This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the university of southern maine (northeast environmental finance center)

The University of Southern Maine (Northeast Environmental Finance Center) received a $350,000 Project Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 under the Pollution Prevention Grants Program (CFDA 66.708), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this award supports the delivery of technical assistance to craft beverage manufacturers to develop and adopt source reduction practices, also known as pollution prevention (P2). The project will reduce or eliminate pollutants from waste streams while helping participating businesses decrease operational costs through reduced resource consumption, waste generation, and liability expenses.

Key deliverables include on-site and off-site pollution prevention assessments with recommendations for reducing energy, water, waste, and toxic chemical use; benchmarking and process mapping of operational practices; alternative chemical assessments to identify safer cleaning products; and service learning opportunities for student interns. The recipient will also develop outreach and educational materials including case studies, best management practice guides, and videos; maintain the BetterBev website and partner online map; organize six virtual train-the-trainer workshops; and host an event or webinar to inform businesses about source reduction opportunities. These activities align with the Pollution Prevention Grants Program's national emphasis areas and support EPA's broader objectives of promoting sustainable business practices while protecting human health and the environment.

The recipient will provide technical assistance (e.g., information, training, tools) to businesses to help them develop and adopt source reduction practices (also known as pollution prevention (P2)). P2 means reducing or eliminating pollutants from entering any waste stream or otherwise being released into the environment prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. P2 practices can help businesses save money by reducing their resource use, expenditures, waste and liability costs, while at the same time reducing their environmental footprint and helping to protect human health and the environment. Specifically, the project work will accomplish pollution prevention through onsite and offsite technical assistance to craft beverage manufacturers, featuring expert and self-assessments, support from student interns, alternative chemical assessments, and six train-the-trainer sessions.activities:the priorities for P2 technical assistance (information, training, and tools) align with one or more of the program's national emphasis areas (neas). Specifically, the project(s) activities will address the following: - P2 assessments include recommendations for reducing the use of energy, water, waste, and toxic chemicals. - benchmarking and process mapping of operational practices to establish baselines and opportunities for operational efficiency. - chemical assessment analysis to find safer cleaning products. - service learning work with P2 interns from the university of southern maine. - maintain a betterbev website and online map of betterbev partners. - develop outreach and educational materials (case study, best management practices guide, video) - organize an event or webinar to inform businesses about source reduction opportunities. - organize 6 virtual 'train the trainer' workshops.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the technical assistance conducted by the recipient will benefit facilities and, if applicable, may address underserved communities. The recipeint is expected to report on P2 performance measures (outputs and outcomes) and note who will benefit from the technical assistance as well as commit to following-up with facilities to find out whether the technical assistance was adopted and implemented. The anticipated deliverables include: - at least 30 craft beverage manufacturers (cbms) will be contacted and asked to complete the self assessment workbook (saw). - 20 cbms will receive direct P2 technical assistance. - assessing the toxicity of the current chemical catalog of all 20 cbms and trial alternative chemicals with at least 3 cbms. - establish a service-learning intern project for 8 students. - develop a new step-by-step BMP guide to serve as a model to amplify P2 outcomes. - develop 2 case studies highlighting an innovative P2 solution. - develop a video highlighting an innovative P2 solution. - organize a webinar or in person event to inform cbms and taps of an innovative P2 solution. - organize 6 virtual 'train the trainer' workshops. The expected outcomes include: - 348,594 pounds of metric tons of CO2 equivalent. - $85,552 saved by participating craft beverage manufacturers. - reduced use of hazardous cleaning products (exact amount TBD). The intended beneficiaries include: - 20 craft beverage manufacturers in maine and vermont with 5 in disadvantaged communities. - new england communities and environment protected from pollution and natural resource depletion. - state P2 technical assistance providers in regions 1, 3, and 4.