Front And Centered

DESCRIPTION:THE GRANTEE (LEAD) WILL ESTABLISH SUPPORT PROGRAMS CONSISTING OF SUBAWARDS AND OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT THAT ADVANCES HUMAN WELLBEING IN THE RESTORATION AND RECOVERY OF THE PUGET SOUND ECOSYSTEM AND ITS COMMUNITIES. THIS AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT FOR THE LEAD TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO OVERBURDENED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AS IS PRIORITIZED IN THE VITAL SIGNS AND OUTCOMES OF THE PUGET SOUND ACTION AGENDA. THE PUGET SOUND ACTION AGENDA SERVES AS THE EPA-APPROVED COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP) UNDER SECTION 320 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT.ACTIVITIES:THE RECIPIENT WILL DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER A PROGRAM OF SUBAWARDS AND OTHER SUPPORT OVER A 4-YEAR PERIOD. THE RECIPIENT WILL DRAFT A FUNDING FRAMEWORK AND PLAN THAT INCLUDES COMMUNITY DEFINITIONS, PRIORITY CRITERIA, STRATEGIES, AND TYPES OF GRANTS AND SUPPORT NEEDED FOR BOTH ACTION AGENDA AND OVERBURDENED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES FOR YEARS 1 AND YEAR 2 THROUGH 4. THE RECIPIENT WILL SOLICIT YEAR 1 FUNDING AND YEARS 2-4 FUNDING, AFTER WHICH THEY WILL ADMINISTER SUBAWARDS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THE RECIPIENT WILL ALSO DEVELOP AN ENGAGEMENT PLAN FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CAPACITY SUPPORT AND COORDINATION, FOLLOWED BY ITS' IMPLEMENTATION WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD. FINALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL DEVELOP A MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE REPORTING SYSTEM WHICH WILL ASSIST IN MANAGING THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE EPA PROJECT OFFICER. SUBRECIPIENT:ACTIVITIES TO BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH SUBAWARDS INCLUDE THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF AWARDS BASED ON THE SUB-GRANTEE'S EXPERIENCE (ENTRY, EMERGING, ADVANCED). THESE ACTIVITIES WILL ALIGN WITH THE 2022-2026 PUGET SOUND ACTION AGENDA IN THE FORM OF TYPICAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROJECTS AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES THAT CONSIDER OVERBURDENED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN RECOVERY.OUTCOMES:ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES INCLUDE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RELEVANT, ACCESSIBLE, EQUITY-FOCUSED PROGRAM FOR GRANTMAKING AND OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN YEAR 1 THAT IS ADAPTIVELY MANAGED AND NEW AWARDS ARE MADE IN YEARS 2 - 4. EXPECTED OUTCOMES ALSO INCLUDE THE INCREASED AWARENESS ACROSS THE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE OF THE ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT OVERBURDENED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES MAKE TO THE PUGET SOUND ACTION AGENDA WITH A SUSTAINED AND EFFECTIVE PRESENCE OF THESE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE PUGET SOUND RECOVERY EFFORT, MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, AND ACTION AGENDA FORUMS. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE OVERBURDENED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE PUGET SOUND RECOVERY COMMUNITY, THE PUGET SOUND MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, AND THE ENTIRE PUGET SOUND REGION.

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO FRONT AND CENTERED. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL ENGAGE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DISADVANTAGED AREAS TO IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE IMPLEMENTING A LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM TO TRAIN MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, AND IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.SUBRECIPIENT:SOLID GROUND WILL SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP FOR INFORMATION GENERATED FROM COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES AND LINK SOLUTIONS IDENTIFIED IN COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES TO OPPORTUNITIES STATEWIDE. PEOPLES ECONOMY LAB WILL TRAIN AND ORGANIZE COMMUNITY-BASED ANCHORS TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES THAT INFORM ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE POLICIES. COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY SUBAWARDS WILL INDIVIDUALLY AWARD ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE IMPLEMENTING THE COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY PROCESS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. LEADERSHIP TRAINING SUBAWARDS WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY AWARDED TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE A MEMBER PARTICIPATING IN THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM HOSTED BY FRONT AND CENTERED.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE 45 ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS TRAINED IN THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM ACROSS 2 COHORTS; 15 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS CONDUCTING COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES ACROSS 5 COHORTS; AND 6 TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP MEETINGS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF AND PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC PROCESSES WITHIN WASHINGTON'S DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, BETTER-INFORMED DECISIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES TO BENEFIT DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ENVIRONMENTAL OR CLIMATE POLICIES THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

