|
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
 2024 Washington Brownfield Workshops
  |
Launch brownfield redevelopments in your community with local September workshops
There's still time to register for one-day workshops happening in Richland, North Bend, and Bremerton on September 10, 11, and 12.
Along with our partners – the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR), EPA Brownfields, Washington State Dept. of Commerce, and the communities of Richland, North Bend, and Bremerton – we're hosting workshops to help you start exploring reuse potential for vacant and contaminated properties in your community.
Register at www.cclr.org:
- $30 for government and nonprofit staff
- $65 for business and corporate staff
Registration includes:
Morning coffee, tea, and pastries. * Boxed lunch with vegetarian and gluten-free options. * Brownfield presentations. * Case studies and Q&As. * Tailored walking tour led by project managers. * Networking opportunities. * Connections with the Brownfields team at Ecology, CCLR, Commerce, and EPA, and leaders who are redeveloping brownfields in their communities.
What we'll cover:
We'll orient you with a brief "Brownfields 101," then discuss what we do and how to access resources from Ecology, EPA, Commerce, and CCLR. We'll then shift gears to outline Washington's cleanup process and connect it with local cleanups. Next, we'll hear about cleanup successes and challenges from people who've already been there. After lunch, a special treat: a custom walking tour led by our hosts in Richland, North Bend, and Bremerton as they showcase the cleanups and brownfield redevelopments happening in their communities.
Where and when:
Learn more and register. If you have questions, please contact Ali Furmall, Brownfields Program Lead. See you there!
|
Funding opportunities
  Environmental Justice Data Fund: Apply by August 30
Grants ranging from $250,00 to 500,000 are available from the Environmental Justice Data Fund to build environmental justice programs and help tell your community's EJ story.
The flexible project funding helps organizations build capacity so they can incorporate quality data work into their environmental and climate justice programming. This round of funding will prioritize organizations whose primary focus is environmental justice work.
Apply if your organization is one of the following:
- Has 501(c)(3) legal status
- Is fiscally sponsored by an organization with 501(c)(3) legal status
- Is a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) legal status applying on behalf of a project
- Is a federally recognized Indian Tribe, or organized under Section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934
Learn more. Watch the informational webinar. Submit proposals by Friday, Aug. 30.
Applying for a Community Change Grant? Two big updates you should know
EPA's Community Change Grants can help your community tackle big issues such as environmental and climate justice. Twenty-one recipients have already been selected including organizations in Spokane, Oregon, and Idaho. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through Thursday, November 21.
On August 6, EPA modified the funding opportunity, and two major updates caught our eye:
- Oral presentations are no longer required for the Track I application process.
-
EPA developed a Disadvantaged Communities map when applying for the grant. (See also another mapping tool called Neighborhood at Risk from Headwaters Economics noted elsewhere in this newsletter.)
ARC grants are coming this fall (and we can help)
Every year, EPA offers competitive grants that are bundled as Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) grants. Multipurpose grants are only offered every other year, however, so that means only the ARCs are coming for FY25: Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup grants.
The solicitation will likely open in September with guidelines becoming available at the same time. You'll only have 60 days to apply but you can start prepping your applications now.
We can help you get ready to apply. If you're planning to apply for a Cleanup Grant for a Washington project, contact Ecology's Brownfields Program Lead Ali Furmall and Program Planner Tina Hochwender.
Other funding opportunities
Retrofit grants available from Commerce: Apply by September 25
Public entities in Washington can apply for energy efficiency grants from the Washington Dept. of Commerce to make energy retrofits in their facilities. Eligible entities include:
- Local agencies, including any city, town, county, special district, municipal corporation, agency, port district or authority
- Public higher education institutions
- K-12 public school districts
- State agencies
- Federally recognized Tribes within Washington
Consider applying if you need to update building systems such as * HVAC * lighting * insulation * windows * heat pump purchase and installation * or geothermal heating.
Applications due by 4 p.m. Pacific Wednesday, Sept. 25. Learn more.
Funding to improve Washington's water quality: Apply by October 15
Grants and loans are available from Ecology's Water Quality Combined Funding Program for projects that improve and protect water quality. See the map of projects funded in 2023. Eligible entities include:
- Counties, cities, and towns
- Federally recognized Tribal governments
- Special purpose districts
- Conservation districts
- Nonprofit organizations (only those qualify for Section 319 grants)
Apply in Ecology's Administration of Grants and Loans (EAGL) by 5 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday, October 15. Learn more.
Rural communities can boost their outdoor tourism economies: Apply by October 16
EPA's Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program provides planning assistance to small towns and rural communities to help them boost their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their main streets. Past recipients include the communities of Haines, Alaska, and John Day, Oregon.
Recreation grants available: Apply throughout the fall
Funding is available from Washington State Recreation Conservation Office (RCO) for projects focusing on trails, boating, outdoor learning for kids, or firearm and archery ranges. This is the last time applications will be accepted until 2026 so grab them if you can.
Application deadlines vary. Webinar recordings available for each grant type.
Read the media release. Learn more.
Affordable Housing
Design homes that help people age in place: Apply for training by September 6
Take advantage of in-person training this fall from the Housing Assistance Council to revise your housing program and learn the principles of universal design. Only 30 applicants will be accepted and the deadline is coming up fast.
Consider applying for this opportunity if you are:
- An affordable housing professional overseeing single-family new construction or rehabilitation programs.
- A nonprofit construction team member involved in designing and building affordable housing.
- A housing nonprofit CEO and leader looking to implement universal design across your program and services.
Participants must:
- Be located in or serve a non-urbanized or rural community.
- Represent a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or local municipality.
