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Basic Information
The Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program helps communities address multiple sources of toxic pollutants in their environment. This page provides information about the CARE program, including the following topics:
CARE Description
- The Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program is a competitive grant program that offers communities an innovative way to address the risks from multiple sources of toxic pollution in their environment.
- Through CARE various local organizations, including non-profits, businesses, schools and governments create partnerships that implement local solutions to reduce releases of toxic pollutants and minimize people’s exposure to them.
- CARE educates and supports communities by helping them assess the pollution risks they face. We provide access to EPA's and other voluntary programs to address local environmental priorities and improve the environment through local action.
- CARE has provided financial assistance by funding cooperative agreements with communities annually since 2005. CARE expects to award nearly $3 million in 2008.
Goals of the CARE Program
- Reduce exposures to toxic pollutants through collaborative action at the local level.
- Help communities understand all potential sources of exposure to toxic pollutants.
- Work with communities to set priorities for risk-reduction activities.
- Create self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will continue to improve the local environment.
Why a Community Should Consider CARE?
- If your community wants to reduce levels of toxic pollution, the CARE program can help! CARE assists communities by providing information about the pollution risks they face and the funding to address these risks.
- CARE promotes local consensus-based solutions that address risk comprehensively.
- Through CARE, EPA also provides technical assistance and resources, thereby helping communities to identify and access ways to reduce toxic exposures, especially through a broad range of voluntary programs.
- As communities create local stakeholder groups that successfully reduce risks, CARE helps them build the capacity to understand and address toxics in their environment.
Frequently Asked Questions about CARE
- How is CARE different than other voluntary programs?
- Why can't a community just implement a voluntary program?
- Where can I find out more information about the CARE Funding and Cooperative Agreements?
- What is a Cooperative Agreement?
- How do I apply to the CARE program?
- What are the two types of cooperative agreements communities can apply for?
- How long does CARE funding last?
- When is the partnership expected to be self-sustaining?
- Does CARE funding make a community ineligible for other EPA funding programs?
- Are states eligible for CARE cooperative agreements?
- Is there a requirement for matching funds?
- What does the CARE program mean when it uses the term toxics?
- What does the CARE program mean when it uses the term risk reduction?
- What does the CARE program mean when it uses the term community?
- How long does CARE funding last?
- Which communities currently receive CARE funding?
CARE supports communities by providing tools, technical support, and funding to enable them to use other voluntary programs to reduce the emissions and exposures that the communities choose. In addition, unlike other programs, CARE is focused on all types of exposure (air, water or land both indoor and outdoor). The CARE program can help a community choose which voluntary programs best fit their needs.
A community can implement many voluntary programs. However, CARE does more than just implement a specific program. CARE brings the community together to build a consensus to select the most useful programs to implement. In addition, CARE provides funding and EPA assistance.
The CARE Web site has a section with more detailed information on the CARE Cooperative Agreements and the Request for Proposals.
A cooperative agreement is a form of grant. Like other grants, it provides funding to a recipient. Cooperative agreements are used in those circumstances where EPA plans to be substantially involved in the project. EPA expects to be a part of the partnerships created in a CARE community. The cooperative agreements are awarded nationally using a competitive process, which ensures diversity in the types of communities and environmental problems addressed. The cooperative agreements will be managed by EPA’s Regional Offices.
Get more information on our application procedures or call 1-877-CARE-909.
There are two levels of cooperative agreements. With a Level I Agreement (about $90,000) communities organize and create a collaborative partnership to reduce toxics in their local environment. These partnerships work on steps 1 and 2 in the CARE process and, if possible, they begin step 3. With a Level II Agreement (about $275,000), the community already has a collaborative partnership and focuses on steps 3 and 4 of the CARE process.
CARE cooperative agreement funding is spread over two years. Level 1 grantees may apply for Level 2 funding during the second year of their project; however, there is no guarantee that they will receive a Level 2 award.
Upon completing a Level II CARE Cooperative Agreement, the community stakeholder group is organized and able to raise money from other sources.
No, communities in the CARE program are encouraged to explore other ways to add resources to support their communities’ projects. This includes applying for other EPA grants.
State governments or their agencies are not eligible to apply. EPA hopes to work with State agencies as partners to support CARE communities where appropriate.
No, but communities are encouraged to find other funds. In addition, the ability to leverage additional resources is considered by EPA when communities apply for CARE Level II cooperative agreements.
When the CARE program uses the term "toxics" it means those chemicals, pollutants or other substances in the environment that can cause negative health or environmental impacts. We are trying to use an expansive common sense definition of the term. We are specifically not limiting it to a legalistic definition where only those chemicals that are specifically listed in or covered by a piece of legislation are considered toxics.
When we use the term risk reduction, we mean a decrease in the possibility of a person(s) suffering harm to their health or to the quality of their environment. While risks can often be quantified scientifically, these assessments are very resource intensive. The CARE program is designed to focus its resources on quick screening level assessments and actions that reduce the levels of toxics that people or the environment are exposed to. We are assuming that reducing exposure to toxics will reduce risks of harm. Where possible we will use available, measurable data to quantify the specific risks reduced.
The CARE program is not strictly defining the term community. Generally speaking a community is a group of people living in the same area sharing the same environment. It often is a relatively small area, but it can be a larger area such as a watershed in rural locations. For purposes of CARE, the New York City metropolitan area or the entire Missouri River watershed are too large to be considered CARE communities.
CARE cooperative agreement funding is spread over two years. Level 1grantees may apply for Level 2 funding during the second year of their project; however, there is no guarantee that they will receive a Level 2 award.
Seventeen community-based projects received CARE cooperative agreement funding in 2006 and twelve received funding in 2005. These communities will work to address a range of issues related to identifying and reducing exposure to toxics from air, water, and land-based sources. These projects were chosen from more than 100 proposals each year, which were submitted in response to Request for Proposals published early each respective year. The award recipients represent a broad range of stakeholders including county and local government, non-profit organizations, universities, and industry. The projects are located in both urban and non-urban settings throughout the country. Get details on the specific projects.
Contact Information
Call toll free at 1-877-CARE 909Or write to
CARE Program
US EPA (8001A)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460