Webinar Archive: Tips for Selecting a Brownfield Consultant - September 2015

Source: (LinkedIn)

At the 2013 National Brownfields Conference in Atlanta, Trey Hess of the Mississippi DEQ hosted a roundtable discussion entitled "Selecting an Environmental Consultant Without Losing Your Watch."  (http://www.brownfieldsconference.org/en/Session/1956).  Here's the overview:

• Former Avis CEO Robert Townsend once said that "Consultants borrow your watch to tell you the time then they walk off with your watch". While this tongue-in-cheek statement may not be the case with the environmental consultants who are courting your community, having a set of guidelines for selecting a consultant would be helpful. Whether its "let me take you to lunch" or "I've got a fantastic new cleanup technology", regulators have heard it all. Since they aren't vying for your affections (i.e., your watch), they are the perfect moderators for this session. Geared towards the new EPA Grantee, this roundtable discussion will focus on topics like: What does a good RFP or RFQ look like? What criteria really matter? And are there any State requirements that should be considered?

In the fall of 2015, EPA asked me to repackage the roundtable into a webinar entitled "Tips For Selecting a Brownfield Consultant."

You can download the PPT Show with the audio from <here>.  If you download vs. just reviewing the slides within DropBox, you will get the audio.

NOAA Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants Program – $8.5 million

NOAA Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants Program – $8.5 million

• Applications Due: August 16, 2016
• Eligible Entities: State, local, and tribal governments

NOAA announced funding for projects that improve or restore coastal habitat by strengthening the resilience of U.S. marine and coastal ecosystems, decreasing the vulnerability of communities to extreme weather, and support sustainable fisheries. Projects should identify an issue limiting the resiliency of U.S. marine and coastal ecosystems to extreme weather events or changing environmental conditions, identify the proposed project’s outcome, describe the actions and on-the-ground restoration to be undertaken to enhance resiliency and reduce risk, and describe the measurable impact on the ecosystem and communities.

For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.

EPA Building the Capacity of States, Local and Tribal Governments to Address the Health Impacts of Climate Change Program – $600,000

EPA Building the Capacity of States, Local and Tribal Governments to Address the Health Impacts of Climate Change Program – $600,000

• Applications Due: July 15, 2016
• Eligible Entities: State, local, and tribal governments

EPA is making available funding to increase tribal capacity to understand the health effects of climate change and plan for new and changing tribal community health needs as the climate changes. Proposals must address each of the following four areas: tribal climate and health curriculum development, refining the curriculum by conducting pilot trainings with select tribes, make curriculum available online, and conduct climate change and tribal health outreach.

For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.

EPA 2016 Targeted Air Shed Grant Program – $20 million

EPA 2016 Targeted Air Shed Grant Program – $20 million

• Applications Due: July 11, 2016
• Eligible Entities: State, local, and tribal air pollution control agencies

EPA announced funding to reduce air pollution in the country’s most polluted areas. Consideration will be given to proposals that include emissions-reducing activities such as renewable energy projects, combined heat and power, clean residential heating, and other clean energy supply options.

For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.

FWS National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program – $17 million

FWS National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program – $17 million

• Applications Due: June 29, 2016
• Eligible Entities: State governments

FWS has announced funding to acquire, restore, and enhance wetlands in coastal states through competitive matching grants to state agencies. Ranking criteria for proposals include describing how the proposed project addresses climate change concerns, how it will be affected by climate change impacts, and references to any relevant plans and models.

For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.

HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant Program – $120 million

HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant Program – $120 million

• Applications Due: June 28, 2016
• Eligible Entities: Local and tribal governments, public housing authorities

HUD is making available funding to help severely distressed communities improve their housing, personal, and neighborhood outcomes. To achieve these goals, successful applications should include a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or “Transformation Plan.” Plans should include measures to improve energy efficiency in low-income housing and increase resilience to local disasters.

For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.

CDC Grant Opportunity - Enhancing Community Resilience by Implementing Health Adaptations Program

CDC Building Resilience Against Climate Effects: Enhancing Community Resilience by Implementing Health Adaptations Program – $4.5 million

• Applications Due: June 20, 2016
• Eligible Entities: State and local governments

CDC is making available funding to implement the Climate and Health Adaptation and Monitoring Program (CHAMP), which involves developing an Implementation and Monitoring Strategy (IMS) for interventions stated in climate adaptation plans. The IMS should utilize evidence-based public health interventions and incorporate monitoring and evaluation strategies and activities to achieve measurable health impacts and reduce the health burden of climate change. Expected program outcomes include increased community-level engagement in climate and health adaptation, as well as increasing resilience of public health systems and health infrastructure.

For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.

Equitable Development Webinar

GROUNDWORK USA PRESENTS ITS NEXT EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR
Investing in People and Place: Building Wealth and Equity to Advance the Equitable Development Agenda

Wednesday, July 20, 2016
1:30 - 3:00pm Eastern
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Tune in for a rich discussion among three leading-edge practitioners about how their programs promote wealth building, job placement and training, job creation, and increase access to financing and supports for small businesses and social enterprises. These programs respond to the needs of low-income people and people of color, and are making tangible impacts in everyday lives, helping long-marginalized families keep pace with place-based investments in their neighborhoods, and advancing equitable development more broadly in long-marginalized American communities. 

