Frequently Asked Questions


Acronym List:

 

REACT4 serves communities in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4, which includes eight states and six federally recognized tribal nations. The eights eight states are Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida. The six federally recognized tribal nations are the Catawba Indian Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida Indians, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. We also serve non-federally recognized tribes and provide tailored guidance based on recognition status and grant program eligibility.

REACT4 provides Technical Assistance (TA) tailored to communities working through environmental issues. TA can include connections, trainings, and personalized guidance. REACT4 provides guidance that is subject-specific and can be delivered digitally or in person.

We can provide guidance on many topics, including the following:

  • Identifying and applying for funding
  • Writing grants (Note: While we cannot write grant applications for you, we can provide grant writing training)
  • Managing federal grants
  • Applying for 501(c)(3) status for your organization
  • Using online government systems and tools (e.g., Grants.gov)
  • Connecting with experts about specific environmental or energy issues and TA needs
  • Building partnerships with other organizations
  • Engaging with local and state government
  • Building capacity to participate in decision-making processes
  • Finding or developing grant trainings and resources in other languages
  • Coordinating clean energy transitions in rural, and/or remote communities and on mining or former mining lands.

We can provide guidance on many more topics! Please contact us if you have any questions.

REACT4 can help address many environmental issues, including the following:

  • Exposure to environmental hazards
  • Poor air, water, and soil quality
  • Clean energy transitions
  • Transforming former mine land

We can help address many more environmental issues! Please contact us if you have any questions.

REACT4 cannot write grant applications on behalf of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and individuals. However, we can provide training and resources to support grant writing efforts. For example, we can help find datasets and provide referrals to grant experts. We can also help you identify qualified grant writers.

We also cannot provide funding directly to organizations or community members. Instead, we can help you identify funding sources and provide guidance as you apply.

We cannot manage grants or grant finances on behalf of an organization or community member. Instead, we can advise on appropriate planning and implementation tools, as well as project management approaches.

REACT4 can provide general training and resources for many grant programs! We can provide tailored guidance for grant programs focused on environmental work, with some exceptions below. If you have questions about our ability to help with a specific grant, please contact us!

We cannot provide support for some grant programs (e.g., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's [EPA's] Community Change Grants), but if you are interested in applying for them, we can connect you with the groups that do:

  • Brownfield Grant Program
    Assistance for the Brownfield Grant Program depends the EPA Region in which you are located. Please check this article to determine which Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) is appropriate for your location.

A Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) helps communities build capacity for environmental work. Specifically, TCTACs help communities get and manage Federal funding. TCTACs do not provide funding but can provide guidance on obtaining funding from grant programs, such as the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (TCGM). There are multiple regional and national TCTACs across the U.S. and REACT4 is the TCTAC for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4.

The Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (TCGM) provides grant funding for community projects and capacity-building efforts. The program makes it easier for community-based organizations to apply for grants to address local environmental and public health issues. Three tiers of competitive grants and one non-competitive grant type, for severely capacity constrained organizations, will be available.

RTI International is excited to support communities as both a TCTAC and TCGM. Two separate RTI teams operate these programs; therefore, this allows for coordination while avoiding conflicts of interest. When TCGM funds are available, the TCTAC team will offer Technical Assistance (TA) to those who are interested in applying for TCGM funds. To connect with the TCGM team at RTI, please email tcgm@rti.org.