Smoke from wildfires in Flagstaff billows over the San Francisco mountains. June 13, 2022
Wildfire smoke is a public health problem that can impact much of the U.S. population and is exacerbated by climate change.
That’s why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to assist communities with their wildfire smoke preparedness through a new federal grant program.
The Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings will provide funding for projects regarding the assessment, prevention, control, and/or abatement of wildfire smoke hazards.
This year, EPA anticipates awarding nine recipients $10,670,000 in funding, ranging between $350,000 to $2 million.
In Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents and Arizona State University will receive $1,954,130 to fund a project that looks to improve local communities’ ability to lower indoor air pollutants during a wildfire smoke event.
Other organizations that have been selected for awards include the Esperanza Community Housing Corporation in California, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Oregon State University, and several others.
EPA conferred with stakeholders to inform the development of this new funding opportunity in 2022 and received over 200 comments.
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