The University of Washington Center for Environmental Health Equity (UW CEHE) is an environmental health technical assistance center that serves community-based organizations, tribal organizations, and Tribes in Washington State.
History of the Center
UW CEHE was launched on June 1, 2023 as a new Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) with funding from the US EPA and DOE to provide environmental and energy justice technical assistance to groups in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. After serving over 400 technical assistance cases, helping community-based organizations raise over $32 million in funding for their work, with more than half of funding serving rural and remote communities, support for the TCTAC program was terminated abruptly and prematurely on May 2, 2025 due to changes in federal priorities.
The work of the center has continued with a focus on serving groups in Washington with continued support from Washington State and philanthropic gifts.
Who we serve
Our center focuses on working with Tribes, tribal organizations, and community organizations in overburdened communities where vulnerable populations face combined, multiple environmental harms and health impacts, ensuring that those people most impacted by pollution experience a healthier environment.
What we do
UW CEHE provides many types of technical assistance, including planning support, data synthesis, and funding and proposal development.
Learn more about our technical assistance
Our Impact
- Served over 400 TA cases
- Helped TA recipients apply for $87 million
- Secured $32 million for TA recipients
- Raised 74% of funds to serve rural/remote communities
We helped 30 groups in 2025 with environmental justice grant writing activities. 29 of these groups are located in and serve overburdened communities.
Funding
Funding for UW CEHE is provided by Washington State and philanthropic gifts. Our work is supported by the Washington Climate Commitment Act.