DESCRIPTION: THE PURPOSE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING (EJCPS) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE MULTI-MEDIA FUNDING TO FRONT AND CENTERED TO CREATE AN ACCESSIBLE, COMMUNITY-BASED, AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING, REPORTING, AND ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM IN THREE OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY COMPROMISED REGIONS IN WASHINGTON STATE: THE DUWAMISH RIVER VALLEY, SKAGIT COUNTY, AND YAKIMA COUNTY. THE COMMUNITIES FACES PERSISTENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INCLUDING: THE DUWAMISH VALLEY NEIGHBORHOODS OF SOUTH PARK AND GEORGETOWN FACE POORER AIR QUALITY THAN THE REST OF SEATTLE BECAUSE OF HIGHER DIESEL PM POLLUTION LEVELS AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS; HISTORY OF TOXIC CHEMICALS LEACHING INTO DRINKING WATER IN HIGHLY-SENSITIVE AREAS SUCH AS THE DUWAMISH RIVER AND IN AGRICULTURAL REGIONS OF SKAGIT AND YAKIMA COUNTIES; AND PERSISTENT PESTICIDES AND TOXIC CHEMICALS FOUND IN COMMUNITIES. ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING TOOL, MODELED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL IDENTIFYING VIOLATIONS AFFECTING NEIGHBORHOODS (IVAN) SYSTEM. THE RECIPIENT INTENDS TO ISSUE SUB-AWARD AGREEMENTS TO ITS PARTNERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPENDIX A OF EPA'S SUB-AWARD POLICY. THE SUB-AWARDEES WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN COORDINATING LISTENING SESSIONS, CREATING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN ENGLISH/SPANISH, DEVELOPING A CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE OUTREACH STRATEGY, AND CREATING SYNERGISTIC OPPORTUNITIES WITH EXISTING PROJECT ACTIVITIES. ACTIVITIES: PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONDUCTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT IN TARGET COMMUNITIES; CONVENING COMMUNITY PARTNERS, CROSS-JURISDICTIONAL AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS; AND CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING A COMMUNITY/GOVERNMENT WORK GROUP TO RESPOND TO REPORTS OF VIOLATIONS. OUTCOMES: ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING TOOL, MODELED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL IDENTIFYING VIOLATIONS AFFECTING NEIGHBORHOODS (IVAN) SYSTEM. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE IMPROVED TOOLS AND PROCESSES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING, INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING MECHANISMS IN HIGH-IMPACT COMMUNITIES, AND INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN HIGH-IMPACT COMMUNITIES. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES ARE RESIDENTS OF THE KING, YAKIMA, AND SKAGIT COUNTIES OF WASHINGTON STATE. SUBRECIPIENT: IN THIS PROJECT, SUBAWARD STAFF WILL CREATE THE IVAN PLATFORM SPECIFICALLY FOR WASHINGTON STATE. STAFF WILL ALSO ENGAGE IN PROJECT ACTIVITIES TO SHARE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THEIR OUTREACH/EDUCATION WORK IN IMPERIAL VALLEY AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND INSIGHT FOR ADAPTING THE IVAN TOOL IN WASHINGTON STATE. OTHER SUBAWARD ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COORDINATING LISTENING SESSIONS, CREATING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN ENGLISH/SPANISH, DEVELOPING AN OUTREACH STRATEGY THAT IS CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND CREATING SYNERGISTIC OPPORTUNITIES WITH EXISTING PROJECT ACTIVITIES. FURTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING FACT SHEETS THAT REFLECT THE PROGRESS ON THE PROJECT. THESE FACT SHEETS WILL BE IN COMMUNITY-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE AND WILL HIGHLIGHT INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO MULTIPLE LANGUAGES (ENGLISH, SPANISH, VIETNAMESE, SOMALI AND KHMER). FINALLY, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE WILL HELP DEVELOP THE QAPP.