This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to island green building association, doing business as island green living association (IGL)

Funding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2

Program: Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CFDA 66.616)

Award Amount: $20,000,000

Award Date: March 31, 2025

Island Green Living Association received a $20 million Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) grant to implement comprehensive environmental and waste management initiatives across the U.S. Virgin Islands, specifically targeting St. Thomas and St. Croix. The project addresses both upstream and downstream waste management through establishment of a Resource Recovery Center on St. Thomas, implementation of territory-wide composting programs, expansion of safe public drinking water access through installation of nine water filling stations, and development of marine health protection education in schools and businesses. These efforts aim to promote behavioral change in waste diversion, establish circular economy practices, and reduce environmental pollution in disadvantaged communities.

Sub-awardees will execute key project components including conducting public water source testing and quality assessments, installing water filling stations with signage in accessible locations, designing and delivering eco-school programming at two additional schools, implementing community water opinion surveys to mitigate drinking water risks, and executing a comprehensive public education and engagement campaign. A community council comprising representatives from each island will provide ongoing input and feedback to ensure program success and maximize community-wide participation. The integrated approach emphasizes community partnerships and engagement to inform program design and evolution while addressing climate resilience and environmental justice priorities in disadvantaged communities.

Specifically, the project will tackle both the upstream and downstream aspects of effective waste management by promoting behavior change and improving diversion methods once waste enters the system. Specific programs include a comprehensive recycling and composting programs for the two most populous islands, including establishment of a circular economy; expanding access to safe public drinking water; community, school, and business education for protecting marine health; and community partnerships, engagement, and outreach to inform program design/evolution, and maximize community-wide participation/commitment to these new programs. Activities:the activities include establishing a resource recovery center on ST. Thomas, establishing a comprehensive composting program for the residents of ST. Thomas and ST. Croix, installing water filling stations, conducting water quality monitoring, increasing ECO-school programming in schools, and implementing a comprehensive public education and engagement campaign. Subrecipient:the activities to be completed as subawards include: implement a territory wide composting project; conduct tests of public water sources including assessment and communication of results; installation of 9 new water filling stations with signage in easily accessible and highly used spaces; conduct community water opinion surveys and engagement campaigns to identify and mitigate drinking water risks and promote sources of free, safe, waste-free drinking water; design/delivery of ECO-schools programming at two additional schools; implement a comprehensive public education and engagement plan for all projects including establish a community council with representatives from each island to provide ongoing input and feedback for continued success. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include: the construction of recycling and education facility on ST thomas; collecting and processing of recyclable materials; 4 public collection points installed for materials for recycling; installation of central composting/mulching facilities on ST. Thomas and ST. Croix; collecting and composting/mulching of organic waste; research results from waste market analyses and commercial needs assessment surveys; selling tons of reclaimed materials back into the economy following processing per year; generating revenue in the local economy from end-market materials sales per year; 9 water-filtration systems installed in publicly accessible locations and schools; 2 additional public schools participating in ECO-schools programming; 30 high-quality jobs added to usvi economy; survey results from stakeholders: citizens, businesses, K-12 students, and educators; and distribution and audience impressions for educational and promotional materials and events. The expected outcomes include reduction in materials deposited in local landfills and associated GHG emissions per year; reduction in plastic and other waste removed from marine and land areas per year; increased community participation and commitment in reducing volume of solid waste production and its associated pollutants; decrease in percentage of imported food, post-recycled materials, fertilizer, and mulch; increase in public access to safe, plastic-free drinking water; increase in businesses earning and displaying ECO-certifications; increase in percentage of K-12 students receiving ECO-schools curriculum; and increased economic opportunity with newly established circular economy and added jobs. The intended beneficiaries are disadvantaged communities.