This infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) project will provide technical assistance (e.g., information, training, expert advice) using P2 practices to address environmental justice concerns…

This infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) project will provide technical assistance (e.g., information, training, expert advice) using P2 practices to address environmental justice concerns and improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. Specifically, the project work intends to support university of illinois at urbana-champaign's proposed project will provide technical assistance to food service businesses (including restaurants, churches, soup kitchens, etc.) to increase the use of safer, more sustainable foodware by supporting purchasing programs for food contact materials that do not contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Technical assistance will include developing criteria and tools to identify and purchase PFAS-free foodware products, on-site assessments for 30 food businesses located in disadvantaged communities, and safer, more sustainable PFAS-free foodware purchasing trainings for 115 businesses. The proposed project will improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by reducing harmful chemical exposures and human health impacts for food service employees and their customers, reducing drinking water contamination and soil pollution, and decreasing the amount of PFAS-containing products entering landfills or compost facilities. Activities:the priorities and goals of the P2 grant are to provide technical assistance and training to increase the use of safer, more sustainable food ware in businesses located in disadvantaged communities by supporting purchasing programs for food contact materials that do not contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Subrecipient:1) illinois green business association - business outreach activities, P2 product development, technical assessments, and amplification of technical assistance outcomes and outputs 2) takeout 25 - business outreach and recruitment; food ware sample product purchasing 3) seven generations ahead - disadvantaged community and CBO engagement, P2 product amplification, and community town hall planning/hosting outcomes:the technical assistance anticipated under the grant is expected to provide the following P2 deliverables, and anticipated outputs and outcomes to support targeted disadvantaged communities. Specifically, the grantee anticipates providing technical assistance will include a) developing criteria and tools to identify and purchase PFAS-free food ware products, B) on-site assessments for 30 food businesses located in disadvantaged communities, and C) safer, more sustainable PFAS-free food ware purchasing trainings for 115 businesses.