December 17, 2018

Keys for a winning proposalEPA Brownfields Grants

Thank you for joining the Webinar. We will begin shortly.To get a copy of the slides used today, click “Handouts” in the

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Today’s presenters: Sonia Cosme, soniacosme@edspuertorico.com

David Southgate, david.southgate@cclr.org

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HOUSEKEEPING

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ABOUT CENTER FOR CREATIVE LAND RECYCLING

Mission: Enable communities to develop sustainably and equitably through land recycling.

Workshops & Technical Assistance

Thought leadership on sustainability policy, professional development and practices.

Sarah Sieloff, Executive Directorsarah.sieloff@cclr.orgW3: www.cclr.org

“Innovative land use is the key to ensuring a health future for both our communities and our environment.”

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KEEP UP TO DATE

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POLLING QUESTIONS

What sector do you work in?Non-profitLocal governmentQuasi-governmentELAFor-profitCommunity member

What’s your profession?Senior executiveGrant writerProject managerEconomic developmentReal estate developer

What’s your experience with Brownfields?No experience1 to 3 years3 to 7 yearsMore than 7 years

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SPEAKERS

SONIA COSME, PRESIDENTA, ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT & SUSTAINABILITY, INC. (EDS)Fundadora y presidenta de Environmental Development & Sustainability, Inc., es un pequeñonegocio, que ofrece consultoría ambiental desde el 2000. Sonia Cosme cuenta con más de 25 años de experiencia en el Caribe y América Latina, manejando la gestión, permisología y cumplimiento regulatorio ambiental, estatal y federal, para una amplia variedad de entidades, tales como gobiernos locales e industrias petroleras, farmacéuticas, manufactureras y energía limpia. Forma parte de la alianza local de CCLR

DAVID SOUTHGATE, CONSULTOR CON DESARROLLO INTEGRAL DEL SUR, INC. (DISUR) Y CCLRComo Gerente de Proyectos de Sustentabilidad de DISUR desde 2009, Southgate cuenta con más de 20 años trabajando temas relacionados con acceso mediático para comunidades marginadas, desarrollo equitativo, justicia ambiental y ciencia ciudadana con agencias locales, estatales y federales, así como, con ONGs, empresas emergentes y las comunidades a las que sirve. Experto en recursos externos y gestión de proyectos federales, ha provocado intervenciones gubernamentales en el Corredor Petroquímico de Guayanilla y Peñuelas, así como el desarrollo de Brownfields en Ponce. Forma parte de la alianza local de CCLR

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Understand the types and purposes of EPA

Brownfields grants

2. Understand how to structure a winning grant

Should any information provided in this presentation or by the

presenters differ from the Guidelines, the language written in

the Guidelines prevail.

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WHAT IS A BROWNFIELD

• Petroleum Sites• Gas Stations• Fuel Terminals• Tank Farms

• Hazardous Materials• Auto Shops• Salvage Yards• Illegal dump sites• Dry Cleaners• Mine Scarred Lands• Illegal Drug Labs

Real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a

hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

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TYPES & PURPOSES OF BROWNFIELDSGRANTS - HISTORY

Past EPA Brownfields grants:Assessment $200K

Revolving Loan Funds $1M

Clean-up Funds $200K

Area-wide planning $200K

TrendNational competition increasing

Allocations decreasing

FY Awarded Applied $M

FY18 144 499 $54.3

FY17* 172 450 $56.8

FY16 131 393 $55.2

FY15* 147 457 $54.3

FY14 171 391 $67.0* RLF not offered“Awarded” and “Applied” refer to number of communities, not grants

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Assessments grants can be used for: Brownfields Inventories / Prioritizing Sites Environmental Assessments (Phase I and II) Planning

Reuse Assessments Market Analysis & Market Evaluations Preparing cleanup plans and/or end-use plan

Performing community engagement activities Travel and training

Who is eligible? State, local and tribal governments General purpose units of local governments Regional councils or redevelopment agencies Non-Profits

Note: Existing Grantees: 70% Drawdown by Jan. 1, 2019

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EPA estimates awarding 114 Assessment Grants fro about $37 Million