Learn about the inspiring work in three different capacities? nonprofit coalition, community development corporation, and national/local intermediary? working in both urban and rural places, all leading their community development efforts with a commitment to hiring locally, developing and coaching a local workforce, creating jobs, and supporting the incubation and financing of small businesses and social enterprises, all of which are leveling the playing field by helping residents and their families work, play, live, learn, thrive and age in place.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Amy Shapiro, Director of Business Development, Franklin County CDC (Greenfield, MA)
Tony DeFalco, Living Cully Coordinator, Verde/Living Cully (East Portland, OR)

Kevin Jordan, Vice President for National Programs, LISC (Washington, DC)

Save the Date - 2017 National Brownfield Conference

2017 National #Brownfield Training Conference

David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA

December 5-7, 2017

EPA Region 4 Brownfield Grant Breakdown

The announcement was made earlier this month by our Administrator, Gina McCarthy, regarding the FY16 Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup and Revolving Loan Fund Grants.  Congratulations to the following applicants which were selected in EPA Region 4 (listed below).  

Please see the announcement, the press release and the link to the grant fact sheet for these grants here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-current-news-and-events

State	Assessment Grant Recipient
AL	Birmingham, City of
FL	St. Petersburg, City of
FL	Ormond Beach, City of
FL	Century, Town of
KY	City of Shelbyville
KY	Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
KY	Kentucky River Area Development District
MS	Vicksburg, City of
MS	Greenwood, City of
MS	Yazoo City, City of
MS	Hernando, City of
NC	East Spencer, Town of
NC	Richmond County
SC	Allendale County
SC	Lake City, City of
SC	Central, Town of

State	Revolving Loan Fund Grant Recipient
GA	Doraville, City of
SC	South Carolina DHEC

State	Cleanup Grant Recipient	Site Name
AL	Tarrant, City of	Tarrant Industrial Complex
FL	Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency	Edenfield Property
FL	West Palm Beach, City of	Henrietta Bridge Farm Project Site
NC	Robbins, Town of	Northern Parcel of the former Robbins Mill
NC	Robbins, Town of	Southern Parcel of the former Robbins Mill
SC	Pickens, City of	Former Rail Depot Property
TN	Knoxville, City of	Former Sanitary Laundry and Dry Cleaning Property
TN	Knoxville, City of	Former McClung Warehouses Property
TN	Chattanooga, City of	Former Glover Tract

FREE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT — LEARN HOW

Source: PPMCo.com 

Communities across the country leave federal dollars on the table each year by failing to leverage funding resources for redevelopment. Don’t let your community make the same mistake!

The fourth annual Northwest Florida Brownfield Redevelopment Forum will be held on June 16, 2016 at the Santa Rosa County Auditorium. Here, you’ll learn about the federal programs in place to help your community transform blight into beautiful assets that can increase tax revenue and stimulate local economy.

PPM Project Manager Ben Clabaugh will participate as a panel speaker for the forum, covering brownfields contamination resolution. Clabaugh emphasized, “This conference is a solid introduction to the program that can get funds for redevelopment in any community.”

“For example,” Clabaugh referenced, “in 2013 the City of Pensacola was awarded a $400,000 community-wide grant from the EPA for the redevelopment of brownfields. PPM is honored to have been selected to aid the City in facilitating this program. There are many other communities who could benefit from the same grant funding, but just don’t realize it.”...

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NEW RFP: FY 2017 #EPA #Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Grant Guidelines

EPA announced today the availability of funding to eligible entities who wish to develop an area-wide plan for brownfield assessment, cleanup, and subsequent reuse. This funding is for research and/or technical assistance activities directed to one or more brownfield site(s) located in a specific area (such as a neighborhood, downtown or business district, local commercial corridor, community waterfront or city blocks). Each project funded under this grant must result in an area-wide plan which includes specific plan implementation strategies for assessing, cleaning up, and reusing the brownfield site(s) as well as related brownfield and project area revitalization strategies. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 20 projects in total, funded at up to $200,000 each.

The proposal submission deadline is August 10, 2016.

Best news of all is that there will be an Outreach Webinar.  EPA will walk through the guidelines for competitive proposals with prospective applicants. There will be an opportunity for questions.

The Webinar will be held June 16, 2016 from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm EDT. Registration is not necessary; access the webinar here: http://epawebconferencing.acms.com/fy17bf_awp/ and call in 1-866-299-3188; code 202 566 0633#.

Please note that applicants who received an AWP grant in Fiscal Year 2010, 2013 or 2015 (FY10 or FY13 or FY 15) are generally not eligible to apply under this competition. EPA is making an exception for POWER+ (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) applicants. The POWER+ Initiative is an Administration priority that started in FY16 and continues through FY17. A POWER+ applicant must propose one or more eligible catalyst, high priority brownfield site(s) within the same brownfields project area as a coal-fired power plant that has recently closed (2008 or later) or is scheduled to close.

Follow these links for all the AWP details.

o   FY2017 Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant Guidelines

o   Frequently Asked Questions

o   Tips for submitting FY17 BF AWP Proposals through www.grants.gov (PDF) (2 pp, 121 K, About PDF)

o   Getting Started Early - Preparing your FY17 BF AWP Grant Proposal in advance of the RFP