This grant agreement provides funding to the pittsburgh conservation corps to implement an integrated model for biomass management and workforce development

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3 awarded a $149,336 Cooperative Agreement to the Pittsburgh Conservation Corps under the Solid Waste Management Assistance Grants program (CFDA 66.808). The project aims to implement an integrated model for biomass management and workforce development, diverting 625 tons of urban wood waste annually to produce 150,000 board feet of merchantable lumber in the first year. The project will establish a sawmill to process fallen trees into valuable products, reducing pressure on landfills while providing job training, skills development, and employment opportunities in the green sector for underserved communities in the Pittsburgh area. This award supports the program's focus on promoting sustainable materials management, recycling infrastructure development, and creating environmental workforce development opportunities.

The project proposes to divert fallen trees from the waste stream and process them into valuable products (e.g., lumber, bioenergy, compost) with the establishment of a sawmill that will mill lumber from fallen trees of the highest quality into merchantable products. By harnessing the value of urban wood waste, this project will reduce the pressure on landfills and will provide people living in underserved communities with job training, skills development, and opportunities to enter high-paying careers.activities:these activities will establish, increase, expand or optimize the capacity for materials management, and will also include the development of plans or strategies to accomplish activities that will demonstrate an increase in the diversion/recycling rate.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include the diversion of 625 tons of urban wood waste on an annual basis that will produce 150,000 board feet of merchantable lumber in the first year. The expected outcomes include an increase in lumber production, which will create job training and employment opportunities in wood processing. The implementation of this project will strengthen the circular economy for wood products in the pittsburgh region. The pittsburgh conservation corps has a strong track record in accomplishing the workforce development goals that are an integral part of this project. The intended beneficiaries are the underserved citizens of the pittsburgh area.