TYPES & PURPOSES OF BROWNFIELDSGRANTS - 2019

FY2019 BROWNFIELDS GRANTS

Cleanup Grants• Cleanup activities at

a specific brownfield site or multiple brownfield sites owned by the applicant

• Up to $500,000 • Only one proposal

per applicant• 40 = $11M

Assessment Grants• Inventory, characterize,

assess, and conduct planning (including cleanup planning) and community involvement

• $200,000-$600,000• 114 grants = $37M

Multipurpose (MP)• Range of planning,

assessment and cleanup activites

• Up to $800,000• 10 grants = $8M

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Community-Wide Site-Specific CoalitionUp to $300,000 for hazardous substances and/or petroleum or combination

Up to $200,000 for hazardous substances and/or petroleum or combination

Up to $600K for hazardous substances and/or petroleum

No waiver of funding limit

May request a waiver for up to $350,000

No waiver of funding limit

Maximum combined amount: $300,000

Maximum amount$350,000

Maximum amount$600,000

May also apply for a site-specific grant

May also apply for a community-wide grant

Cannot apply community wide, site-specific, or as part of another coalition

TYPES & PURPOSES OF BROWNFIELDSGRANTS - 2019

CHANGES TO BROWNFIELDS 2019

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CHANGES – WHAT’S NEW?Assessment Grant changes• Existing Grantees: 70% Drawdown by Jan. 1, 2019

• New priorities for funding. Projects that:

• Address a site adjacent to bodies of water or federally-designated flood plains

• Facilitate location of a facility generating renewable electricity from wind/solar/geothermal, or any energy efficiency improvement project at a brownfield site

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THINGS YOU CAN START DOING NOW –CHECK SAM.GOV REGISTRATION

Use the correct DUNS number for your organization/department.

Check registration at www.sam.govThe account must be renewed annually by the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC)

The Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must be designated by the E-Biz Point of Contact

Make sure the account is active and will be active by the grant filing deadline.

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THINGS YOU CAN START DOING NOW –GRANTS.GOV REGISTRATION

Ensure the correct Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) per SAM registratio submits the proposal.

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IDENTIFYING CANDIDATE PROJECTS

Projects should tie to the local community/city’s vision for development

Be able to talk about a general or specific re-use plan

Be able to describe the plan’s overall goals

Projects should have sustainability goals tied to site’s redevelopment

Projects should have mayoral and community support

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THINGS YOU CAN START DOING NOW – PROJECT DESIGN

Identify project staff & partner roles/responsibilities

Internal/External: Redevelopment, Engineering, Purchasing, Community Development and Law Departments

Consultants? Editors? Reviewers?

Give project staff and partners tasks

Approach and write model letters that indicate partner’s role.

Government Partners Community partners

Puerto Rico Community development agencies

Environmental Quality Board (JCA) Asociación de Industriales

Neighborhood, cultural and business organizations

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TYPES & PURPOSES OF BROWNFIELDSGRANTS - 2019New grant amounts

Clean-up grants increased to $500K ($650K with waver)

New Multi-purpose grant $1M

Cleanup Grant – Be able to answer…

Is the grant applicant owner of the site to be cleaned up?

How would your community meet the 20% cost share requirement?

How long does the average brownfield cleanup in your community take? What are the barriers your community experiences to getting the site ‘ready for reuse’?

Multipurpose Grant – Be able to answer

Within a target area, which resources does your community need the most – brownfields inventory, planning, site assessment or site remediation?

What brief example of a target area in your community can you give to illustrate who you would benefit from a multipurpose grant?

What complications and barriers could affect your community's ability to complete these accomplishments within the five-year grant period? How will you address those?

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THINGS YOU CAN START DOING NOW –DEMONSTRATE NEED

Identify health data on sensitive populations in the targeted community

Children, pregnant women, elderly, minority or low-income communities, etc.

Cancer rates, obesity, blood lead levels, asthma, substandard housing, limited access to health care

Emphasize negative social impacts of brownfields

Blight, crime, vandalism, illegal dumping, people moving out, lack of neighborhood upkeep, lack of prosperity

Identify quantitative information

Lost jobs and business opportunities, deterioration of active properties, vacancies, relocations, low income, lack of investment, and reduced property/sales tax base.

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THINGS YOU CAN START DOING NOW- LEVERAGING

On average for every $1 EPA spends on brownfield grants bring $18 of private investment and other government investment.

