Baldwin Helps Secure $30 Million for Great Lakes Projects in Underserved Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $30 million from the Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for restoration projects in underserved communities across the Great Lakes.

“Our Great Lakes are critical to our economy, our environment, and our way of life in Wisconsin, and we need to do everything we can to protect them for generations to come,” said Senator Baldwin. “I proudly voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because it is making critical investments to restore our fresh coasts and make sure that no Wisconsin community is left behind. This major federal investment will help Wisconsin communities address their environmental concerns, support the health of the ecosystem, and boost our Made in Wisconsin economy.”

The EPA has published a request for applications for the newly created Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program to execute the implementation of environmental protection and restoration projects. Many communities in the Great Lakes Basin lack the resources needed to apply for, obtain, and oversee the implementation of federal grant projects. The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program will ease these administrative barriers by funding “principal recipients" who will help underserved communities effectively access federal funding for important local projects. In addition, this investment will encourage even greater environmental, economic, health, and recreational benefits for underserved Great Lakes communities, including those near severely degraded sites, known as “areas of concern.”

###