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Mid-September, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff hosted the first of hopefully many “Minnesota Built Environment” quarterly meetings. Nearly 50 people were in attendance with at least another dozen interested but unavailable. We had a GREAT meeting with lots of "built environment" updates from MPCA and around Minnesota, as well as from many others around North America.
You can watch a recording of the meeting available either via Youtube or ShareBase.
Here are also online links for:
Next Built Environment quarterly meeting: December 7, 2021, 1pm-3pm (CT)
Register today! Click on the registration link to get meeting details.
More information and a draft agenda will be shared in future newsletters.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will be posting an environmental assistance grant soon, for projects working to expand waste reduce and reuse, rental, and repair efforts around the state. Eligible applicants include Minnesota not-for-profit organizations, businesses, institutions, political subdivisions of the state, State agencies, and tribal governments.
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Available funds: Approximately $119,000 There are no grant award maximums or minimums.
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Match requirement: 25% Applicants must provide proof of at least 25% match of the grant award in cash or in-kind.
Examples of eligible projects:
- Prevent or reduce waste through changes in product design, manufacturing, or production.
- Develop and implement training courses that provide skills-building for product repair or other processes that maintain the value of items to avoid or reduce new production.
- Purchase of reusable products and equipment that support the transition away from single-use alternatives.
- Pilot new opportunities or expand capacity for more reuse, rental, and/or repair in the community (e.g. fix-it clinics or repair cafes, sharing libraries, etc.).
More information and next steps about the timing of the grant round and how to apply will be shared once available!
 EPA/Commission on the Environment Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience Grants
The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is launching the EJ4Climate grant program to support environmental justice and climate resilience for underserved, vulnerable communities, and Indigenous communities across North America. Initiated by EPA, the CEC established this program to support underserved and overburdened communities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States as they prepare for climate-related impacts. This program will provide funding directly to Indigenous communities and community-based organizations to deliver environmental justice and advance local solutions to adapt to climate change.
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Applications Due: November 14, 2021
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Eligibility: Non-profit and non-governmental organizations, environmental groups, community-based associations, Tribal nations, and Indigenous Peoples and communities
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Funding Available: $2 million total
What types of projects are eligible for funding?
Possible projects under the grant program could include addressing extreme weather
impacts, transitioning to clean energy and/or transportation systems, or utilizing
traditional ecological knowledge to address climate change impacts. Project types can include capacity building, pilot projects, transfer of innovative technologies, conducting outreach or education, sharing best practices, communication and preparedness/response process improvements, training environmental and
community leaders, engaging youth on environmental activities, and reducing risks to
the environment.
For more information, visit the Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience webpage.
 USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area.
What does this program do?
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
What is an eligible area?
Rural areas including cities, villages, townships, and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible for this program.
How may funds be used?
Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses.
What are the funding priorities?
Priority point system based on population, median household income
- Small communities with a population of 5,500 or less
- Low-income communities having a median household income below 80% of the state nonmetropolitan median household income
To learn more and to apply, visit the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program webpage.
The Deconstruction and Reuse Conference is October 19-21!
To register, click on the registration link.
As the world faces increasing extraction of finite resources, high unemployment, and the ever-growing climate crisis, it is clearer than ever that our linear “take, make, and waste” model of consumption is failing our environmental and economic future. This past year has also highlighted more than ever the importance of our communities, as we have supported and relied on our neighbors, and worked hard to keep each other safe.
Join the Deconstruction + Reuse 2021 Virtual Conference, which will focus on the tangible ways that communities can create, develop, and support reuse economies and advance circularity for resiliency.
Minnesota speakers include:
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Trash to Treasure: Giving Landfilled Household Items New Life Sandy Gunderson, Becker County
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Deconstruction Appraisals Peter Curran, Better Futures Minnesota
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Using Academic Civic Engagement to Explore and Promote Alternatives to Structure Demolition Paul Jackson, Matt Rohn, Lauren Sherman, Harris Kramer, St. Olaf College; Waste & Materials Working Group, City of Northfield, MN
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Reimagining Reuse Supply Chains Melissa Wenzel, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
When: October 19-21, 2021 Where: Virtual Click on the registration link to register today!
2020 Habitat for Humanity Restore (Twin Cities) donation manager Robin Henrichsen, while giving a tour to "Built Environment" stakeholders.
More organizations and local government entities are recognizing they need to be leaders on sustainable building material management practices. From Minnesota to India, check out what's being done around the world to reduce our built environment carbon footprint:
Minnesota "built environment" in the news:
- Why the Twin Cities should save some ugly buildings from the wrecking ball
- St. Cloud school transformed into City Hall, which will open in December
- 5 upcycled shipping containers make one $280K house in Minneapolis
Equity
Research-driven
Sustainable construction & building materials
C&D materials management
Policies & Practices
Are you in Minnesota and have a "built reuse" success story?
Or do you have a suggestion, idea, or a question for our team? Email us at: demo.mpca@state.mn.us or check out both programs' website.
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