Project Grant 00E03369

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPETITIVELY SELECTED GRANT IS TO CONDUCT AMBIENT AIR MONITORING OF POLLUTANTS OF GREATEST CONCERN IN COMMUNITIES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH OUTCOME DISPARITIES STEMMING FROM POLLUTION AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO EXPAND GROUNDWORK OHIO RIVER VALLEY'S (GORV) CURRENT AIR QUALITY, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND MONITORING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH EMPLOYEES AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS ON AIR QUALITY MONITORING TECHNIQUES AND AIR POLLUTION HEALTH EDUCATION. THIS COMMUNITY-DRIVEN MONITORING PROJECT COMPILES NEIGHBORHOOD AND INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL AIR TOXIN EXPOSURE RATES AND USES THIS DATA TO ADVOCATE FOR MITIGATION EFFORTS. FUNDING FROM THIS GRANT WOULD EXPAND GROUNDWORK'S NEWLY ESTABLISHED AIR QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM BY INVESTING IN THE TECHNOLOGY NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE AIR QUALITY MONITORING AND COMPENSATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THEIR TIME.ACTIVITIES:THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO MONITOR THEIR OWN AIR QUALITY AND TO PROMOTE AIR QUALITY MONITORING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES THAT: LEVERAGE EXISTING AIR QUALITY EXPERTISE, EXPAND USE OF COMMUNITY MONITORING GROUPS AND OTHER APPROACHES THAT GIVE THE COMMUNITY A VOICE IN THE MONITORING OF THE AIR QUALITY, AND BUILD A FOUNDATION OF TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS AND ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING FROM WHICH SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND. SPECIFICALLY, GORV WILL DEPLOY AIR MONITORS AND TRAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THEIR USE, COLLECT AND EVALUATE 12 MONTHS OF AIR QUALITY DATA, THEN PRESENT THAT DATA TO THE COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE MEMBERS AND GENERATE BUY-IN FOR FUTURE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND POLLUTION REDUCTION EFFORTS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE 50 RESIDENTS AND 320 GREEN TEAM EMPLOYEES BEING TRAINED ON AIR QUALITY MONITORING AND POLLUTION HEALTH HAZARDS, 12 MONTHS OF DATA EVALUATING RATES OF EXPOSURE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, A PUBLIC REPORT OF THE AIR POLLUTION FINDINGS OVER THE 12-MONTH STUDY, AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS TO EXPLAIN THE DATA. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT AIR POLLUTION, INCREASED BUY-IN FOR FUTURE POLLUTION REDUCTION PROJECTS, ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAMS TO ASSIST WITH POLLUTION MITIGATION, AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICY CHANGE. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE RESIDENTS IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI, OHIO AREA.