WASHINGTON D.C. (April 18, 2025) — The Justice Climate Fund (JCF) today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. District Court’s decision to grant a preliminary injunction releasing funds related to JCF’s Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) grant contract and the EPA’s attempt to appeal the decision.
The recent decision and supporting opinion issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is a strong step in the right direction. These grant funds—legally awarded to JCF through a competitive process led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—would leverage investment in under-resourced communities at a time of severe job losses and deep economic uncertainty.
Unfortunately, shortly after the district court decision, the EPA filed yet another motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia requesting an administrative stay to delay the release of the funds. The EPA’s continued delays are denying American communities the critical capital they need to invest in projects that create jobs and strengthen local economies.
“These investments benefit American families across the country,” said JCF Chief Executive Officer Amir Kirkwood. “We’re talking about funding projects that expand access to cleaner air and water, create healthier neighborhoods, and build greater energy independence and efficiency. This work creates good-paying jobs and strengthens local economies, making them more resilient in this challenging economy.”
JCF has consistently met all contract terms and conditions of the CCIA grant program, which was developed under strict EPA oversight. Despite this, JCF has been forced to pause its first round of CCIA funding, freezing $247M in capitalization and technical assistance grants for highly regulated, FDIC-insured community development banks and lenders. These grants support work in 38 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, providing critical capital for projects such as renovating schools in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi; retrofitting small businesses in Tennessee and Virginia to cut utility bills and operating costs; and unlocking affordable housing in Texas, Arizona, and Nebraska. JCF is committed to exploring all options to ensure we can continue mobilizing investments across the country for projects that build energy independence, create healthier communities and strengthen our economy.
The Justice Climate Fund (JCF), works with a network of more than 300 community lenders to drive transformative investments focused on reducing pollution and improving public health, access to clean air and water, and clean energy projects that create well-paying jobs and build economic resilience. Our goal is to reach a wide range of communities, from rural Appalachia to urban areas to the Midwest, the Southeast and beyond. Investing in rural and under-resourced communities will have a transformational impact and help leverage even greater investment where it’s needed most.
Media Contact: Press@justiceclimatefund.org