Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Federal Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Evansville collaborative submits $20 million EPA application to speed transition to low-emission transportation
Summary
The Evansville Climate Collaborative submitted a $20 million Community Change grant to the U.S. EPA on July 30 to support a comprehensive shift to low- or zero-emission transportation; staff said the award process is rolling and slow, and the mayor's office and congressional delegates have been asked to help.
The Evansville Climate Collaborative submitted a $20,000,000 Community Change grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on July 30 seeking funding for a comprehensive transition to low- or zero-emission clean transportation systems, staff reported.
Laura Norville, speaking during the Collaborative’s Aug. 14 monthly meeting, said the application was already filed and staff are pursuing additional advocacy: "We are also lobbying with some of our congressional delegates to see if they will send letters of support to the US EPA for the application," she said, noting she had coordinated that outreach through the mayor’s office and that Representative Bouchon’s office had expressed interest.
Norville told members the EPA program is operating on a rolling award schedule and that only 17 awards had been announced so far; she said staff did not expect a quick decision and estimated notice likely would not arrive before mid-September or October. "So it's a pretty lengthy process, and I don't anticipate it's going to be a quick turnaround," she said.
Norville described the grant as aimed at a broad shift in local transportation systems and emphasized staff optimism: "I think it's a perfect fit for the opportunity, and I'm really optimistic about it being awarded," she said.
Why it matters: If awarded, the grant would fund a substantial, multi-year effort to reduce transportation emissions across the region, a major local source of greenhouse gases. The Collaborative is pursuing both technical-team work on the 2025 climate action plan and external funding to scale implementation.
What’s next: Staff said they will continue outreach to congressional delegates and the mayor’s office on the application and will update the board if the EPA releases a timeline for awards. The Collaborative did not provide additional detail in the meeting about specific projects to be funded within the $20 million request.
