This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to kansas state university

Kansas State University received a $350,000 Project Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 under the Pollution Prevention Grants Program (CFDA 66.708), funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The award, effective January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, supports the delivery of pollution prevention (P2) technical assistance to Kansas businesses. The university will provide information, training, and tools to help businesses develop and implement source reduction practices that reduce or eliminate pollutants from entering waste streams prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. By adopting these practices, participating businesses can achieve cost savings through reduced resource consumption and waste management expenditures while simultaneously lowering their environmental footprint and reducing liability exposure.

The project activities specifically address five national emphasis areas designated by the EPA: food and beverage manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, automotive manufacturing and maintenance, aerospace product and parts manufacturing, and metal manufacturing and fabrication. Kansas State University will execute this work through trained pollution prevention staff and interns, implementing a structured environmental sustainability program targeting the Kansas brewing industry. The project also encompasses consumer education and community-industry collaboration initiatives designed to foster awareness and facilitate discussion between industry stakeholders and small businesses regarding pollution prevention methodologies and their economic and environmental benefits.

The recipient will provide technical assistance (e.g., information, training, tools) to businesses to help them develop and adopt source reduction practices (also known as pollution prevention (P2)). P2 means reducing or eliminating pollutants from entering any waste stream or otherwise being released into the environment prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. P2 practices can help businesses save money by reducing their resource use, expenditures, waste and liability costs, while at the same time reducing their environmental footprint and helping to protect human health and the environment. Specifically, the project work will accomplish: providing pollution prevention technical assistance to kansas businesses, utilizing trained pollution prevention staff and interns; implementing a structured program promoting environmental sustainability in the kansas brewing industry; and working in kansas to provide technical support and facilitate discussions focused on consumer education and aspects of community and industry education, as well as activities designed to create discussion, awareness and collaborative actions between the community, industry and small businesses. Activities:the priorities for P2 technical assistance (information, training, and tools) align with one or more of the program's national emphasis areas (NEAS). Specifically, the project(S) activities will address the following: NEA #1 food and beverage manufacturing and processing (NAICS CODES311 and 3121), NEA # 2 chemical manufacturing, processing and formulation (NAICS codes 325 and the 4-6-digit NAICS codes under 325),NEA #3 automotive manufacturing and maintenance (NAICS 3361, 3362, 3363, and 8111), NEA #4 aerospace product and parts manufacturing and maintenance (NAICS 3364 and 488190), and NEA #5 metal manufacturing and fabrication (NAICS 331 and 332). KSU will prioritize work with all five NEAS but will be opened to working with non-NEA companies as well. With a variety of industry sectors in kansas, a broader scope for this project can yield a higher reach of industry and therefore potential environmental and cost savings. The activities will be split into three different projects. Project one connects kansas companies and students through an intern program designed to help businesses identify, assess and implement P2 practices. Project one will primarily target outreach to NEA #1 - #5 facilities. Project two, a P2 in breweries initiative, promotes environmental sustainability in kansas by introducing a green brewery label and helping breweries adopt pollution prevention practices. Project two will target specifically NEA #1 facilities. Project three partners with kansas communities to offer technical support and organize up to four public events aimed at facilitating discussions that enhance awareness and collaboration among community members, citizens and local businesses. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the technical assistance conducted by the recipient will benefit facilities. The recipient is expected to report on P2 performance measures (outputs and outcomes) and note who will benefit from the technical assistance as well as commit to following-up with facilities to find out whether the technical assistance was adopted and implemented. The anticipated deliverables include: direct technical assistance to up to 32 businesses; produce at least 1 success story; develop 12 case summaries and one formal case study; host 1 workshop partnering with other states running green brewery programs, sharing results of the program and amplifying pollution prevention initiatives; host the annual pollution prevention intern symposium; provide continuing education credits for up to 24 students in pollution prevention techniques; and support four public community workshops