EPA Region 7 Celebrates Opening of WSU’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd, Lenexa, Kan. 66219

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

 

EPA Region 7 Celebrates Opening of WSU’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center
 

LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 10, 2023) – On Wednesday, July 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will join Wichita State University (WSU) in celebrating the opening of the Region 7 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC). WSU will host the ceremony at the John Bardo Center on the WSU campus.

WSU is one of 17 EJ TCTACs, announced in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), that will receive a combined $177 million to help underserved and overburdened communities across the country access funds from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, including historic investments to advance environmental justice. Each of the TCTACs will receive at least $10 million to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns.

Wichita State University’s EJ TCTAC will serve communities throughout EPA Region 7, which consists of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations. The EJ TCTAC will provide technical assistance, guidance, and training to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. It will also create and manage communication channels to ensure that more communities can access federal funding opportunities, like those made available through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Please RSVP to: Jonathan Klusmeyer, klusmeyer.jonathan@epa.gov, 913-343-2991.

WHO:  

  • EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister
  • Wichita State University President Dr. Richard Mumba
  • Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center Director Tonya Bronleewe
  • Heartland Environmental Justice Center Senior Manager Jeffery Severin
  • Iowa Environmental Council Water Program Director Alicia Vasto
  • Center for Rural Affairs Project Associate Deborah Solie
  • Metropolitan Congregations United Lead Environmental Justice Organizer Beth Gutzler
  • Climate and Energy Project Executive Director Dorothy Barnett 

WHAT:  EJ TCTAC celebration with WSU

WHEN: Wednesday, July 12, at 10 a.m. CDT

WHERE: John Bardo Center, 1815 Innovation Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67208

 

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Learn more about EPA Region 7