Item Description:
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Est Community Zero Waste Grant Program; neg grant agmts to provide funding for community-led waste prevention and diversion projects, NTE $225,000
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that a Community Zero Waste Grant Program be established to provide funding for community-led waste prevention and diversion projects; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate and award grant agreements for a combined total not to exceed $225,000; that following a review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
In 2022 and 2023, the county contracted with 18 community-based organizations to conduct engagement on residents’ experiences with the solid waste system in Hennepin County. The engagement findings were used to shape the county’s Zero Waste Plan and led to the following action under the reducing racial disparities and advancing equity in the solid waste management system aim of the plan:
Expand funding and support for community-centric solutions
Provide funding and technical support to local organizations to support engagement with residents, businesses, and property managers and harness the power of community-centric solutions for zero waste. Projects would be developed and led by community partners and may range from providing recycling education sessions to developing locally managed reuse clinics or organics drop-offs for multifamily residents.
With the Green Partners Grant Program already in place to fund community-led education and behavior change zero-waste projects, the Community Zero Waste Grant Program will focus on community-led projects that directly reduce or divert waste in communities that have higher barriers to waste programming. Examples of projects could include community-led swaps, repair clinics, special material collections, and recycling or organics drop-off sites that address waste programming gaps and/or culturally specific needs in traditionally underserved communities.
The Community Zero Waste Grant Program will provide funding to community-based organizations to develop and lead waste prevention and diversion projects. Staff interviewed several community-based organizations to develop the scope and eligible expenses for this grant program. Eligible expenses include:
• Engagement with community members to determine project scope and priorities.
• Staff and training expenses for work associated with waste reduction and diversion activities.
• Outreach and educational materials.
• Expenses related to the collection, transport, and processing of materials.
Current Request:
That a Community Zero Waste Grant Program be established to provide funding for community-led waste prevention and diversion projects, in a total combined not to exceed amount of $225,000.
The 2024 Environment and Energy budget includes $225,000 in expenditures for the Community Zero Waste Grant Program. Funding for these grants comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.
Impact/Outcomes:
The Community Zero Waste Grant Program advances the county’s disparity reduction, zero-waste, and climate goals. This initiative supports the county’s Zero Waste Plan to expand workforce development for living-wage green jobs by providing funding to community-based organizations developing and implementing zero-waste initiatives. The grant program will fund projects that increase equity in the solid waste management system and decrease the amount of waste going to waste-to-energy facilities and landfills. It will provide funding to at least three organizations per year.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval