Last updated: 4/7/23

Community Clean Air Grant

In 2021, the Air Pollution Control Commission piloted the Community Clean Air Grant program, with the purpose of funding community projects that mitigate and improve air pollution and carbon emissions. This opportunity helps improve public health and combat climate change on a local level.

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Applications are currently closed. We are evaluating the pilot phase of the grant program.

The Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC) administers programs that promote clean air. This pilot grant program funded projects that bring visibility to community-driven projects that reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. The pilot phase projects helped achieve Boston’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and bring short-term benefits to our neighborhoods.

Learn more about the APCC.

Air pollution in Boston

DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT

Air pollution in Boston affects us all. But it affects some of our communities more than others including:

communities located near highways and other major transportation infrastructure, and
socially vulnerable populations. These include people of color, older residents, children, and people with chronic illnesses.

HEALTH and ENVIRONMENT IMPACT

Air pollution contributes to higher rates of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, like asthma, and has been linked to higher COVID-19 mortality rates. Some air pollutants, like methane and carbon dioxide, are also greenhouse gases. They increase the retention of heat in the atmosphere. The effects of climate change in Boston will likely include:

greater flooding
more intense storms, and
more frequent and intense heat waves.

WAYS TO IMPROVE

We can improve air quality at the local level in a variety of ways:

eliminating sources of pollution
shifting from polluting to clean energy sources
improving indoor air quality with filters, and
education and awareness.

Community Clean Air Grant Recipients

Mother’s Out Front East Boston

Project Name: East Boston Home Daycare Air Purification

Total Awarded: $51,764

Project Description:

Mother’s Out Front is a volunteer-driven grassroots organization. They used a Clean Air Grant to install HEPA air filters and sensors in 27 home daycare centers in East Boston, benefiting over 250 children under the age of 5.

This project aimed to have measurable positive impacts on children's health by improving indoor air quality. The project was successfully completed in December 2022.

HEET (Home Energy and Efficiency Team)

Project Name: Breathe Easy with Induction Cooking

Total Awarded: $38,420

Project Website External Link

Project Description:

HEET is a small woman-owned nonprofit organization. As a Clean Air Grantee, they will supply over 100 electric portable induction cooktops to participants of the Breathe Easy at Home Program.

This initiative aims to provide an alternative non-emitting cooking method that reduces indoor air pollution as well as energy costs for households and individuals with asthma. The project is underway, with all work to be completed by July 2023.

NOAH (Neighborhood of Affordable Housing)

Project Name: B-Eastie Air Conditions

Total Awarded: $50,000

Project Description:

The Neighborhood of Affordable Housing is a community development corporation and nonprofit. They are partnering with East Boston Social Center to deploy and install HEPA filters in community hubs and vulnerable households in East Boston.

The goal of this project is to raise awareness and education about the impacts of indoor air pollution and to better indoor air quality for our most at-risk populations. This project is underway, with all work to be completed by September 2023.

Application and Eligibility

Eligibility

We invite residents, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to submit proposals for community projects located within Boston. It is open to any individual or entity who would like to respond. The City encourages participation from:

small and local
minority-owned
women-owned, and
other disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs), non-profit organizations, individuals, and entities.

Application Guidelines

PROPOSAL FOCUS

In order to be eligible for funding, proposals must do at least one of the following:

eliminate or otherwise address point sources of air pollution within Boston
mitigate the negative health impacts of air pollution emissions within Boston
enhance the ability of local communities in Boston to improve local air quality, and
have a measurable impact on air quality or carbon emissions within Boston.

TIMELINE

Project timeline duration should be a maximum of one year. Note: The evaluation committee will consider proposals that have timelines in excess of one year based on potential impact.

BUDGET

The maximum grant award is $50,000 available to an individual, business (e.g. LLC) or non-profit organization. Note: The evaluation committee will consider proposals that request funding in excess of $50,000 based on potential impact.

VENDOR ID

To apply, you need to become a registered vendor with the City of Boston and have received your vendor ID. You can sign up for a Vendor ID through these instructions:

Resources

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The evaluation criteria for this grant’s review process are available online.

AIR POLLUTION IMPACT

Air pollution in Boston affects some of our communities more than others. Below are helpful resources to identify the impact of air pollution in your proposals area of focus.

Review process

SELECTION PROCESS

You will receive an email confirmation after your submission has been received.

After reviewing your application, you will be updated on your applications status.

Proposals that are not selected will be automatically carried over to be evaluated in the next funding round. Proposals expire one year from the original submission date.

EVALUATION COMMITTEE

Who? The committee makes the final recommendation on who is awarded grants. Evaluation committee members include staff from:

the Environment Department
the Boston Transportation Department
the Boston Public Health Commission
the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, and
the Mayor's Office of Equity and Inclusion.

How? The evaluation criteria for this grant’s review process are available online.

AWARDING

The maximum grant award available to an individual, business (e.g. LLC), or nonprofit organization is $50,000.

Note: The evaluation committee will consider proposals that request funding in excess of $50,000 based on potential impact.

An individual, nonprofit organization, or business may submit more than one proposal. However, any given individual, business entity, or nonprofit will be awarded a maximum of one project per fiscal year.