Cooperative Agreement 84059101

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTER (EFC) AT EPA HEADQUARTERS. THE EFCS PROVIDE FINANCE-RELATED TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND ANALYTICAL STUDIES TO HELP REGULATED PARTIES DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO THE DIFFICULT 'HOW-TO-PAY' ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. THE EFCS EDUCATE STATE, TRIBAL, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND BUSINESSES ON LOWERING ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS, INCREASING ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENTS, IMPROVING FINANCIAL CAPACITY, IDENTIFYING APPROPRIATE REVENUE GENERATING MECHANISMS, AND EVALUATING ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCING OPTIONS. ACTIVITIES:MOONSHOT MISSIONS WILL PROVIDE DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) AND DEVELOP NATIONAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES. SPECIFICALLY, MOONSHOT WILL PROVIDE DIRECT TA FROM THE START TO IDENTIFY AND APPLY FOR PROJECT(S) TO BE FUNDED BY THE SRF. MOONSHOT'S ENGAGEMENT WILL BE TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF THE UTILITY, INCLUDING SUPPORT FROM NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO PROJECT SELECTION AND FINANCING. MOONSHOT WILL SERVE AS A TRUSTED ADVISOR TO MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS PERSONNEL ALIKE, AND WILL CALL UPON THE EXPERTISE OF PARTNERS, AS NEEDED, TO ASSIST WITH ELEMENTS OF THE SRF PROCESS. PRIORITY FOR YEARS 1-2 IS TO PROVIDE DIRECT TA TO HELP EPA BETTER ADMINISTER THE SRF PROGRAMS AND LEARN FROM EFFORTS TO SUPPORT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACCESS THE SRF FUNDING. ALSO, DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF WORK, MOONSHOT WILL DELIVER THREE KEY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MODULES THAT EPA WILL DISSEMINATE WIDELY, FOR EXAMPLE VIA THE EPA WEBSITE OR DELIVERED DIRECTLY AS HANDS-ON TRAINING TO UTILITIES AND TO OTHER REGIONAL EFC PARTNERS. MOONSHOT MISSIONS WILL COLLABORATIVELY ENGAGE WITH THE EPA, INCLUDING THE REGIONAL EFCS, TO DEVELOP MODELS THAT INCORPORATE LESSONS LEARNED FROM TA PILOTS LIKE THE CST, AS WELL AS THE METHODOLOGY DESCRIBED IN THE APPLICATION. EPA AND THE EFC WILL COLLABORATE ON PRIORITIES AND CONTENT. MOONSHOT MISSIONS WILL WORK ON BIL RELATED CLEAN WATER AND DRINKING WATER FINANCE ACTIVITIES. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE: COMMUNITY IDENTIFICATION AND COORDINATION, UTILITY OUTREACH, COMMUNITY SCREENING, INITIAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY BACKGROUND RESEARCH AND OUTREACH, SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS AND PROJECT IDENTIFICATION, COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: COMMUNITY IDENTIFICATION, INITIAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE COMMUNITIES AND UTILITIES WITH A FOCUS ON UNDERSERVED AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NEVER ACCESSED SRF FUNDING BEFORE, AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY RECEIVING AN EQUIVALENT KIND OF TA.