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Community Clean Air Grant Program

The Air Pollution Control Commission’s Community Clean Air Grant Program funds community-based projects that monitor, mitigate, or reduce air pollution in Boston. Following a successful relaunch in 2025, this annual grant program supports air quality initiatives that improve public health and address climate change at the local level. So far, the program has awarded $1,257,480 to 9 projects.

The 2026 Community Clean Air Grant Program application cycle is open! 

The Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC) oversees programs that promote clean air and reduce pollution in Boston. This program supports nonprofit organizations leading community-based projects to improve air quality and reduce exposure risks while raising awareness for air pollution-related environmental and public health challenges. Funded projects contribute to Boston’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and deliver direct benefits to the neighborhoods most affected by air pollution.

Learn more about the APCC. 

Air Pollution in Boston

Air Pollution in Boston
Balanced scale
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 diseases, among other health burdens. Some air pollutants, like methane and carbon dioxide, are also greenhouse gases, which increase the retention of heat in the atmosphere. The effects of climate change in Boston 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 local pollution sources
  • shifting from polluting to clean energy sources
  • improving indoor air quality via filtration
  • education and awareness.

Application and Eligibility

Application and Eligibility

The Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC) seeks proposals from nonprofit organizations for community-based projects that reduce, mitigate, or monitor air pollution in the City of Boston. While partnerships with businesses and other entities are highly encouraged, a nonprofit must serve as the lead applicant and fiscal sponsor for all proposals. 

 

Ineligible Proposal Topics

The Community Clean Air Grant Program funds projects that directly address air pollution sources through abatement, mitigation, monitoring, or community education based on local air quality data. To maximize impact, we will not fund projects that already have multiple dedicated grant opportunities at the city, state, and/or federal levels.

Examples of project types that are not eligible for this grant include building decarbonization, tree planting, and e-bikes. Alternative funding sources for each of these project types are listed below:

If you are unsure whether your proposal qualifies for this grant program, please email apcc@boston.gov or schedule an appointment during our Weekly Office Hours.

PROPOSAL FOCUS

Funded projects must serve the public interest by fulfilling one or more of the following objectives:

  • Reduce or eliminate local sources of air pollution to deliver measurable air quality improvements
  • Mitigate the health impacts of air pollution exposure, with a focus on vulnerable populations
  • Enhance community capacity to reduce, prevent, mitigate, or monitor air pollution

Applications will be prioritized based on:

  • The potential for direct and measurable impact on local air quality and public health outcomes
  • A clear and feasible work plan, including a realistic one- to two-year timeline
  • A budget with limited administrative overhead
  • A robust evaluation component to quantify project outcomes (e.g., participants reached or mass of particulate matter reduced)
TIMELINE

Projects should ideally be completed within one year. However, proposals with a duration of up to two years may be considered if the extended timeline is justified by the project’s potential impact.

BUDGET

Grant awards are available for up to $200,000. Funding requests should align with the scale and impact of the proposal. The evaluation committee may consider proposals at the higher end of this range based on demonstrated need and potential benefits.

Application Translation

If you need to translate the application on WizeHive, we recommend using Google Chrome's built-in translation feature. To do so, right-click anywhere on the application page and choose "Translate to ".

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:

If you would like to receive formal feedback on your proposal from APCC prior to the application deadline, please submit a preliminary proposal using this template. Make a copy of the template document, complete all sections, and email your submission to apcc@boston.gov by May 15, 2026, 11:59 PM. Please include “Community Clean Air Grant Program Preliminary Proposal” in the subject line. Proposals must include all requested attachments, including the budget attachment. Only complete submissions will be reviewed and will receive feedback by June 1, 2026.

You will receive an email confirmation within one business day of your submission. If you do not receive a confirmation, please follow up to ensure that your proposal was received.

For any questions, contact apcc@boston.gov.

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.

  1. MassEnviroScreen Tool
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Asthma Rates Map
Partnerships

To encourage collaboration among potential applicants with complementary knowledge, skills, and expertise, interested parties may add their contact information to a publicly available list.

Information Sessions, Office Hours, and Tabling Events

Information Sessions:

​​​​​​​​​​​​Office Hours:

Meet Us in the Community:

  • Geothermal Networks - A Path to Fossil Fuel Freedom Starts Here
    • When: Wednesday, April 22, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
    • Where: BPL Central Library in Copley Square, 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116 
  • Boston Kite and Bike Festival
    • ​​​​​​​When: Saturday, May 16, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
    • Where: Franklin Park, 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston, MA 02121

Recordings, along with a summary of questions and answers from these information sessions will be posted by May 8. 

Need translation services? Email us at apcc@boston.gov at least one week in advance!

Review process

SELECTION PROCESS

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

After City staff have reviewed all applications, you will be updated on the status of your application by August, 2026.

AWARDING

Applicants may submit multiple proposals; however, applicants may be awarded funding for a maximum of one project per fiscal year.

EVALUATION COMMITTEE

Who? The committee makes the final recommendation on who is awarded grants. Evaluation committee members include staff from the Environment Department as well as representatives from other City departments to ensure a well-rounded review process.

2025 Community Clean Air Grant Recipients

2025 Recipients

Project Name: Breathe Easy, Allston Brighton

Total Awarded: $199,985

 

Project Description:

ABHC will partner with residents and Northeastern University to measure and mitigate traffic-related air pollution using air quality monitors and air purifiers, along with a neighborhood-wide education campaign.

 

Project Name: Clean Air in Classrooms: A State-Of-The-Art Air Pollution Monitoring and Action System in Boston Public Schools

Total Awarded: $194,691

Project Description: 

Boston University will partner with Boston Public Schools to develop and evaluate a novel school-based air pollution monitoring and action plan to reduce student and staff air pollution exposures using an existing network of classroom and roof sensors.

Project Name: CHINATOWN Clean

Total Awarded: $159,230

Project Description:

Chinatown Main Street will launch a youth-led air quality education campaign and administer a microgrant program supporting indoor air quality improvements in Chinatown’s restaurants and small businesses.

Project Name: Advancing Clean Air and Accessible Data in East Boston

Total Awarded: $200,000

Project Description:

GreenRoots will expand community-informed air quality monitoring in East Boston, including the deployment of new ultrafine particulate monitors.

Project Name: East Boston Air Quality Measurement and Mitigation

Total Awarded: $184,050

Project Description:

NOAH will expand a youth-led, bilingual initiative combining indoor air quality monitoring, mitigation, and community education.

Project Name: Improving Air Quality in the Fairmount Corridor: Mobile Transit Exposure Assessment and Indoor Air Filtration Interventions

Total Awarded: $179,340

Project Description:

Air Partners from Olin College of Engineering will partner with FICC to measure public transit-related air pollution exposure along the Fairmount Corridor using backpack-based sensors and host three Clean Air Workshops for residents to build DIY air purifiers.

2021 Community Clean Air Grant Recipients

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.

 

Project Name: Breathe Easy with Induction Cooking

Total Awarded: $38,420

Project Website

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.

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.

Related resources

Related resources
CLEAN AIR IN BOSTON
Air Pollution Control Commission

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Environment
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