- Be eligible to participate in HUD’s Rural Capacity Building Program.
- Commit to attending the two in-person training events in Chicago, Illinois, and Knoxville, Tennessee.
Travel scholarships available. Apply by Friday, September 6, 2024.
Housing activity funds available to nonprofits, municipalities, federally recognized Tribes
Two funding opportunities from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture are available to qualified organizations that repair, construct, or develop homes:
-
Mutual Self-help Housing Technical Assistance Grants support local, self-help housing construction projects. Application deadline remains open.
-
Rural Housing Site Loans are used to acquire and develop sites for housing that will be constructed by the Self-Help method. Application deadline remains open. Learn more.
Learn more about USDA's Single Family Housing Programs.
Ecology's new grants help protect air quality in overburdened communities
Washington organizations can apply for grants to conduct community engagement and develop projects that reduce air pollution. The funds will serve communities identified as overburdened and highly impacted by air pollution, as well as participating Tribes.
Attend one of the webinars to learn more. Recordings will be available later, but attending live is a great way to get your questions answered.
-
Wednesday, Sept. 4 | 10 a.m. Pacific | Register
-
Tuesday, Sept. 17 | 2 p.m. Pacific | Register
-
Thursday, Oct. 3 | 2 p.m. Pacific | Register
For more information about this new opportunity:
Applications accepted through EAGL until Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.
Webinar: Measuring gentrification indicators on September 10
An EPA webinar this September focuses on the social outcomes of brownfield redevelopment on communities. A three-year research project used case studies to investigate the types of social outcomes brownfield redevelopment has on communities, specifically measuring indicators of gentrification. It also incorporated community engagement activities that further catalyzed collaborations between community members and EPA. Lead researcher and social scientist Dr. Brittany Kiessling will discuss her results, next steps, and ideas for future research. A recording will be available later.
Webinar and new guide: Advancing equity on September 12
If you're working with a nonprofit, community group, or local government, check out Advancing equity in land reuse planning and visioning, a new guide with practical ways for embedding environmental justice principles in every phase of the land reuse process. This 27-page document from the Center for Creative Land Recycling and Groundwork USA contains strategies and best practices such as researching before engaging; meeting people where they are; and facilitating inclusive participation.
A companion webinar on September 12 will take a deeper dive into the guide, offering tips for navigating it effectively.
Financial webinar for Tribes on October 15
In the October installment of this financial series, speakers will discuss how Tribal governments and their partner organizations are finding new and interesting ways to layer capital for Tribal projects. Register even if you can't attend: registrants can access recordings later.
Layering the capital stack in Indian Country | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Pacific
Recorded webinar coming soon from Mr. Cleanup Grant
A recorded webinar about assembling competitive grant applications will soon be available from the Center for Creative Land Recyling (CCLR). CCLR's Ignacio Dayrit provides essential information for drafting a compelling narrative, navigating the application process, and ensuring your cleanup grant applications shine.
|
Free mapping tool focuses on climate vulnerability
Neighborhoods at Risk is a free, easy-to-use mapping tool from HeadwatersEconomics.org that helps communities identify which neighborhoods may be more impacted by climate change. (See also EPA's Disadvantaged Communities mapping tool noted elsewhere in this newsletter.)
https://nar.headwaterseconomics.org/
Conferences & News
IACC in Wenatchee October 22–24: Registration now open
The annual, 3-day Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council conference in Wenatchee, Washington, is a great opportunity for communities, state agencies, and local governments to connect with each other. The event is limited to just 400 participants and seats go fast. Explore the 2023 presentations. Learn more and register.
 Climate Change Act dollars in action!
Forty-one community organizations and Tribes will receive more than $14 million from the Washington Dept. of Health, thanks to the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). Signed into law in 2021 by Gov. Jay Inslee, the CCA is a market-based cap-and-invest program to require the state's largest polluters to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
That $14 million is now supporting environmental and climate justice initiatives across Washington state. “Through the Climate Commitment Act, we are putting frontline communities at the heart of our climate justice initiatives,” said Lauren Jenks, Environmental Public Health assistant secretary. Read more.
Chicago hosting 2025 EPA National Brownfields Conference
EPA's major brownfields conference happens every two years, and Chicago, Illinois, will host the next one August 5–8, 2025. Check out photos and presentations from the 2023 Detroit event to learn why this national conference is a good bet.
Contact us if you have a brownfield project!
If you missed the last newsletter: July newsletter (July 25)
|
Español (Spanish)
|
Si tiene preguntas o desea obtener más información sobre propiedades o terrenos abandonados o subutilizados que podrían tener contaminación ambiental pero potencialmente ser aptos para revitalización, comuníquese con: Elaine Heim, elaine.heim@ecy.wa.gov (360) 584-3750
|
|
中文 (Chinese)
|
如果您有任何疑問或想瞭解更多關於棕地即曾經的工業或商業用地的資訊，請聯繫 : Elaine Heim, elaine.heim@ecy.wa.gov (360) 584-3750
|
|
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
|
Nếu quý vị có câu hỏi hoặc muốn biết thêm thông tin về bất động sản bị bỏ hoang hoặc không sử dụng có thể gây ô nhiễm môi trường, được gọi là “brownfields” vui lòng liên hệ : Elaine Heim, elaine.heim@ecy.wa.gov (360) 584-3750
|
|
한국어 (Korean)
|
브라운필드 (환경오염이 가능한 버려지거나 잘 사용되지 않는 부지)에 대해 질문이 있거나, 더 많은 정보를 원하시면 다음 연락처로 문의하세요: Elaine Heim, elaine.heim@ecy.wa.gov (360) 584-3750
|
|