Identify any possible funding sources (local, public and private, and in-kind) for project’s objectives

Infrastructure and other recovery funding

Leverage EQB’s 128(a) and TBA

Learn how to calculate and communicate returns

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THINGS YOU CAN START DOING NOW –BACKGROUND AND ORGANIZATION

If you are a previous grantee, obtain debrief from EPA

Set up relationship with CCLR for proposal reviews

Participate in EPA and CCLR webinars

Get familiar with threshold requirements

Be prepared to submit one week before the deadline

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DESCRIPCIÓN DE LA COMUNIDAD

• Entorno Interno• ¿Quién presenta…Quién es usted?• ¿Qué me caracteriza?

• Aspectos Físicos, Geográficos (Datos %)• Tamaño, densidad, áreas naturales, zona urbana, (“rural”)

• Aspectos Económicos• Industrial (Cataño), Comercial, Servicios, Agrícola

• Política Pública• Plan de Ordenación (Usos de Terrenos, otros)• Visión y Misión del Municipio

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IDENTIFICACIÓN DEL PROBLEMA

• ¿Cuál?¿Dónde?¿Cuánto?¿Dónde?¿Cómo? ¿Porqué? ¿Quiénes?

• Aspectos Socio-Demográficos – Censo 2010 y American Community Survey

• Población, Edad y Sexo, Migración, Empleo, Desempleo, Nivel de Pobreza, Asistencia Económica, etc.

• Vivienda• Comparación con Puerto Rico y Estados Unidos (Tabla-

Resumen)

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• ¿Cuál es el impacto del problema?• Ambiental

• Salud Pública• Enfermedades crónicas, Epidemias• Alto riesgo por la contaminación al ambiente: suelo, aire, cuerpos de

agua…

• Social• Incidencia Criminal – Delitos• Desempleo

• Entorno urbano• Económico

IDENTIFICACIÓN DEL PROBLEMA

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NECESIDAD DE LOS FONDOS

• Situación Económica de la Comunidad• Empleo/desempleo: Cataño – Puerto Rico • El impacto acumulativo por el Abandono de propiedades:

• Disminución de recaudos por impuestos a la propiedad• Disminución del movimiento comercial – Patentes• No resulta atractivo para inversionistas

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DESCRIPCIÓN DEL PROYECTO

• Plan de Ordenación: Redesarrollo y revitalización• Beneficios al ambiente: Disminuir la contaminación,

proteger áreas vulnerables, • Redesarrollo de áreas impactadas• Inventario (data base)• Involucrar a la comunidad• Determinar la selección de propiedades para limpieza• Promover el desarrollo comercial• Recreación• Visión de Futuro

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PLAN DE TRABAJO Y VIABILIDAD

• Descripción:• Tareas específicas• Persona responsible • Tiempo a realizarse• Calcular costo por actividad

• Considerar aspectos del Entorno Externo• Promesa

• Demostrar manejo adecuado de otros fondos(Brownfield – cómo se utilizaron)

• Involucrar la comunidad (actores)• Describir otros acuerdos con agencias estatales

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Use active, upbeat tone

Short, direct sentences, and if possible, organized into bullet points

Newspaper style – most compelling information first

Be direct – don’t make the reader guess

No acronyms or jargon

Don’t use “maybe”; be certain and direct

Use Tables, with light shading and/or different font

Use visual variety – italics, underline, bold

Proofread and have a native speaker proofread (CCLR!).

STRUCTURING WINNING PROJECTS

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TIP: ASSESSMENT GRANTS

The best assessment grant applications involve projects where:

Already identified a target area in need of assessment Already have an relationship with existing

community in target area Already have site access to some properties in

target areaSignificant redevelopment/revitalization potential in

target area

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PROPOSAL CONTENT & FORM

Cover Letter (2 pages, single-spaced) Attach to Cover Letter: State Acknowledgement Letter Other Factors Checklist/Assessment Regional Priorities Form (in Appendix 3)

Narrative(10 pages, singled-spaced)Excess pages will be removed and not reviewed.

Required AttachmentsLimit attachments to required/relevant documents and letters (i.e., threshold criteria, commitment letters from community organizations, etc.).

1” margins; 12 pt font; Times New Roman/Arial/Calibri font; no maps.

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SUBMITTING PROPOSAL

Make PDF files searchable Create PDF from its source document (e.g., a Microsoft Word file). Use the “Create PDF/XPS Document” option, found under the Export Tab.

