Awards Priorities & Restrictions

Award Selection Factors

Applicants will be selected based on several factors, including, but not limited to:

Benefiting Vulnerable Populations, Overburdened Communities

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WCCN seeks to award no less than 40 percent of WCCN funds to provide direct and meaningful benefits to vulnerable populations within the boundaries of overburdened communities through:

  1. The reduction of disproportionate, cumulative risk from environmental burdens in overburdened communities, including those associated with climate change.
  2. The support of a community-led project through a by-and-for model of development, planning, implementation, and sustainability.
  3. Advancing an overburdened community’s climate resiliency goals.

Criteria for Determining Benefit to Vulnerable Populations and Overburdened Communities

WCCN shall use the following criteria to determine whether the application will benefit vulnerable populations and overburdened communities:

  1. The project is located within the geographic areas identified as overburdened, including:
    1. Areas identified on the overburdened communities mapping tool.; OR
    2. Areas not identified on the mapping tool but identified through additional information and data from the agency program or funding applicant; and
  2. Is reasonably expected to benefit a vulnerable population based on one or more of the “vulnerable populations” criteria established in the HEAL Act (RCW 70A.02.010).
    1. Exception: Any project applicant or project proponent that indicates their project area as an overburdened community and provides rationale for how the project will create environmental benefits for vulnerable populations, regardless of whether the project is in an area identified on the mapping tool, shall be counted as such.
  3. It is expected to create meaningful environmental benefits per criteria established in the CCA per RCW 70A.65.030(1).

Award Principles

In alignment with Washington’s pursuit of Environmental Justice, the WCCN adheres to the following funding principles:

  1. Benefits and programs should be directed to areas serving vulnerable populations and overburdened communities to reduce statewide disparities;
  2. Investments and benefits should be made roughly proportional to the health disparities that a specific community experiences, with a goal of eliminating the disparities;
  3. Investments and programs should focus on creating environmental benefits, including eliminating health burdens, creating community and population resilience, and raising the quality of life of those in the community; and
  4. WCCN grants strive to balance investments across the state and within counties, local jurisdictions, and unincorporated areas as appropriate to reduce disparities by locations and to ensure efforts contribute to a reduction in disparities that exist based on race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors exacerbating environmental health.

Award Restrictions

Awarded funds under the Climate Commitment Act are subject to strict limitations that ensure public funds are used exclusively to advance climate action, build community resiliency, and support innovative service projects. This section highlights a few requirements to be followed by all award recipients; these items will also be identified in all WCCN contracts.

All organizations MUST comply with the following requirements: