The “Thriving Communities” Program Seeks To Aid Communities In Accessing Resources

In one of the environmental justice efforts coming out of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Biden Administration introduced the “Thriving Communities” grants. Through these grants, the Administration has committed to making it easier for small community-based organizations to access resources. These resources will aid communities facing the insidious combination of historic underinvestment and heavy environmental impacts. And evidently, some of these resources are coming to North Carolina.

For example, one of the grantmaking administrators of its funding will be the Research Triangle Institute(RTI). RTI will be responsible for utilizing its $100 million grant to make subgrants to community organizations in the EPA regions which include North Carolina and South Carolina. 

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), the North Carolina Central University CARES Center, and other organizations are partnering with RTI in guiding the subgrant awards in the Carolinas.

Our Guide To Access Resources

The Energy Funds for All website, a new guide to access these resources, includes the “Thriving Communities” grants.

The new website says, “since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed in 2022, it feels like information has come out daily telling us how to access funds. However, often these links are not widely distributed and the money is difficult to access. That’s where Energy Funds for All comes in.”

Last week, Michelle “Meech” Carter, our Clean Energy Campaigns Director and co-creator of the website, issued a statement. “We want this toolkit to both provide information to folks in need and to empower them to apply for funding their tax dollars have already paid for. So many people in our communities struggle with high energy bills and are vulnerable to natural disasters. This toolkit provides the information people need to learn more about these funds and opportunities to get help if they don’t know where to start.”

Additionally, Jessica Finkel, interim coordinator for Thrive North Carolina and co-creator of the website, offered her thoughts. “The idea for this toolkit came from curiosity and frustration surrounding the Inflation Reduction Act. The IRA itself isn’t easy to understand and it can be difficult to find the information you need to get funding. We created a way to find what you need to achieve your goals.” Read more about the website or check it out at energyfundsforall.org