Investing in overburdened communities  

Both the HEAL Act and CCA require that agencies invest to benefit overburdened communities, ensuring that those people most impacted by pollution experience a healthier environment. 

The HEAL and CCA Acts define "overburdened communities" as geographic areas where vulnerable populations face combined, multiple environmental harms and health impacts. 

HEAL Act  

The law requires that agencies covered under HEAL establish a goal of directing 40% of funds that create environmental benefits to vulnerable populations and overburdened communities. 

Climate Commitment Act 

The law requires a minimum of 35%, with a goal of 40%, of total CCA investments provide direct and meaningful benefit to vulnerable populations within overburdened communities. The law also requires that at least 10% of total investments are made to benefit Tribes.  

Uniform approach for identifying overburdened communities for HEAL & CCA investments for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025

Following Executive Directive 24-11, the state has created a standard method for executive and small cabinet agencies to identify overburdened communities and vulnerable populations for HEAL and CCA investments. This ensures that investments from the HEAL and CCA acts are effectively targeted towards these groups, with benefits created and progress tracked consistently across state agencies.

This approach will be applied during the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, with plans for future updates, and highlights the importance of collaborating with agency Equity and HEAL Teams to align investments with equity objectives.

Read the full approach for identifying overburdened communities and vulnerable populations and how agencies will direct and track investments.

Overburdened Communities Mapping Tool 

The Overburdened Communities mapping tool can be used to view where Overburdened Communities are located in Washington State. This tool was created using Washington’s Environmental Health Disparities Map, Climate Economic Justice Screening Tool and Tribal Data and uses several key indicators including health, income, and exposure to environmental hazards.