Cooperative Agreement 02J57201

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA). EPA'S SOLID WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RECYCLING (SWIFR) GRANTS FOR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF STATES AND TERRITORIES WILL FUND ACTIVITIES THAT WILL RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE GENERATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW) AND/OR AN INCREASE IN THE DIVERSION OF MSW FROM LANDFILLS AND INCINERATION, AS WELL AS FUND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE OR INCREASE ACCESS TO PREVENTION, REUSE, MECHANICAL RECYCLING, ANAEROBIC DIGESTION, AND COMPOSTING. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO ENHANCE SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES (SPU) EFFORTS TO MEET THE SWIFR GRANTS ELEMENTS. SPECIFICALLY, SPU WILL USE GRANT FUNDS TO CONTRACT WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SET UP INFRASTRUCTURE TO FILL A KEY GAP IN THE LOCAL CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SALVAGED WOOD: A SECURE, COVERED URBAN WAREHOUSE SPACE LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE, AT A MINIMUM, THE WOOD RECOVERED FROM 10% OF SEATTLE'S HOMES REMOVED ANNUALLY OR ABOUT 12 TONS PER MONTH. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE 60-90 HOUSES PER YEAR BY THE END OF THE GRANT'S THIRD YEAR, CREATE JOBS RESULTING FROM ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SALVAGE LUMBER WAREHOUSE, PROCESS A TARGET OF 300-450 TONS OF WOOD ANNUALLY, AND POSITIVELY IMPACT LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF RACIAL HEALTH INEQUITIES.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THIS PROJECT ARE 1) DRAFTING A SOLICITATION TO SELECT A CONTRACTOR THROUGH AN RFP SELECTION PROCESS; 2) UPDATING THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR A SALVAGED LUMBER WAREHOUSE, 3) DEVELOPING A PLAN TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A SECURE, COVERED, WEATHER-IMPERVIOUS URBAN WAREHOUSE SPACE, SECURING A WAREHOUSE SPACE WITHIN CITY LIMITS, AND 4) PURCHASING TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE SALVAGE LUMBER WAREHOUSE. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE A SECURE, COVERED, WEATHER-IMPERVIOUS URBAN WAREHOUSE SPACE THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW SALVAGE LUMBER WAREHOUSE, FINANCIAL DATA SHOWING THE WAREHOUSE IS PROFITABLE AT THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD, TARGETED TOTAL OF 60-90 DECONSTRUCTED HOUSES BY THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD, AND 450 TONS OF WOOD PROCESSED ANNUALLY BY THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD, AND TO CREATE JOBS RESULTING FROM ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SALVAGE LUMBER WAREHOUSE. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE LOCAL WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES (ACTIVELY SOLICITED FOR RFPS) AND LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF RACIAL HEALTH INEQUITIES, WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM DECREASED DEMOLITION (WHICH CAN INCREASE LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION) AND INCREASED DECONSTRUCTION