98T52201

DESCRIPTION: This agreement provides funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to support the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the Hawaii Community Foundation. The EFCs provide technical assistance to government agencies and community-based organizations in the form of training, education, and research to help regulated parties develop solutions to the difficult 'how-to-pay' issues associated with meeting environmental standards and challenges. 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.

THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT provides partial funding in the amount of $1,286,890 and approves pre-award costs back to January 1, 2023.

ACTIVITIES: The activities to be performed by the Hawaii Islands (HI) EFC include assisting government agencies and community-based organizations within the state of Hawaii with capacity development activities to strengthen organizational knowledge and technical, managerial, and financial capacity to identify, access, and manage clean water and drinking water state revolving funds, bipartisan infrastructure law, and other infrastructure funding. In addition, to support workforce development of professional staff within the water industry, the HIEFC will partner with other organizations to develop a fellowship program and career pathways to strengthen organization/agency capacity to recruit, hire, and retain diverse and qualified staff.

SUBRECIPIENT: University of Hawaii - A water agency gap analysis, water asset and gap assessment of University of Hawaii system, and development of water career pathways program. Urban Sustainability Directors Network - Host an annual fellowship program in partnership with Hawaii water agencies, including recruitment, trainings, mentoring, coaching, and career development.

OUTCOMES: The anticipated deliverables include direct technical assistance and training to government and community-based organizations as well as the development of fellowship programs and career pathways. The expected outcomes include increased access to infrastructure funding, especially by disadvantaged communities, an expansion of an experienced and diverse workforce, and increased effectiveness of water management in the state of Hawaii resulting in cleaner and safer water.

THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES include residents of the state of Hawaii.

The Hawaii Community Foundation

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

66.203 - Environmental Finance Center Grants

EPA Region 9: San Francisco [EPA - RO]

Hawaii United States

State-Wide

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

Infrastructure $1,286,890 (40%) percent this Cooperative Agreement was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Act.
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 134% from $1,411,890 to $3,308,619.