Island Green Building Association

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO ISLAND GREEN BUILDING ASSOCIATION, DOING BUSINESS AS ISLAND GREEN LIVING ASSOCIATION (IGL). SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL TACKLE BOTH THE UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM ASPECTS OF EFFECTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT BY PROMOTING BEHAVIOR CHANGE AND IMPROVING DIVERSION METHODS ONCE WASTE ENTERS THE SYSTEM. SPECIFIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING PROGRAMS FOR THE TWO MOST POPULOUS ISLANDS, INCLUDING ESTABLISHMENT OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY; EXPANDING ACCESS TO SAFE PUBLIC DRINKING WATER; COMMUNITY, SCHOOL, AND BUSINESS EDUCATION FOR PROTECTING MARINE HEALTH; AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, ENGAGEMENT, AND OUTREACH TO INFORM PROGRAM DESIGN/EVOLUTION, AND MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY-WIDE PARTICIPATION/COMMITMENT TO THESE NEW PROGRAMS. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTER ON ST. THOMAS, ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE COMPOSTING PROGRAM FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. CROIX, INSTALLING WATER FILLING STATIONS, CONDUCTING WATER QUALITY MONITORING, INCREASING ECO-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING IN SCHOOLS, AND IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN. SUBRECIPIENT:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE COMPLETED AS SUBAWARDS INCLUDE: IMPLEMENT A TERRITORY WIDE COMPOSTING PROJECT; CONDUCT TESTS OF PUBLIC WATER SOURCES INCLUDING ASSESSMENT AND COMMUNICATION OF RESULTS; INSTALLATION OF 9 NEW WATER FILLING STATIONS WITH SIGNAGE IN EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND HIGHLY USED SPACES; CONDUCT COMMUNITY WATER OPINION SURVEYS AND ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS TO IDENTIFY AND MITIGATE DRINKING WATER RISKS AND PROMOTE SOURCES OF FREE, SAFE, WASTE-FREE DRINKING WATER; DESIGN/DELIVERY OF ECO-SCHOOLS PROGRAMMING AT TWO ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS; IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PLAN FOR ALL PROJECTS INCLUDING ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY COUNCIL WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH ISLAND TO PROVIDE ONGOING INPUT AND FEEDBACK FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE: THE CONSTRUCTION OF RECYCLING AND EDUCATION FACILITY ON ST THOMAS; COLLECTING AND PROCESSING OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS; 4 PUBLIC COLLECTION POINTS INSTALLED FOR MATERIALS FOR RECYCLING; INSTALLATION OF CENTRAL COMPOSTING/MULCHING FACILITIES ON ST. THOMAS AND ST. CROIX; COLLECTING AND COMPOSTING/MULCHING OF ORGANIC WASTE; RESEARCH RESULTS FROM WASTE MARKET ANALYSES AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEYS; SELLING TONS OF RECLAIMED MATERIALS BACK INTO THE ECONOMY FOLLOWING PROCESSING PER YEAR; GENERATING REVENUE IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY FROM END-MARKET MATERIALS SALES PER YEAR; 9 WATER-FILTRATION SYSTEMS INSTALLED IN PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS AND SCHOOLS; 2 ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN ECO-SCHOOLS PROGRAMMING; 30 HIGH-QUALITY JOBS ADDED TO USVI ECONOMY; SURVEY RESULTS FROM STAKEHOLDERS: CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, K-12 STUDENTS, AND EDUCATORS; AND DISTRIBUTION AND AUDIENCE IMPRESSIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS AND EVENTS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE REDUCTION IN MATERIALS DEPOSITED IN LOCAL LANDFILLS AND ASSOCIATED GHG EMISSIONS PER YEAR; REDUCTION IN PLASTIC AND OTHER WASTE REMOVED FROM MARINE AND LAND AREAS PER YEAR; INCREASED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND COMMITMENT IN REDUCING VOLUME OF SOLID WASTE PRODUCTION AND ITS ASSOCIATED POLLUTANTS; DECREASE IN PERCENTAGE OF IMPORTED FOOD, POST-RECYCLED MATERIALS, FERTILIZER, AND MULCH; INCREASE IN PUBLIC ACCESS TO SAFE, PLASTIC-FREE DRINKING WATER; INCREASE IN BUSINESSES EARNING AND DISPLAYING ECO-CERTIFICATIONS; INCREASE IN PERCENTAGE OF K-12 STUDENTS RECEIVING ECO-SCHOOLS CURRICULUM; AND INCREASED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WITH NEWLY ESTABLISHED CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND ADDED JOBS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

THE RECIPIENT PROPOSES TO PARTNER WITH THE BUILD REUSE ASSOCIATION TO DELIVER SPECIALIZED, TRAIN-THE-TRAINER EDUCATION TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION MATERIALS IN THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS. TRAINEES WILL INCLUDE INFLUENTIAL CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS LEADERS ON ALL THREE OF THE USVI SO AS TO HAVE THE MAXIMUM IMPACT UPON THE INDUSTRY.