Direct Investments Toward Under-invested (& Energy Burdened) Neighborhoods
Objective
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are by definition rooted in the neighborhoods they serve and are often a trusted resource for residents who may be skeptical of government agencies and systems.
Are you directly investing in and partnering with community organizations? Are you supporting CBOs in identifying funding sources (e.g. IRA) that will assist them in educating and mobilizing residents and constituents to advocate for equitable climate measures?
Examples of Data Needed for Equitable Strategy Development (Qualitative and Quantitative)
- Do you know the community-based organizations that are active in your municipality?
- Do you know/understand the areas of your community that have been historically marginalized or underinvested (e.g. mapping based on income, EJ tools such as WEET or EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool)?
- Have you engaged community-based organizations, neighborhood associations, and residents from marginalized neighborhoods?
Examples of Equity-Based Municipal Strategies
Authentically engage EJ communities and CBOs about their needs
- Direct outreach and engagement of EJ communities and organizations in planning processes
- Identify an ombudsman or liaison that is trusted by the community to be a point of contact for residents and organizations
- Direct resources to EJ communities and organizations to participate in planning processes this can include stipends, grants, and/or assistance with grant writing
Investment opportunities
- Identify opportunities that direct funds to marginalized communities (e.g. TIF)
- Create and/or support programs that will build generational wealth (e.g. homeownership, BIPOC small business support)
- Ensure clean energy opportunities (e.g. IRA incentives) are communicated to and available to residents in marginalized support by providing the needed support for residents and organizations to access funds
- Identify and support accessing funding opportunities for community-based organizations (e.g. Justice 40 Accelerator)
Responsible Local Agency or Department
- All but directives should be in the Mayor or Municipal Executive’s office
Opportunities
- The Federal Government has made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.
- Federal funding from IRA and BIL and the Justice 40 initiative has the potential to flow to municipalities to support equity and climate justice goals.
Obstacles
- Many rural areas do not have the capacity to be competitive in vying for federal funds
- Latitude within Justice 40 for EPA to determine who qualifies as a disadvantaged community
Municipal Examples
- City of Madison Civil Rights Office