Project Grant 98T51401

DESCRIPTION:THIS GRANT WILL SUPPORT A GROWING NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO CLIMATE ACTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WHO PARTNERED TO WORK WITH NEVADA BUSINESSES, MANUFACTURERS AND BIPOC COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE P2 BEST PRACTICES AND PROVIDE GREEN CERTIFICATION. THE PROJECT WOULD RESULT IN BETTER PROTECTION FOR WORKERS IN INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS (OFTENTIMES BIPOC) WHO LIVE NEAR COMPANIES THAT USE MORE DANGEROUS CHEMICALS TODAY. THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES PARTIAL FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $289,271. PREAWARD COSTS ARE APPROVED BACK TO 10/1/2022. REFER TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS.ACTIVITIES:THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES INVOLVE WORKING WITH CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS OF SAFER PRODUCTS THAT ARE WIDELY USED INDUSTRIALLY IN PLACE OF TOXIC AND HIGH VOC CONTENT SOLVENTS AND SOLVENT FORMULATIONS. THE CONSULTANT AND FORMULATORS WILL WORK WITH SAFER CHOICE TO DETERMINE IF THE SAFER PRODUCTS IN UP TO 10 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OR APPLICATIONS CAN BE GRANTED A LABEL. IT WILL INCLUDE FINDING COMPANIES IN NEVADA AND REGION 9 THAT HAVE CONVERTED TO THE ALTERNATIVES IN CASES WHERE THE ALTERNATIVES HAVE BEEN USED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND TESTING THE EMERGING SAFER ALTERNATIVES IN CASES WHERE THEY ARE NEWLY DEVELOPED. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FINDING SAFER INGREDIENTS FOR SOME OF THE PRODUCTS AND REFORMULATING THEM IN CERTAIN CASES. IT WILL INCLUDE WORKING WITH USERS OF THE SAFER PRODUCTS WHO HAVE BEEN USING THE PRODUCTS FOR YEARS AND FOR NEW PRODUCTS OR NEWLY REFORMULATED PRODUCTS, THEY WILL FIND COMPANIES TO TEST THEM AND WILL ASSIST THEM IN CONVERTING TO THE ALTERNATIVES. CASE STUDIES, DETAILING THE COST OF THE ALTERNATIVES, WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR THE SAFER PRODUCTS. THEY WILL ALSO WORK WITH SMALL TO MEDIUM BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN LATINX, TRIBAL AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES TO BECOME GREEN CERTIFIED TO MINIMIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITIES.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:GRANT RECIPIENT EXPECTS TO CERTIFY AT LEAST 60 BUSINESSES INCLUDING LATINX, TRIBAL, RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND OTHER SMALL-TO-MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES TRAINED IN P2 PRACTICES INCLUDING ENERGY AND WATER SAVINGS, WASTE REDUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION. DELIVERABLES ALSO INCLUDE IDENTIFYING LOW-VOC, LOW TOXICITY ALTERNATIVES TO EIGHT TO 10 PRODUCT CATEGORIES THAT RELY ON SOLVENTS. RECIPIENT WILL CREATE VIDEOS, FLIERS, SPEC SHEETS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES INCLUDING GAS STATIONS, GROCERY STORES, AUTO SHOPS AND MANUFACTURERS ON P2 BEST PRACTICES TO AVOID POLLUTION OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. DELIVERIES INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF 3-4 CASE STUDIES FOR THE SAFER ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS AND 1-2 CASE STUDIES ON THEIR WORK WITH BIPOC COMMUNITIES INCLUDING HISPANIC, TRIBAL, AND RURAL BUSINESSES.