July 25, 2024 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Foundation (SDF) announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected it to receive $19,999,317 for its joint initiative with the Environmental Health Coalition to help fund climate-resilient projects that will preserve, protect and strengthen San Diego’s central historic barrios.
“We are grateful to the EPA for recognizing how transformational this funding will be for San Diegans,” said Mark Stuart, President & CEO, SDF. “This federal grant is an endorsement of our coalition of partners and community-driven approach to fund much-needed projects that will improve the health and lives of residents in our central historic barrios and create a healthier, more vibrant and resilient community,”
The EPA grant will be combined with a previously announced $22 million grant received in December 2023 from the California Strategic Growth Council for the Transformative Climate Communities initiative, “Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity.”
“San Diego’s central historic barrio communities are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change like extreme heat or wildfires, because of existing toxic pollution, disinvestment and chronic disease like asthma,” said José Franco García, Executive Director, Environmental Health Coalition. “Residents that suffer these conditions have voiced the community’s need for investments in clean air, green spaces, healthy homes and pollution-free transit. Now, we can put their vision into action in order to help their families and neighbors thrive for generations to come.”
“Today’s announcement is welcome news for families in San Diego and across the region. This funding demonstrates our continued commitment to addressing long-standing environmental and climate justice challenges and investing in the health and wellbeing of our communities,” said Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52). “I’m proud to have voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to support projects just like this one and look forward to seeing the positive impacts to come.”
“Efforts to address climate change need to include all communities, especially neighborhoods that have historically been underfunded. The nearly $20 million in Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change grant money coming to San Diego will fund much-needed improvements to air quality, expand access to clean public transportation, and provide green space that will mitigate extreme heat and beautify neighborhoods. This is another great example of how the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act is truly helping all Americans,” said Representative Scott Peters (CA-50).
Through the grants, the neighborhoods encompassing San Diego’s central historic barrios will experience unprecedented investment in green spaces, housing and transportation, community-led food production and distribution, and community centers, among other climate-resilient and community benefit projects. San Diego’s central historic barrios include the seven neighborhoods of Logan, Stockton, Grant Hill, Mt. Hope, Sherman, Southcrest and Shelltown. For a full description of projects, visit the Environmental Health Coalition’s project proposal website.
In 2022, Environmental Health Coalition and SDF, along with 10 partners, worked to ensure their project plan was grounded in the community and led by the community. During the application-building period for the California Strategic Growth Council, Environmental Health Coalition hosted a survey and two community workshops that included participation and feedback from 400-plus community members.
The EPA grant is one of seven awarded in California and one of 21 nationwide by the EPA during this inaugural round of funding. Selected applicants 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 the federal Inflation Reduction Act, the Community Change Grants Program is the single-largest investment in environmental and climate justice in history. The funding announcement is the first tranche of nearly $2 billion from the program that was designed based on community input to award grants on a rolling basis. For more information on the Community Change Grants Program and a full listing of awards, visit EPA.gov.
About San Diego Foundation
San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering world-class philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. The Environment Initiative preserves and protects our resources, builds a more sustainable path of economic growth and ensures a higher quality of life for those who call San Diego home. For nearly 50 years, SDF and its donors have granted $1.8 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.
Contact
Lorena Nava Ruggero, lruggero@sdfoundation.org, 619-814-1365
