Cooperative Agreement 00E03474

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL (GVMC) TO DEVELOP A REGIONAL CLIMATE MITIGATION PLAN TO ADDRESS GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS AND REDUCTION MEASURES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA AND TO CONDUCT MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND COORDINATE WITH GEOGRAPHICALLY PROXIMATE TRIBES AS APPROPRIATE. THE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE: TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO-POLLUTANTS) REDUCED ANNUALLY; TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO-POLLUTANTS) REDUCED WITH RESPECT TO LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES; ENHANCED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; IMPROVED AMBIENT AIR QUALITY; HEALTH BENEFITS ACHIEVED, AND OTHERS. ACTIVITIES:IN GENERAL, ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANS TO REDUCE CLIMATE POLLUTION (I.E., TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS AND/OR ENHANCE CARBON SINKS). GVMC WILL SEEK TO INTEGRATE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND INVOLVE THE PUBLIC IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE GRANT PROCESS. GVMC WILL COLLABORATE AND COORDINATE WITH ENTITIES AND OTHER APPROPRIATE AGENCIES INCLUDING THE STATE OF MICHIGAN'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY (EGLE), THE CITY OF GRAND RAPID'S CLIMATE ADVISORY TEAMS, TRIBES, INSTITUTES OF HIGHER EDUCATION (SUCH AS GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN), AND NONPROFITS (SUCH AS THE WEST MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL, THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, WEST MICHIGAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS FORUM, AND WEST MICHIGAN CLEAN AIR COALITION). GVMC'S EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS WILL BE ENGAGED TO CREATE AND/OR EXPAND INTERAGENCY WORKGROUPS/CLIMATE ACTION TEAMS; A SHARED ELECTRONIC REPOSITORY FOR RELEVANT CLIMATE MATERIALS, RESEARCH, DRAFT PLANS, AND MEETING SCHEDULES. LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES (LIDAC) IN THE GRAND RAPIDS-KENTWOOD MSA WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND GIVEN SPECIAL PRIORITY USING THE EPA'S JUSTICE40, MICHIGAN'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SCREENING TOOL (MIEJSCREEN), AND OTHER TOOLS. GVMC PLANS TO FORM A LIDAC CLIMATE ACTION TEAM COMPOSED OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WILL INFORM THE PLANNING PROCESS OF THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. SUBRECIPIENT:SUBGRANTS WILL SUPPORT REGIONAL PLANNING BY COMPENSATING FRONTLINE ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST WITH RECRUITING ATTENDEES FOR WORKSHOPS AND PROVIDING INPUT TO THE PLANS. OUTCOMES:THREE KEY DELIVERABLES WILL BE PRODUCED AND SUBMITTED OVER THE COURSE OF THE FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM PERIOD, INCLUDING: A PRIORITY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (PCAP), DUE MARCH 1, 2024; A COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (CCAP), DUE TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE AWARD; AND A STATUS REPORT, DUE AT THE CLOSE OF THE GRANT PERIOD. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE A PCAP AND CCAP THAT IDENTIFIES: TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO-POLLUTANTS) REDUCED OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE MEASURES; TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO- POLLUTANTS) REDUCED ANNUALLY; AND TONS OF POLLUTION (GHGS AND CO-POLLUTANTS) REDUCED WITH RESPECT TO LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE RESIDENTS OF THE GRAND RAPIDS-KENTWOOD METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA AS WELL AS THE LIDAC COMMUNITIES WITHIN THIS AREA.