If possible combine all the required submission materials into a single file and submit that one file through www.grants.gov.

Ensure the file name does not exceed 50 characters.

DON’T WAIT UNTIL LAST MINUTE TO START

DON’T SUBMIT PROPOSAL AT LAST MINUTE

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BENEFITS OF A BROWNFIELDS GRANT

• Seed funding to launch brownfields programs and conduct initial site investigations at priority sites.

• Assessment funding is flexible – can be used for multiple sites, for reuse planning, health assessments, brownfields staff, community involvement, and site investigations.

• Funding can be used to leverage other federal, state, and local revitalization funding.

• Can help achieve multiple community objectives – e.g., removal of blight, clean-up, transportation improvements, new affordable housing, mixed use development, new parks and open space, waterfront revitalization.

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EPA MAC FY 2019 TIMELINE

• January 31, 2019- Proposals due• May - June 2019 - Selections announced• May - June 2019 - Work plans finalized• July - October 2019 - Grants awarded

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MAC GRANT PROCESS – ONLINETOOLS

• Participate in webinars and trainings offered by EPA• TAB EZ www.ksutab.org or www.tabez.org

• Template for Assessment and Cleanup only.• For Assessment: Choose “community wide” or “site

specific”

• Learn how to submit a proposal via www.grants.gov• Review the Tools & Tips• Obtain your DUNS number and register in

www.sam/SAM/.gov• Help Desk: 1-800-518-4726 (open 24/7)

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ASSESSMENT RATING – 100 POINTS

• Project Area Description and Plan for Revitalization – 30%• Community Need and Community Engagement – 20%• Task Description, Cost Estimates, and Measuring Success – 35%• Programmatic Capability and Past Performance– 15%• Maximum number of points: 100

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CLEANUP GRANT PROGRAM

Cleanup grants can be used for:❖Cleanup activities at a single site or multiple sites

❖You can only submit one cleanup proposal!❖If you apply for cleanup, you cannot apply for Multi-Purpose grants

❖Program reporting, cleanup oversight, environmental monitoring❖A portion of funding can be used for buying environmental insurance - see

FAQs

Who is eligible?❖State, local and tribal governments❖General Purpose Unit of local government❖Regional councils or redevelopment agencies❖Non-Profits

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EPA estimates awarding 35-40 grants, or $11

million

CLEANUP GRANTS: UP TO $500,000

Application Requirements• Phase II completed• Draft ABCA complete• Community Notification and Public Comment - by January 17th• Sole owner of the property(ies) by January 31, 2018 (fee simple title)• Not responsible party• 20% cost share• Affirm site has never received EPA Cleanup grant funds (Section III.B)• Attach documentation of secured leveraged funding

• Award letter

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CLEANUP RATING - 100 POINTS

• Project Area Description and Plan for Revitalization – 30%

• Community Need and Community Engagement –20%

• Task Description, Cost Estimates, and Measuring Success – 35%

• Programmatic Capability and Past Performance–15%

Max number of points: 10039

CLEANUP GRANT PROGRAM

Site eligibility determinations• New - properties purchased before January 11, 2002• Provide information on BFPP Liability Protections• Eligibility usually determined by state, or EPA if state cannot• Contact state and EPA earlyPetroleum - No viable responsible partyComply with state oversight authority & oversight structureABCA, community notification, meeting & responses

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TIPS: CLEANUP GRANTS

• Choose a site with a good story• Consider all the components of the remedial action, including low

impact remediation and protection of the community during remediation

• Alignment with Revitalization Plans • Economic development benefits

• If applicable, renewable energy components• Be clear on cost share requirement vs. leveraging sources oversight

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CHANGES: CLEANUP GRANTS

• Site must not have previously receivedCleanup Grant funds• Statutory Cleanup Cost Share Requirement – 20%• Site eligibility: Properties purchased before January

11, 2002

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MULTIPUPOSE (MP) GRANT PROGRAM

Multipurpose grants can be used for:❖Almost anything an assessment and cleanup grant can do❖Twelve (12) pages - Five years❖Focus on early or focused planning for revitalization❖You can only submit one MP proposal!

❖If you apply for MP, you cannot apply for any other grants

Who is eligible?❖State, local and tribal governments❖General Purpose Unit of local government❖Regional councils or redevelopment agencies❖Non-Profits

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EPA estimates awarding 10 grants, or $8 million

WHY MP GRANTS?

