Investments in Public Health, Revitalized Economy Terminated by EPA

New Sun Rising was notified on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 that the EPA has officially terminated funding for the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) Thriving Communities Grantmaking program. This decision has forced GHHI to cease operations, disrupting the distribution of $500,000 in contractually obligated payments to New Sun Rising, including a $250,000 award to The Mon Water Project. Without this funding, community-led solutions to improve public health and revitalize economies throughout Greater Pittsburgh will suffer. 

GHHI is challenging the EPA’s decision to end this critical work, having already filed a dispute with the EPA and the Federal District Court of Maryland to overturn these decisions. These legal challenges join a national response to the Trump Administration’s wave of attacks on our air, water, land, economy, and nonprofit sector. Of the 141 Executive Orders issued in his first 100 days, many target people working to improve public health, protect the environment, and create economic opportunity in disinvested communities. 

For the past 20 years, New Sun Rising has consistently stood for the fair treatment of all people, communities and their right to live healthy lives with access to opportunity. The termination of this grant not only negatively impacts people’s health, but slows the economy of a region that has long struggled to grow. 

Over the last two decades, every $1 invested in New Sun Rising has generated an additional $8 of economic impact in 47 communities that have historically received the least but need the most. The rescinding of this funding is therefore not only a hit to New Sun Rising’s bottom line, this decision serves to impede an estimated $4,000,000 of economic impact for the region.

Due to the short-sighted action of the EPA, construction jobs for community centers and mixed-use development will be lost, and the small businesses employing them will be hurt. Fewer people will receive the career exposure and training necessary to lift them from poverty and create prosperity for their families. Utility bills will remain higher for the homeowners and community-based organizations who desire energy efficiency improvements and solar production. There will be fewer greenspaces, community gardens, and forests to protect us from flooding and to provide greater access to healthy foods. 

Sadly, the experience of the last several days is part of an ongoing pattern of destructive and inefficient decision making by the current administration. In January, our highly competitive $20 million proposal to catalyze sustainable development with 15 regional partners was similarly terminated by the EPA. What we have experienced this week is not a momentary blip or single data point. It is part of a systematic dismantling of the kind of community organizations, projects, and resources required to protect community health and generate economic revitalization at the grassroots level. 

While New Sun Rising and The Mon Water Project realize that we cannot rely on these federal grants at the present moment, we’re hopeful that legal challenges and the rising voice of our community will help to overturn these unjust decisions. If you agree, we ask that you join us in making it clear that all communities deserve to be vibrant by donating, helping spread the word, and engaging your elected officials and neighbors.

Today, strengthening local communities to lead into the future is more important than ever. In this season of uncertainty and unrest, know that New Sun Rising will continue doing all in its power to advocate for the communities we serve. 

Donate at www.newsunrising.org/ways-to-give