SAN FRANCISCO, CA – As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Community, Equity & Resiliency initiative, EPA Pacific Southwest Region will host an in-person Regional Roadshow tomorrow, February 16, in San Bernardino, California. This initiative will help communities nationwide navigate EPA’s new Inflation Reduction Act investments and other funding opportunities made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. These regional events – the first held recently in New York — provide community leaders with unique opportunities to engage with their peers, develop or leverage community-based partnerships, and learn how to effectively access funding and technical assistance to implement local climate and environmental justice solutions.
“The Inland Empire has some of the highest levels of air pollution in the country, and residents of San Bernardino deserve equal access to resources delivered by the Biden Administration in the historic Inflation Reduction Act,” said U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler. “The EPA’s regional events are critical to helping historically underserved communities navigate the federal grants and opportunities available to them.”
“Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we are making historic investments to combat climate change and pollution that will benefit underserved communities who face disproportionate climate impacts,” said U.S. Senator Padilla. “California has led the way in implementing community-based climate initiatives, and the Regional Roadshow is an innovative solution to help these communities access crucial new funding opportunities.”
“I am proud of our work to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in our nation’s history to combat climate change,” said U.S. Representative Pete Aguilar (D-33). “But we know that tackling this crisis requires collaboration between all levels of government and community stakeholders, which is why I am thankful for the EPA for providing a space to discuss our region’s climate priorities and promote community-driven partnerships.”
“I applaud the EPA for their efforts to ensure that no community is forgotten as it pushes out its Inflation Reduction Act investment program,” shared Assemblymember James C. Ramos (AD-45). “It is heartening to see that this EPA initiative seeks to help communities develop partnerships and empower local regions to ask for what they need instead of being told what they need as this opportunity for new resources and jobs is presented.”
“EPA is committed to ensuring that the unprecedented investments from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act reach those most impacted by climate and environmental harms,” said Region 9 EPA Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “We are proud to be hosting here in California the EPA’s second Community, Equity & Resiliency roadshow, which represents the next stage of our work to make sure that communities historically excluded from federal funding opportunities will now have the resources, information, and support they need.”
Through this initiative, EPA is providing spaces for communities to develop new or deeper partnerships. Regional Roadshow attendees will learn about historic funding and technical assistance through programming especially designed to benefit overburdened communities. These events will help them better seek and obtain the resources needed to confront the climate crisis and advance environmental justice locally.
Discover more about the Regional Roadshow event in San Bernardino, California.
Upcoming Regional Roadshow Events and Community, Equity & Resiliency Resources
To learn more about the Community, Equity & Resiliency initiative, watch the Virtual Open House panel discussions and fireside chats, access resources to help communities, and register for upcoming events, visit EPA’s Community, Equity & Resiliency webpage.
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