02D44523

Description:
This action approves an award in the amount of $1,750,000 to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC). UNC will develop capacity in State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs in the region to support equitably and effectively administering the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding. By first evaluating state-level SRF programs and capacity, UNC will provide customized advising and technical assistance to state staff. UNC will provide technical assistance and capacity development to individual utilities and communities to help them navigate the SRF application process, addressing barriers or knowledge gaps to increase their probability of receiving funding.

UNC will perform the following activities:
- Create an adaptive framework to identify, evaluate, and address existing inequities in access to water, wastewater, and stormwater SRF funding.

The anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes, and outputs of this work includes: resources, tools, and one-on-one technical assistance. This will result in an increase in awareness of challenges communities face in accessing SRF funding at the state level (hopefully accompanied by a reduction of barriers), coupled with an increase in the number of communities who are successfully able to access SRF funding and implement projects that create sustainable solutions to their water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure challenges. The intended beneficiaries are those in the disadvantage communities.

UNC plans to engage North Carolina Central University to assist communities with application writing. Should this type of support not be beneficial to the communities, UNC would redirect these funds to another partner to provide the highest quality technical assistance possible.

Activities:
UNC will perform the following activities:
- Create an adaptive framework to identify, evaluate, and address existing inequities in access to water, wastewater, and stormwater SRF funding.

Subrecipient:
UNC plans to engage North Carolina Central University to assist communities with application writing. Should this type of support not be beneficial to the communities, UNC would redirect these funds to another partner to provide the highest quality technical assistance possible.

Outcomes:
The anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes, and outputs of this work includes: resources, tools, and one-on-one technical assistance. This will result in an increase in awareness of challenges communities face in accessing SRF funding at the state level (hopefully accompanied by a reduction of barriers), coupled with an increase in the number of communities who are successfully able to access SRF funding and implement projects that create sustainable solutions to their water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure challenges.

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

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 S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.1 - CLEAN UP AND RESTORE LAND FOR PRODUCTIVE USES AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES 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 4 - ENSURE CLEAN AND HEALTHY AIR FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 4.1 - IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND REDUCE LOCALIZED POLLUTION AND HEALTH IMPACTS 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 5.2 - PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERBODIES AND WATERSHEDS 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.2 - REDUCE WASTE AND PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION 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 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.2 - EMBED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS INTO EPA’S PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND ACTIVITIES 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 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INT

66.203 - Environmental Finance Center Grants

EPA Region 4: Atlanta [EPA - RO]

Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516 United States

Single Zip Code

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

Infrastructure $1,750,000 (40%) percent this Cooperative Agreement was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Act.
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 150% from $1,750,000 to $4,375,000.