Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO URBAN RESTORATION ENHANCEMENT CORPORATION. SPECIFICALLY, THIS TRACK I PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH STRONG COLLABORATIONS TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINED IMPACTS RELATED TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE, POLLUTION REDUCTION, COMMUNITY HEALTH, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, AND COMMUNITY STRENGTH. THIS APPROACH CATALYZES CHANGE BY FOCUSING ON THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES AND DELIVERABLES: INCREASE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH CLIMATE ACTION ACTIVITIES, REDUCE LOCAL POLLUTION TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH, CENTER MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUILD COMMUNITY STRENGTH, REACH PRIORITY POPULATIONS, MAXIMIZE INTEGRATION ACROSS PROJECTS. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO TRANSFORM THE NORTH BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY INTO A THRIVING, PROSPEROUS, VIBRANT, AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY WHILE BUILDING POWER AND AGENCY AMONG COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, AND POLLUTION. WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO PROMOTE LOUISIANA URBAN GROWTH (WE PLUG) LOUISIANA WILL HELP RESIDENTS (1) ACCESS FEDERAL AND STATE RESOURCES TO COMPLETE HEALTH AND SAFETY REPAIRS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WEATHERIZATION UPGRADES TO THEIR HOMES; (2) LEVERAGE THEIR HOMES TO BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH; (3) ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR RESILIENCE AND POWER AS COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE; (4) RECEIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT IN ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND ENTERING PROFESSIONS THAT REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS, AND (5) MITIGATE THE RISKS AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF FUTURE NATURAL DISASTERS FROM EXTREME HEAT, DROUGHT, FLOODING, AND TROPICAL STORMS. THIS WILL LEAD TO IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY, DECREASED ENERGY CONSUMPTION, IMPROVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY, REDUCED EMISSIONS, AND REDUCED COSTS FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE PROJECT AREA. ACTIVITIES:THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONVENING WITH COLLABORATING ENTITIES TO UPDATE PROJECT TIMELINES AND DEVELOP A READINESS PLAN TO ENSURE OPERATIONAL READINESS WITHIN 120 DAYS OF THE GRANT AWARD. THIS READINESS PLAN WILL INCLUDE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES FLOWING FROM THE ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICATIONS, FUNDING, APPROVAL, AND DISBURSEMENTS. IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE FINANCIAL, TECHNOLOGY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS TO EXPEND, MONITOR, AND REPORT ON THE GRANT FUNDING AND OUTCOMES. THE PLAN WILL ALSO INCLUDE A PRELIMINARY PROJECT DELIVERY SCHEDULE AND COST ESTIMATE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES. ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE MADE TO COORDINATE INITIAL SET-UP ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SECURING OFFICE SPACE, FURNITURE, AND EQUIPMENT; SECURING AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM RECORD SYSTEM; DEVELOPING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES; AND FORMULATING PROGRAM PROCESSES. WE PLUG LOUISIANA WILL WORK WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PERMIT OFFICE TO OBTAIN CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR WEATHERIZATION READY RENOVATIONS AND WEATHERIZATION CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. SUBRECIPIENT:POWER COALITION EQUITY AND JUSTICE: $3,800,000 TO ADMINISTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, OUTREACH AND SUPERVISE CONTRACT WORK OF CANVASSER AND NAVIGATORS, FACILITATE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, RUN COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, STIPENDS FOR COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEMBERS; PROVIDE CHILDCARE AND OTHER WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ALLIANCE FOR AFFORDABLE ENERGY: $350,000 TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER CURRICULUM TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT TOXINS AND POLLUTANTS; PROVIDE TECHNICAL TRAINING TO NAVIGATORS AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD ON PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY RESOURCES; OPPORTUNITIES TO GET ENGAGED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WITH ENERGY STAKEHOLDERS; COMMUNITY ORGANIZING; ADVISOR TO DEVELOP THE HEALTH INDICATOR REPORT. HOUSING LOUISIANA: $300,000 FOR COORDINATION OF THE MONTHLY HOMEBUYERS CLUB MEETINGS; COORDINATION AND PROVIDE MONTHLY POST CONSTRUCTION WORKSHOPS FOR 250 PROJECT AREA RESIDENTS ON MAINTENANCE POST CONSTRUCTION. CENTER FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE (CPEX): $300,000 TO GUIDE PLANNING AND ZONING; SUPP