Appalachian Voices

BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO APPALACHIAN VOICES. THE RECIPIENT WILL CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK KNOWN AS THE COAL COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PLANNING MODEL AND TOOLKIT. THIS MODEL AND TOOLKIT WILL SERVE AS AN ADAPTABLE GUIDE FOR FIVE COAL COMMUNITIES IN VIRGINIA TO NAVIGATE AND RESPOND TO THE MULTIFACETED CHALLENGES POSED BY ECONOMIC SHIFTS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, AND THE NEED TO PLAN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE. ACTIVITIES:THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL BE PERFORMED: ORGANIZE GOVERNMENT LEADS AND CORE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, NURTURE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOP RESILIENCE MAPS, ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT IDEATION AND PLAN DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOP COMMUNITY PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY PLANS, MEASURE AND SUSTAIN IMPACT, AND DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: A COLLABORATIVE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS; 200+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENGAGED; 5 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE MAPS; 5 COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECT DESIGNS; PROJECT PREDEVELOPMENT CONSULTING; 12 EDUCATION WEBINARS ON CLIMATE/RESILIENCE TOPICS; 20 NEW EJ LEADERS DEVELOPED; SKILLS AND METRICS DEVELOPED TO MEASURE IMPACT; THE DEVELOPMENT OF COAL COMMUNITIES RESILIENCE TOOLKIT; ENGAGEMENT IN THE EJ PROCESSES AND RULEMAKING EFFORTS; COALFIELD RESILIENCE; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FORM. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: THE CREATION OF CORE PARTNERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE; HOSTING 2 LISTENING SESSIONS IN EACH LOCALITY; ACTIVATING 50 STAKEHOLDERS; BOLSTERING THE COMMUNITY BUY-IN PROCESS; STRATEGIC PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION; COMPLETING 5 RESILIENCE PROJECTS; INCREASING LOCAL COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES; AND ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN REGULATORY/POLICY OPPORTUNITIES. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE CITIZENS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS, FUNDERS, POLICY MAKERS, REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUPS, AND EJ ORGANIZATIONS.

THIS EDA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS APPALACHIAN VOICES WITH ESTABLISHING A TRAINING PROGRAM TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENERGY STORAGE AND ELECTRIFICATION MANUFACTURING (ESEM) SECTOR IN COAL IMPACTED SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. THIS PROGRAM WILL ASSIST COMPANIES IN TRANSITIONING TO THE ESEM SECTOR THROUGH IDENTIFYING RESOURCES TO BUILD CAPACITY, CREATING COMPANY-SPECIFIC PLANS TO ENTER THE CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY MARKET, PROVIDING INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS TO MEET MARKET EXPANSION GOALS, AND ESTABLISHING AN IMPLEMENTATION PATHWAY TO ASSIST COMPANIES IN THE TRANSITION. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL CREATE AND RETAIN JOBS, ADVANCE ECONOMIC RESILIENCY, AND ATTRACT PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THE DECLINE IN THE COAL INDUSTRY.

DESCRIPTION:THIS GRANT AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER INFLATION REDUCTION ACT TO CONDUCT AMBIENT AIR MONITORING OF POLLUTANTS OF GREATEST CONCERN IN COMMUNITIES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH OUTCOME DISPARITIES STEMMING FROM POLLUTION AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE RECIPIENT WILL USE THESE FUNDS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO MONITOR AIR QUALITY AND PROMOTE AIR QUALITY MONITORING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT: LEVERAGE EXISTING AIR QUALITY EXPERTISE, EXPAND USE OF COMMUNITY MONITORING GROUPS AND OTHER APPROACHES THAT GIVE THE COMMUNITY A VOICE IN THE MONITORING OF THE AIR QUALITY, AND BUILD A FOUNDATION OF TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS AND ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING FROM WHICH SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND.ACTIVITIES:SPECIFICALLY, THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DEPLOYING 80+ LOW-COST PM MONITORS IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES ACROSS 5 STATES, ANALYZING THIS DATA AND MAKING IT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, AND SUPPORTING THESE COMMUNITIES' ENGAGEMENT IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL AIR QUALITY ISSUES. IN ADDITION, PROJECT PARTNERS WILL CONDUCT SO2/ VOC MONITORING IN TWO EJ COMMUNITIES.SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARD TO HOPE FOR COSTS OF SHIPPING SAMPLES. SUBAWARD TO VIRGINIA TECH FOR STAFF TIME, MONITORING SUPPLIES, ANALYSIS, AND CALIBRATION. THE RECIPIENT INTENDS TO ISSUE SUBAWARD AGREEMENTS TO ITS PARTNERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPENDIX A OF EPA'S SUBAWARD POLICY.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE PURCHASING AIR MONITORING EQUIPMENT; DEPLOYMENT OF MONITORS; PROVIDING QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS; PROVIDING ANNUAL REPORTS; WEBINARS; ARTICLES; SUBMITTING PARTNER COMMENTS; AND ISSUING PRESS RELEASES. THE EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES INCLUDE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR MONITORING EQUIPMENT IN AND AROUND TWO DOZEN COMMUNITIES; MAKING AVAILABLE RAW AIR MONITORING DATA IN NEAR REAL-TIME VIA THE PURPLEAIR WEB MAP; UPDATING QUARTERLY PM 2.5 READINGS AND SO2/VOC DATA; ANALYZING DATA AND NOTING ANY EVIDENCE OF NONATTAINMENT OF NAAQS; PROVIDING QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS; WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND MEMBERS; IDENTIFICATION OF PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AIR QUALITY ISSUES; INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY OF DATA AND EXPERT ANALYSIS; IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING AMONGST THE GENERAL PUBLIC; AND, ENGAGEMENT WITH REGULATORS AND INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH IMPAIRED LOCAL AIR QUALITY. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO WILL HAVE DECREASED RISK OF ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS, INCLUDING CANCER AND NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS. THESE BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THOSE IN THE APPALACHIAN VALLEY AREA, WHICH CROSSES SEVERAL STATES.

BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE