The Midwest EJ Network, along with our partners, The Minneapolis Foundation, NDN Collective, and RE-AMP, have been selected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the EPA Region 5 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker. This partnership will distribute $40 million over three years to community-based nonprofits and other eligible organizations in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and 36 federally recognized tribal nations.

The partnership aims to create a grantmaking process that is accountable to environmental justice communities and that will build the long-term capacity of grassroots organizations to address priority public health and environmental challenges. While this grant program is open to all communities in Region 5, MWEJN’s role in the partnership focuses on outreach and support in urban communities.

December 5th, 2024 Update:

Communities in EPA Region 5 may now apply for the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities grantmaking program. will distribute $40 million in grants. Grants will support projects that focus on issues including, but not limited to: 

• Environmental health 

• Air, soil, and water quality 

• Healthy homes 

• Access to healthy food 

• Stormwater and green infrastructure 

• Emergency preparedness 

• Disaster resilience 

• Environmental job training 

Applications for Tiers 1, 2 and 3  will be accepted through November 2026, and grants will be approved on a rolling basis. Applications submitted by January 31, 2025 will be considered in the first review batch.