This project will provide technical assistance to businesses to help them develop and adopt source reduction practices (also known as pollution prevention (P2))

Western Nevada College received a $699,281 Project Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 under the Pollution Prevention Grants Program (CFDA 66.708), effective October 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. The award funds technical assistance services to help Nevada businesses identify and adopt source reduction practices, commonly referred to as pollution prevention (P2). Primary deliverables include direct assistance to manufacturers and suppliers in formulating safer alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other chemicals currently used in motor vehicle air conditioning, centrifugal chillers, spray rigid and flexible polyurethane foam insulation, furniture applications, and solvent cleaning. The project will also provide education and training to auto repair shops and Nevada breweries on P2 best practices.

To amplify project outcomes and ensure broader dissemination of results, Western Nevada College will develop four documented case studies and produce four webinars highlighting successful conversions to safer chemical alternatives and source reduction implementations. These deliverables align with the EPA Pollution Prevention Grants Program's emphasis on providing information, training, and tools that enable businesses to reduce operational costs through decreased resource consumption and waste generation while simultaneously lowering environmental footprints and protecting human health in Nevada communities.

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 assisting companies using PFAS chemicals in converting to safer alternatives. Technical assistance will be provided to manufacturers and suppliers in formulating alternatives to not-in-kind (NIK) chemicals used in motor vehicle air conditioning, centrifugal chillers, spray rigid and flexible polyurethane foam used in insulation and furniture, and solvent cleaning. We will also work to educate auto shops and nevada breweries on P2 best practices. The project will improve human health and the environment by reducing the risk of events like droughts, wildfires and urban heat island warming to affected communities. Four case studies and four webinars will amplify the results. This assistance agreement provides partial federal funding in the amount of $699,281. See terms and conditions.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: environmental issues in nevada businesses and communities. The project activities include: 1) selecting applications of interest 2) working with manufacturers and suppliers to identify and investigate NIK alternatives and find those that are safest and the most viable 3) working with manufacturers, suppliers and users of the alternatives to evaluate the health and environmental impacts, the feasibility and cost of converting to and using the alternatives 4) developing case studies for at least four companies manufacturing/using NIK safer alternatives 5) preparing and disseminating a final report detailing the case studies and the tradeoffs, including the feasibility and cost of using the alternatives 6) developing and disseminating outreach materials on the safer NIK alternatives to companies marketing and using PFAS chemicals and to P2 technical assistance providers 7) arranging and holding webinars on the different product types to inform companies about the selected operations of the safer alternatives. Attendees would include companies using and supplying chemicals, community representatives, EPA staff and P2 providers. Subrecipient:subaward to greenup! To manage grant, organize trainings, provide technical assistance, draft grant report and conduct final site visits in YR. 3. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes include case studies of at least four manufacturers or user companies that have adopted or implemented the alternatives, evaluating the tradeoffs and specifying the cost of the substitutions. Development of outreach materials and host webinars for companies in each of the selected application areas