❖New flexible program - will be competitive❖Designed to combine former areawide planning & cleanup

grants• Suitable for areas with a key brownfield site and/or

areawide planning approaches❖Considerations between an MP or an assessment+cleanup?

• $40,000 cost share required with MP• MP designed for creating a revitalization plan or reuse

implementation, and outreach activities • Site eligibility for “cleanup site” less strict 44

MP GRANT RATING – 100 POINTS

• Project Area Description and Plan for Revitalization – 30%

• Community Need and Community Engagement – 20%

• Task Description, Cost Estimates, and Measuring Success – 35%

• Programmatic Capability – 15%• Maximum number of points: 100

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DEVELOPING A GRANT PROGRAM THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND APPEALS TO EPA

What is your story?

Develop a specific focus to your grant program that is based on the unique needs of your community – generic doesn’t get funded

Should be an intersection of:Community NeedsCommunity Benefits

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GENERAL TIPS

• Read Entire Guidelines and Follow Directions• Use the format requirements! (font, pages, margins, etc.)• Address each section and subsections – do not leave any section blank

• Get Grants.gov and sam.gov/SAM/, DUNS and Workspace in order• https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

• Use the proposal checklist and evaluation criteria• Add page numbers, use the headers• Do not assume reviewer understands your region or community, history or

“issues” (no local jargon) • Get an Outside Editor• Use TABEZ at www.ksutab.org or www.tabez.org

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GENERAL TIPS (CONT.)

• Start with a great project not a great grant.• Identify brownfields within the Target Area and the challenges posed by those

brownfields.• How do the brownfields challenges impact the community? • Establish revitalization goals. Does the redevelopment of the identified

brownfields align with those goals? Does your project align with regional plans/goals?

• Community Engagement• Engaging the community is a two-way street. What does it look like? • Do you have a plan? How will engagement continue throughout the grant?• Relevant partners.

• Financial Need• Why do you need the $$? What tasks will be accomplished and how will you

measure performance? What leveraged resources are available?

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GENERAL TIPS (CON’T)• How is your community different from other

applicants• Make sure your proposed budget and activities

are realistic (and eligible). Recheck the budget table.

• “Vision” to “revitalization” • Quantify – indicators, outcomes and outputs

• Don’t just state a fact – back it up with data and/or examples

• Check out EPA’s FAQs, ask your TAB provider. • Get everyone on board

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PROPOSAL WRITING RESOURCESLangan EngineeringGregory Firely, BCES. Senior Project Scientist Direct: 215.491.6535Mobile: 215.850.0009 gfirely@Langan.comStantec

Chris Gdak, Senior Associate Chris.Gdak@stantec.com425-698-7398Nelson Hernandez

nelsonucla@yahoo.com805-444-6907Marlin Engineering

Adelis Caban787 923 7021acaban@marlinenginering.com

EcostahliaJavier Velez-Arochojvarocho@ecostahlia787 600 5250Environmental & Ecological

ServicesJosé L Báez Romero787 328 1637ACE Environmental, Inc

Edgar A Vázquez Quilles787 567 1301Evazquez.ace@gmail,com

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FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• TAB Program• TAB EZ: Template for Drafting EPA Assessment and Cleanup Proposals (www.ksutab.org)• Proposal Reviews: Two-week notice; Three – seven day review (sometimes less)

• State Brownfields Programs• Letters of Acknowledgement, site-specific eligibility determinations, and other technical assistance

• EPA Regional Brownfields Programs• Applicant, site, and site ownership Eligibility determinations

• Request NOW, if in doubt• Regional Webinars

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REVIEW PREVIOUS SUCCESSFULAPPLICATIONS – TAB EZ

https://www.ksutab.org/resources

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TABEZ FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• FREE – require a user account• User friendly and can be accessed anytime at the user’s own pace• PRIVACY PROTECTION, but primary user can give access to

collaborators • Helpful Hints for several grant criteria to be addressed• Configure application type

o Assessment Site Specific or Community Wide Hazardous Substance or Petroleum or both

o Cleanup Hazardous Substance or Petroleum• Integrates Brownfield education with online support: definitions,

proposal guidelines, pertinent federal/state web links, and past successful proposals

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QUESTIONS?Thanks!

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