The grantee (LEAD) will establish support programs consisting of subawards and other forms of support that advances human wellbeing in the restoration and recovery of the puget sound ecosystem and its…

The grantee (LEAD) will establish support programs consisting of subawards and other forms of support that advances human wellbeing in the restoration and recovery of the puget sound ecosystem and its communities. This agreement will provide funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act for the LEAD to provide resources to overburdened and underserved communities as is prioritized in the vital signs and outcomes of the puget sound action agenda. The puget sound action agenda serves as the EPA-approved comprehensive conservation and management plan (CCMP) under section 320 of the clean water act.activities:the recipient will develop and administer a program of subawards and other support over a 4-year period. The recipient will draft a funding framework and plan that includes community definitions, priority criteria, strategies, and types of grants and support needed for both action agenda and overburdened and underserved communities for years 1 and year 2 through 4. The recipient will solicit year 1 funding and years 2-4 funding, after which they will administer subawards and financial support. The recipient will also develop an engagement plan for technical assistance, capacity support and coordination, followed by its' implementation which will result in the creation of a community advisory board. Finally, the recipient will develop a management and compliance reporting system which will assist in managing the cooperative agreement with the EPA project officer. Subrecipient:activities to be implemented through subawards include three different levels of awards based on the sub-grantee's experience (entry, emerging, advanced). These activities will align with the 2022-2026 puget sound action agenda in the form of typical environmental restoration projects as well as activities that consider overburdened and underserved communities in recovery.outcomes:anticipated deliverables and outcomes include, the development of a relevant, accessible, equity-focused program for grantmaking and other financial support in year 1 that is adaptively managed and new awards are made in years 2 - 4. Expected outcomes also include the increased awareness across the management conference of the essential contributions that overburdened and underserved communities make to the puget sound action agenda with a sustained and effective presence of these communities within the puget sound recovery effort, management conference, and action agenda forums. Intended beneficiaries include the overburdened and underserved communities within the puget sound recovery community, the puget sound management conference, and the entire puget sound region.