Cooperative Agreement 02F10601

DESCRIPTION:ECOLOGY ACTION OF SANTA CRUZ, PROPOSES TO DEVELOP AND PILOT COMPREHENSIVE SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTS IN 20 GROCERY STORES IN UNDERSERVED OR RURAL AREAS IN TEXAS, LOUISIANA, NEW MEXICO, AND OKLAHOMA. THE PROJECT AIMS TO ASSESS AND REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RISKS IN GROCERY STORES, IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE POLLUTION AND IMPROVE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT, AND ADVANCE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AMONG GROCERY STORES. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS TO PERFORM 20 IN-STORE P2 AND SMM ASSESSMENTS, EDUCATE FOOD RETAILERS AND WORKERS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO PREVENT POLLUTION AND IMPROVE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FOOD RETAILERS. THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN REDUCED ENERGY AND WATER USAGE, REDUCED POLLUTION, AND REDUCED WASTE IN STORES.ACTIVITIES:ECOLOGY ACTION OF SANTA CRUZ, PROPOSES TO DEVELOP AND PILOT COMPREHENSIVE SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTS IN 20 GROCERY STORES IN UNDERSERVED OR RURAL AREAS IN TEXAS, LOUISIANA, NEW MEXICO, AND OKLAHOMA. THE PROJECT MEETS THE HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTAL LIVING PROGRAM AREAS OF POLLUTION PREVENTION AND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT. GROCERY STORES OFFER SUBSTANTIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE IN BOTH PROGRAM AREAS. THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO: 1. ASSESS AND REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RISKS IN INDEPENDENT FOOD RETAIL OPERATIONS. 2. IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE POLLUTION AT THE SOURCE, INCLUDING POLLUTION FROM ENERGY USE, WATER USE, REFRIGERATION, AND TOXICS IN STORES. 3. IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT IN THE AREAS OF PLASTICS, FOOD WASTE, AND OTHER OPERATIONAL WASTE. 4. ADVANCE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OF GROCERY STORES SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE OPERATIONS DURING CLIMATE SHOCKS AND EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY: 1. PARTNERING WITH INDEPENDENT GROCERS ALLIANCE (IGA), THE IGA COCA COLA INSTITUTE (ICCI) AND ITS RETAIL LEARNING INSTITUTE (RLI), AND AFFILIATED FOODS TO RECRUIT 20 INDEPENDENT FOOD RETAILERS IN THE TARGET AREA. 2. PERFORMING IN-STORE EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS ON POLLUTION PREVENTION, SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT, AND DISASTER RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENT PRACTICES AND MEASURES. 3. EDUCATING ENROLLED FOOD RETAILERS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR STORES TO REDUCE POLLUTION, IMPROVE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT, AND ENHANCE DISASTER READINESS THROUGH WRITTEN REPORTS AND TRAINING SESSIONS. 4. PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ENROLLED RETAILERS IN DEVELOPING IMPLEMENTATION PLANS AND ADOPTING RECOMMENDED MEASURES AND STRATEGIES, AND TRAINING WORKERS. 5. EVALUATING AND DISSEMINATING PROJECT RESULTS. 6. EFFECTIVELY ADMINISTERING THE PROJECT. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE THE PUBLIC AND BUSINESSES IN EPA REGION 6.