Thriving Communities

The Through the EPA Thriving Communities Grant, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, APANO is advancing environmental justice and climate resilience by bringing resources, education, and community-driven solutions directly to historically underserved communities.

This grant supports APANO’s work in EPA-designated disadvantaged communities, where residents can experience greater exposure to environmental hazards, poor housing conditions, extreme heat, and other factors that can affect health and quality of life. Our approach centers community knowledge and focuses on practical solutions that make homes, neighborhoods, and communities healthier and more resilient.

As part of this work, APANO created the APANO Green Home Project: Better Indoor Air Quality for All—an initiative designed to improve health and environmental outcomes both inside and outside the home. The project connects residents with resources and information to better understand the environmental conditions around their homes and identify opportunities for improvement.

The APANO Green Home Project includes:

• Home Energy Assessments – Helping households identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, comfort, ventilation, and indoor air quality while reducing energy burdens.

• Yard Tree Assessments and Tree Planting – Assessing residential yards and identifying opportunities to add trees that can provide shade, reduce heat, improve neighborhood conditions, and support cleaner outdoor air.

• Community Education and Engagement – Providing culturally responsive information and resources that help residents understand the connections between housing, energy, air quality, climate resilience, and health.

By looking at both the indoor and outdoor environments, the APANO Green Home Project takes a holistic approach to healthy homes and healthy communities. Improvements such as better home energy performance, healthier indoor environments, increased tree canopy, and greater access to environmental information can contribute to stronger community resilience and improved quality of life.

Most importantly, this work is rooted in community voice and local capacity building. APANO works alongside residents and community partners to ensure that solutions are accessible, culturally responsive, and relevant to the needs of the communities we serve.

The Thriving Communities Grant allows APANO to build on its commitment to environmental justice, health equity, climate resilience, and community empowerment—helping create healthier homes and neighborhoods where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.