeast Ohio. Thanks to House Democrats and the Biden-Harris Administration, federal funds are headed our way to help everyday people breathe cleaner air in their homes. My office is proud to join the EPA in announcing this federal grant to MetroHealth for such an innovative and solution-oriented healthcare strategy program,” said Rep. Shontel Brown.
“Cooking on gas stoves is a major source of indoor air pollution and is a particular issue for the 1 in 5 Clevelanders who have asthma,” said Dr. Ash Sehgal, the Duncan Neuhauser Professor of Community Health Improvement at The MetroHealth System and Case Western Reserve University. “This grant will allow us to replace gas stoves with electric stoves in households across the city, reducing indoor air pollution and improving the quality of life for individuals with asthma.”
MetroHealth, along with lead partner Community Housing Solutions and other community organizations, will identify 1,200 Cleveland-area households with at least one resident with asthma and work with them to reduce indoor air pollution. They will replace gas ranges with electric ranges, upgrade kitchen electrical systems as needed, and improve kitchen ventilation. They also will offer households financial incentives to switch to a cleaner electricity supplier and will install 240-volt outlets in garages for future electric car use. All project activities will include extensive community outreach. Seven community organizations with an exclusive or substantial focus on housing will make up a coalition to carry out the proposed tasks. In addition to Community Housing Solutions, the other members of the coalition are Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio, Metro West Community Development Organization, Tremont West Development Corporation, Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation, Slavic Village Development, and Ohio City Incorporated.
Residents of Cleveland, Euclid, East Cleveland, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Newburgh Heights, Warrensville Heights, Akron, and Canton are eligible to participate. If interested in learning more about the program, residents can contact Community Housing Solutions at 216-231-5815 or one of the other participating community organizations.
The Inflation Reduction Act provides $3 billion to EPA to award grants that help disadvantaged communities and offer technical assistance. With these grants, EPA is delivering on this mission.
The Community Change Grants also deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States through his Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
To learn more about the Community Change Grants program and technical assistance, visit EPA’s website.
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