Cooperative Agreement 96230523

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO INTER AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO METRO CAMPUS (IAUPR) TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER, LOCAL LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS LOCATED IN PUERTO RICO, AND THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL CREATE HUBS IN PUERTO RICO AND USVI USING A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MODEL PREVIOUSLY IMPLEMENTED IN BY IAUPR IN PUERTO RICO. THE RECIPIENTS' GOAL IS TO 'BUILD COMMUNITY CAPACITY, CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND MAXIMIZING BENEFITS TO OVERBURDENED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES INCREASING EPA SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY-LED ACTION BY PROVIDING INVESTMENTS AND BENEFITS DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITIES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS AND BY INTEGRATING EQUITY THROUGHOUT AGENCY PROGRAMS.' OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA), AND SUPPORT FOR CORE AREAS; COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, GRANTS AND FUNDRAISING CAPACITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL/ENERGY JUSTICE ADVOCACY.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: A SERIES OF MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, AND WEBINARS, BOTH FACE-TO-FACE AND VIRTUAL; THE HUBS AND PARTNERS WILL ENGAGE GRASSROOT ORGANIZATIONS IN STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY. THE STEP-BY-STEP UNPACKING OF THE IDENTIFYING ORGANIZATIONAL, TECHNICAL NEEDS, CREATION OF GUIDES AND MANUALS THAT ARE CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE AND A HANDS-ON-APPROACH FOR PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO PARTICIPANTS PRIMARILY IN PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. EAGEL WILL DEVELOP A HUB ONE STOP CENTER IN PUERTO RICO AND US VIRGIN ISLANDS TO PROVIDE ELIGIBLE SERVICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL/ENERGY JUSTICE IN UNDERSERVED, RURAL, AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES. SUBRECIPIENT:INTER AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO WILL ISSUE SUBAWARDS UNDER THIS ASSISTANT AGREEMENT. THE SUB AWARDEES WILL PROVIDE COORDINATION OF THE PROJECT, PREPARING MATERIALS, OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, GRANTSMANSHIP, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY JUSTICE ADVOCACY. OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: RECRUIT AND ENGAGE APPROXIMATE 340 ORGANIZATIONS IN STRENGTHENING THEIR INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY THROUGH TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; TO PROVIDE 5500 HOURS OF TRAINING AND SERVICES TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH THIS PROJECT THE RECIPIENT EXPECTS THAT UP TO 90% OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION WILL INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF GRANTSMANSHIP; 70% OF ORGANIZATIONS WILL INCREASE THE CAPABILITY TO APPLY AND RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING AS WELL AS TO ESTABLISH EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING MODULES ON CORE AREAS FOR COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING AND LEADERSHIP FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, GRANTSMANSHIP AND FUNDRAISING. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE RESIDENTS LOCATED IN PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.