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EPA Grant Selection

Since the Department of Government Efficiency recommended the elimination of over 15,500 grants worth over $44B in 2025, it was expected that Congress and the White House would rescind many of the grant programs that were authorized in previous Administrations. That is exactly what happened when the “Big Beautiful Bill” budget reconciliation was signed into law on July 4, 2025. Many cuts are also recommended by the EPA in their 2026 Budget Request found here: FY 2026 EPA Budget in Brief.

At the same time, it is noteworthy that in 2024 the EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA) was selected by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a $2.189M grant that was part of an effort to report and reduce climate pollution from the manufacturing of construction materials and products. While EIMA's grant is apparently not moving forward at this time (see graphic that shows recissions found in the Big Beautiful Bill), it is significant that the Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) industry was selected for this award in the grant program.

EIMA's grant, announced by the EPA in July of 2024, was slated to help the EIFS industry develop Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and robust Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for EIFS products, producing a combination of 77 industry-wide and facility-based EPDs covering as many as 1,350 EIFS variations. 

Excerpt from 2025 "Big Beautiful Bill"

EIMA was one of 38 organizations selected for $160M in EPA total funding - transformative awards stemming from the US Congress and The White House's Inflation Reduction Act, which was slated to be the largest climate investment in history. All grants were aimed at reducing climate pollution by helping businesses measure the carbon emissions associated with extracting, transporting and manufacturing their products. More information can be found on the EPA's website.

Given these developments, EIMA is spearheading a comprehensive initiative to develop a Product Category Rule (PCR), LCAs, and EPDs for EIFS. 100% of American EIFS manufacturers — EIMA members and non-members alike — are participating in the effort, underscoring the industry's shared commitment to sustainability, transparency, and high-performance construction. More information about this initiative can be found here.

EPA Web Graphic Announcing Grant Selections in 2024