NATIONAL EJ TCTAC AWARD Recipient: Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) Applicant Type: Not for Profit Award Amount: $10,000,000 Title: Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) Location: Nationwide Partners: Atma Connect (Atma), a non-profit technology organization American Society for Adaptation Professionals (ASAP), a non-profit association Goals and Description: The ISC team’s experience and expertise offer the national EJ TCTAC network a robust national coordination mechanism that will build capacity, reduce duplication, and use complementary services to support all levels of the EJ TCTAC Program.
Using our networks, including ISC’s National Climate Leaders of Color Network and ASAP’s members, we will establish a National EJ TCTAC that will build the capacity of regional TCTACs, local leaders, communities, and TA providers through needs-based, virtual, and in- person support and coordinated activities, tools, and resources. A key component of the National TCTAC will be ensuring the measurable success of the regional centers. When regional needs emerge, our team will provide direct services to program participants and communities.
In coordination with the EPA, Department of Energy (DOE), and regional center teams, we will quickly mobilize a national center with flexible, three-pronged services that can adapt to diverse needs through 1) tailored support to regional TCTACs via peer learning, tools, and information sharing; 2) support to underserved communities using ISC’s community engagement expertise; and 3) the development of an online National EJ TCTAC Platform for interactive communication, networking, collaboration, and greater funding access.
Using the National Platform website, social media, direct contact, and other outreach, we will connect program participants, TA providers, potential partners, the regional TCTACs, and other stakeholders to each other and funding opportunities. The online Platform’s multiple functions will include integrated feedback mechanisms, interactive two-way communication, and a means to communicate with our project team. The Platform will be fully customizable to serve the needs of EPA, regional TCTACs, and program participants and will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
At a minimum, the Platform will include multiple interfaces, including 1) password-protected logins for program participant profiles; 2) a space for regional TCTAC staff, partners, and TA providers; and 3) space for interactive, two-way conversation and chat options between participants, regional centers, and/or other stakeholders. The profiles will be used to promote volunteer and contracted TA services as well as to strengthen networks of leaders and role model champions. We will complement these with webinars and materials on partnership and coalition building.
The Platform will also house an attractive, easy-to-use, and searchable Environmental and Energy Justice Library to share with regional. By the end of Year 1, the ISC team plans to launch the online Platform. By Years 2 and 3, our team will provide iterative TA, partnership facilitation, capacity building, financing facilitation, and other services to the regional TCTACs and program participants.
By the project’s end, these and other activities will have positioned program participants—particularly underserved and rural and remote communities— to successfully access grant opportunities and to participate and engage in environmental and energy justice decision-making, creating tangible impact for their communities.