00E03342

Description:
This agreement provides funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to support the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP). The EFCs provide finance-related training, education, and analytical studies to help regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult 'how-to-pay' issues associated with meeting environmental standards. The EFCs educate state, tribal, and local governments and businesses on lowering environmental costs, increasing environmental investments, improving financial capacity, identifying appropriate revenue-generating mechanisms, and evaluating environmental financing options.

Activities:
GLCAP indicates that outreach activities may include the following:
- Systems will be informed via different communication outreach measures as appropriate about the availability of training and technical assistance (TA) opportunities and other resources for project development and funding. This will be done in collaboration with EPA and state agencies.
- Participating in conferences and training events for these organizations and providing webinars, particularly those that can connect with disadvantaged communities.
- Directly contacting disadvantaged communities/tribes referred by state primacy agencies, EPA, and others, and informing them of available assistance and funding opportunities.
- Building and/or expanding social media networks and leveraging these to share information about training, resources, SRF opportunities, and deadlines.

Additionally, direct technical assistance (TA) will be provided to disadvantaged systems and unserved communities in every state in USEPA Region 5 each year. Including the activities mentioned above, GLCAP and its partners will enroll and provide direct technical assistance to help disadvantaged systems develop, fund, and comply with SRF funding administration requirements. At least 3 projects per state, 18 across the region, will be enrolled beginning in year 1. In years 2, 3, and 4, at least 6-9 projects per state will be enrolled, totaling at least 36 active projects each year. In year 5, we expect to begin tapering and wrapping up projects with at least 4 enrolled per state (24 across the region).

Subrecipient:
Subawards are expected to be granted to INCAA and MAP, who will partner with Great Lakes Community Action Partnership and will be providing direct technical assistance, training, and coaching to recipient communities.

Outcomes:
The anticipated deliverables are funding and financing plans and applications, curriculum and training material preparation, environmental assessments, mapping, and surveys, and asset management and development plans and analysis, which are expected to lead to improved water system environmental compliance and operational/financial sustainability, climate resiliency, and access to funding for eligible communities. Direct beneficiaries of this program include small and disadvantaged communities, including tribal communities, throughout Region 5.

Great Lakes Community Action Partnership

1 - TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS 1.1 - REDUCE EMISSIONS THAT CAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.2 - EMBED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS INTO EPA’S PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND ACTIVITIES 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.1 - CLEAN UP AND RESTORE LAND FOR PRODUCTIVE USES AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.2 - REDUCE WASTE AND PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION 3 - GREATER CERTAINTY, COMPLIANCE, AND EFFECTIVENESS 3.3 - PRIORITIZE ROBUST SCIENCE 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 1 - TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS 1.1 - REDUCE EMISSIONS THAT CAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE 1 - TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS 1.1 - REDUCE EMISSIONS THAT CAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE 1 - A CLEANER, HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT 1.4 - ENSURE SAFETY OF CHEMICALS IN THE MARKETPLACE 2 - MORE EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS 2.2 - INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 3 - GREATER CERTAINTY, COMPLIANCE, AND EFFECTIVENESS 3.2 - CREATE CONSISTENCY AND CERTAINTY 3.5 - IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING 1 - A CLEANER, HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT 1.3 - REVITALIZE LAND AND PREVENT CONTAMINATION 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 1 - TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS 1.1 - REDUCE EMISSIONS THAT CAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRON

66.203 - Environmental Finance Center Grants

EPA Region 5: Chicago [EPA - RO]

Ohio United States

State-Wide

ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTER GRANT PROGRAM (EPA-I-OW-OWM-22-01)

Infrastructure $1,459,324 (37%) percent this Cooperative Agreement was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Act.
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 171% from $1,459,324 to $3,954,000.