Ecolibrium3

ECOLIBRIUM3'S MISSION IS TO LEAD AND INSPIRE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY TOWARD AN EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. THE ECOLIBRIUM3 RESILIENCE CORPS ALIGNS WITH THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND HEALTHY FUTURES FOCUS AREAS BECAUSE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IS FOUND AT THE HOUSING/ENERGY/HEALTH/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEXUS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THE VISTA PROJECT WILL SEEK TO EXPAND PROGRAM SCALE/REACH, IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS, AND LEVERAGE RESOURCES AND EXPECTS TO BENEFIT 1,270 ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED RESIDENTS AND 28 ORGANIZATIONS. FIFTEEN VISTA MEMBERS AND ONE VISTA LEADER WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BENCHMARKING CURRENT SERVICE GAPS, IMPROVING INTER- AND INTRA-ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION, ESTABLISHING STRONG VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PLANS, AND IMPROVING ALIGNMENT OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO INCREASE EQUITY AND ADDRESS NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA?S MOST CHALLENGING PROBLEMS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO ECOLIBRIUM3. THE RECIPIENT WILL BUILD CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT THE LINCOLN PARK LOCAL FOODS LOCAL PLACES ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS KEY SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN DULUTH, MN'S JUSTICE40 LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT BUILDS CAPACITY THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD FARMER-IN-RESIDENCE POSITION, AN EJ-FOCUSED OUTREACH AND EQUITY PROJECTS COORDINATOR, AND THE LAUNCH OF AN EJ FELLOWS PROGRAM AND ADVISORY BOARD. TOGETHER THIS CAPACITY WILL STEWARD EXPANSION OF URBAN AGRICULTURE EDUCATION, VALUE-ADDED PROCESSING AND COLLABORATIVE FOOD PREPARATION, ORGANIZING FOR SUPPORTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SMALL FOOTPRINT GROCERY, EXPANDED LAND ANALYSIS AND GARDEN DEVELOPMENT, AND PLANNING FOR ADAPTIVE USE OF WASTE HEAT FOR FOOD PRODUCTION FROM THE REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT LOCATED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: ACTIVITY 1- DEVELOP FULL ECO3 FARM OPERATIONS PLAN TO INCLUDE ANNUAL GOALS, PLANTING PLAN, VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT PLAN, DISTRIBUTION OF FARM GROWING SPACE TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, INITIAL ANNUAL SCHEDULE OF TRAININGS AT THE FARM AND LNPK HUB, AND GROWING GOALS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS AND FOOD TO LINCOLN PARK AND/OR FOOD INSECURE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ACTIVITY 2- WORK WITH ST. LOUIS COUNTY, THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROJECT, AND LOCAL FARMERS TO EXPAND THE RESTARTED FARM TO SCHOOL DAY (MAY 2023) TO INCLUDE LINCOLN PARK . DETERMINE AGENDA, RECRUIT STATION PRESENTERS, ESTABLISH CURRICULUM AND EVALUATION. CONDUCT A STUDENT-LED PHOTO VOICE PROJECT. DISTRIBUTE SEEDLINGS TO STUDENTS AND MATERIALS FOR SUMMER GROWING SUPPORT. EVALUATE PROGRAM, REVISE FOR REPETITION IN 2025 AND 2026. ACTIVITY 3- CONDUCT LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS OF PROGRAMMING OPTIONS TO OFFER LINCOLN PARK RESIDENTS ON GROWING, PREPARATION, PRESERVATION, AND NUTRITION. ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE OF TRAINING WITH STAFF, SEE JUSTICE FELLOWS PROGRAM (SJF) MEMBERS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER A MINIMUM OF 8 TRAININGS OR FOOD-BASED GATHERINGS PER QUARTER. COLLECT PARTICIPANT INFORMATION, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND EVALUATIONS. WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO OFFER SESSIONS SPECIFIC TO CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, INTERGENERATIONAL SESSIONS, AND SESSIONS TARGETED AT THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. ACTIVITY 4- CONDUCT ADDITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD AND LAND RESEARCH TO ADVANCE PARTNERSHIP PLANNING AND PROGRAM DESIGN. CONDUCT FOOD DEMAND ANALYSIS OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSUMERS TO INFORM GROCERY STORE ITEMS AND POTENTIAL MARKETS FOR FOOD-BASED ENTREPRENEURS. CONSOLIDATE LAND USE, PROPERTY DATA ON VACANT, UNDERUSED, OR BLIGHTED PROPERTIES IN ORDER TO ASSESS THEIR POTENTIAL USES AND MATCH THESE DATA POINT UP WITH NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. ACTIVITY 5- CONDUCT INTERVIEW OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO DETERMINE DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD EMBEDDED EXPANSION OF FOOD, POLLINATOR, AND RAIN GARDENS. HOST COMMUNITY DESIGN SESSION, ESTABLISH PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND SUPPORTS, RECRUIT A MINIMUM OF 25 HOUSEHOLD PARTICIPANTS TO INSTALL DISTRIBUTED GARDENS. ACTIVITY 6- CONDUCT PROGRAM EVALUATIONS, DEVELOP CASE STUDIES, AND PRESENT FINDINGS LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY. ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY 1- EXPAND CAPACITY OF BLACK ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP IN LNPK THROUGH THE HIRING AND ONBOARDING OF THE OUTREACH AND EQUITY PROJECTS COORDINATOR (OEPC). HOLD INITIAL SJF DESIGN SESSIONS. ACTIVITY 2- OEPC CONDUCTS LOCAL INTERVIEWS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION INTO SJF CURRICULUM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. COOPERATIVELY DESIGN SJF CURRICULUM, ESTABLISH SJF SCHEDULE, AND DEVELOP RECRUITMENT MATERIALS. CONDUCT A MINIMUM OF FIVE RECRUITMENT PRESENTATIONS TO A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. ACTIVITY 3- RECRUIT SJF APPLICANTS. CONDUCT INTERVIEWS AND FELLOW SELECTION. WORK WITH EACH FELLOW TO DEVELOP A PROFILE AND COMPLETE LOGISTICAL REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE TIMELY PAYMENTS OF STIPENDS. ACTIVITY 4- THROUGH SJF SESSIO

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** LNPK 156: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO FOOD ACCESS FOR AN EJ NEIGHBORHOOD

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2023-24 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) PLANNING GRANT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO ALLOW FOR PLANNING TO PREPARE FOR A FULL COST AMERICORPS PROGRAM GRANT AWARD. PLANNING GRANT PROGRAMS MAY ONLY OPERATE FOR ONE YEAR. YOUR 2023-24 REGULATORY MATCH IS 24%, AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 30.4%.

LOCAL ENERGY MATTERS: SOLAR MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN DULUTH, MN

ECOLIBRIUM3 WILL BENCHMARK COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS USING ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO MANAGER AS PART OF A BUNDLED SOLAR ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND EFFICIENCY PROG