How to Secure Climate-Conscious Federal Funding to Reduce Toxic Exposures

Because our future depends on addressing two inextricably linked issues — climate change and toxic chemicals — we can’t solve one without the other. 

Cities play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and toxic exposures. But according to available data, only 35 of the 50 largest US cities have adopted local climate action plans. And an even smaller fraction of those 35 cities have specific strategies to reduce ubiquitous and related toxic exposures, like air toxics and emissions associated with city purchasing practices. 

As most government employees know, part of the hurdle to reducing both impacts certainly boils down to a lack of funding. There’s a lot of talk about the historic federal funding levels, but it can be challenging to align opportunities and bandwidth in a timely fashion to procure funding.

Enter the Federal Funding Sources for Municipal Sustainability Tool. This list of available funding opportunities helps municipalities navigate financial resources to support adding a climate and resiliency lens to municipal projects.The database provides a searchable list of federal grant programs designated for infrastructure and programs to address various issues, including

• climate change mitigation
• resiliency
• waste reduction
• air quality
• ecosystem restoration
• other sustainability efforts

Submitting competitive applications for federal infrastructure money can be challenging for small and mid-sized cities, towns, and villages. To assist these often-underserved communities, the National League of Cities and the Local Infrastructure Hub offer resources for local governments with 150,000 or fewer residents. 

Participants have access to subject-matter experts, office hours, individualized coaching sessions, and peer-to-peer learning to engage with experts and other applicants going through the same program. They also have access to a library of templates, example submissions, and other resources. Enroll here.

Looking for other useful guides to federal funding opportunities? Here are some of our favorites: 

• BlueGreen Alliances’ User Guide to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
• Emerald Cities’ Guide to Capturing Infrastructure Investments

• EPA’s 17 new Technical Assistance Centers help communities access historic investments to advance environmental justice

Have another one to add? Reach out to Kyra at knaumff@hbbf.org to update the list.