Project Grant 84077301

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA). EPA'S CONSUMER RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH (REO) GRANT PROGRAM WILL FUND A RANGE OF PROJECTS THAT WILL INCREASE WASTE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, INCREASE THE COLLECTION OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPATION RATES, AND DECREASE CONTAMINATION OF THE RECYCLING STREAM, FUND PROJECTS THAT FOCUS ON COMMONLY RECYCLED MATERIALS SUCH AS MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (E.G., PLASTICS, ALUMINUM, PAPER, GLASS, ETC.), INCLUDING FOOD WASTE AND ORGANICS, AND/OR FUND PROJECTS AND PROVIDE TOOLS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT WILL LEAD TO LONG-TERM, SUSTAINED CHANGE, BENEFITS, AND SUPPORT BEYOND THE LIFE OF THE GRANT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO ENHANCE THE OREGON COMMUNITY WAREHOUSE'S EFFORTS TO MEET THE REO GRANTS ELEMENTS. SPECIFICALLY, THE OREGON COMMUNITY WAREHOUSE WILL ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO INCREASE THE REUSE, REPAIR, AND REFURBISHING OF BULKY FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS THAT CONTAIN COMMONLY-REUSED MATERIALS, INCLUDING METAL, PLASTICS, TEXTILES, AND ELECTRONICS. OREGON COMMUNITY WAREHOUSE AIMS TO INCREASE THIS USE TO 50%, WHICH EQUATES TO 2,050 TOTAL TONS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW) DIVERTED AND REUSED OVER THE THREE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD. ACTIVITIES:OREGON COMMUNITY WAREHOUSE WILL PERFORM THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR REUSE COMMUNITY RECYCLING PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO INCREASE WASTE PREVENTION, INCREASE THE COLLECTION OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, AND CREATE A THRIVING REUSE CENTER; DEVELOP EVIDENCE-BASED MESSAGING STRATEGIES AND CAMPAIGNS; GENERATE A BROAD-BASED METRO AREA COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE DONATIONS VIA PAID MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND UPDATED SIGNAGE, MURALS, A BILLBOARD COMMUNITY MAILINGS, AND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS; DEVELOP TARGETED COMMUNITY OUTREACH USING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND PRINTED COLLATERAL; AND BUILD AND LEVERAGE NATURAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. IN PURSUIT OF ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS, OREGON COMMUNITY WAREHOUSE WILL ALSO HIRE STAFF AND AN EXPERT CONSULTANT, UPDATE THEIR WEBSITE, DEVELOP MARKETING AND MEDIA STRATEGIES, PARTNER WITH OTHER REUSE ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN REUSE CENTER, PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, GROUPS, AND BUSINESSES TO INCREASE DONATION OF ITEMS, AND ENGAGE IN MULTI-FACETED CAMPAIGN TO REACH AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY. OVERALL, THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY RECYCLING PROGRAM AND ACCEPTED MATERIALS, AS WELL AS TO INCREASE COLLECTION RATES. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDE: 10 OUTREACH EVENTS AND/OR COLLECTION DRIVES PER YEAR; DESIGNING AND COORDINATING SIGNAGE FOR ALL BUILDINGS 3 TIMES PER YEAR; DESIGNING ADS SUCH AS SOCIAL MEDIA AND BULK MAILINGS 3 TIMES PER YEAR; COMPLETE OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT REQUIRE VOICE COMMUNICATION; GIVE AWAY A MINIMUM OF 600 ITEMS PER YEAR; 3 DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS MAILED TO 50,000 HOUSEHOLDS PER CAMPAIGN TO NEIGHBORHOODS EVERY YEAR; 1 PAID MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN ASSOCIATION WITH A LOCAL TELEVISION STATION PER YEAR; ONGOING AD SPEND FOR PRINT, DIGITAL, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS; AND UPDATING ALL SIGNAGE NEEDS AND CREATING NEW ONES AS NEEDED. THE EXPECTED SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE: 383 TOTAL OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF BROADSCALE MARKETING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES; 2,050 TOTAL TONS OF MSW COLLECTED OVER THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE; 50% GROWTH IN MSW COLLECTED; 3 GEOGRAPHIC COMMUNITIES REACHED (2 DISADVANTAGED) AND AT LEAST 135 SOCIAL COMMUNITIES; AND 2 FTE JOBS CREATED. THE EXPECTED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE: REDUCTION IN GHG EMISSIONS; 50% INCREASE IN THE PARTICIPATION RATE; INCREASED LEVEL OF ANNUAL DONATIONS; AND PROVIDING FURNITURE FOR 26,250 MORE PEOPLE. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE: RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A LACK OF RESOURCES SUCH AS MATTRESSES TO SLEEP ON AND FURNISHINGS TO MAKE T