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Welcome to the latest edition of the Syracuse EFC eNews! Inside, you'll find recent news from EPA and other partners and organizations on environmental policy and issues, new publications, funding opportunities, and events.
News
Syracuse EFC Releases Consolidated Funding Application Quick Guide  

 

Syracuse EFC has released a Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Quick Guide to provide potential applicants with information on eligible projects, a list of agencies offering funding, and available application assistance.  

 

The CFA was developed by Governor Cuomo to improve New York State's economic development model by streamlining and expediting the grant application process for multiple state funding sources through one online application.  

Summit Addresses Textiles in the Waste Stream 

  

First steps in a statewide effort to address concerns over the 1.4 billion pounds of textiles discarded each year in New York State were discussed at the NYSAR3-sponsored Textile Recovery Campaign's Statewide Stakeholder Summit on April 10, facilitated by the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions at SyracuseCoE.

Dialogue focused on the obstacles and challenges associated with textile recovery faced by the recycling industry, as well as outreach strategies to achieve project goals.

Learn More


Mark Lichtenstein, Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities Solutions at SyracuseCoE, facilitates the Textile Summit
Green Infrastructure in President's Proposed FY2015 EPA Budget  
 
The President's proposed fiscal year 2015 budget for the EPA dedicates $5.0 million and adds 30 staff to strengthen green infrastructure activities to further sustainability goals, particularly in urban, underserved and economically distressed communities.

The proposed FY15 funding continues and increases EPA's commitment to expanding the use of green infrastructure through collaborative partnerships and capacity building.

Workshops, Trainings & Webinars
Great Lakes Capacity/Funding Webinar Series  

 

The Great Lakes Capacity/Funding Webinar Series is  provided by NYSDEC, the Natural Heritage Trust and the Syracuse EFC.  

 

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EDT   

 
Tuesday, May 6 | Webinar 1: The Why's, How's, and 'What's in it for me' of watershed management
Register Now

Monday, May 12 | Webinar 2: Show me the money! Understanding upcoming funding opportunities
Register Now

Tuesday, May 20 | Webinar 3: What successful grantees know that you may not
Register Now    

    

USDA-RD Consulting Engineers Statewide Training 

June 12th, 2014 | 8:30am - 4:30pm
Syracuse Center of Excellence
727 E. Washington Street, Syracuse, NY
Register Now

Presented by USDA Rural Development and hosted by Syracuse EFC, this training will provide consulting engineers with information regarding documentation needs for municipal water and wastewater projects funded through USDA Rural Development. The training is not recommended for applicants (such as municipal officials), but they are welcome to attend.

Learn More  
   
City of Binghamton 50/50 Stormwater
Management Fund 

June 10, 2014 | 10:00am-3:00pm
Binghamton Club | 83 Front St, Binghamton, NY 13905
Please RSVP at BingGI.eventbrite.com

The City of Binghamton will host a no-cost training event on June 10th from 10am to 3pm to share the incentivized program for landowners and developers to implement Green Infrastructure practices throughout the city.

This program provides up to a 50% match toward the cost of installation of Green Infrastructure.  
  

The Chesapeake Stormwater Network is offering a series of stormwater management webcasts at no cost. Space is limited and registration is required. 

 

12:00-1:30PM EST  

 

May 1 | Advanced Stormwater Design: Infiltration 
Publications
Smart Growth and Economic Success: Strategies for Local Governments

Developed by the EPA, this paper reviews the latest evidence of the connection between smart growth approaches and the fiscal strength of local governments to help them make decisions about where and how to grow. Smart growth strategies can help local governments build on existing assets and maximize the return on investment while helping to protect the environment and human health.

EPA Releases Disaster Preparedness Video for Water Utilities

A new video released by the EPA shows how water utilities can invest in emergency preparedness, prevention and mitigation. EPA's Water Security Division provides water utilities with resources and tools to limit the impact storms and other disasters have on their ability to provide safe and reliable water service.

EPA Releases Guide to Help Water Utilities Adopt Sustainable Practices    
 
Lean is a business improvement approach focused on eliminating non-value added activity or "waste" using practical, implementation-based methods. Created by EPA, a Resource Guide to Effective 
Utility Management and Lean:  
Improving Performance and Addressing Key Management Priorities at Water-Sector Utilities explains how this approach can be used by utilities to reduce waste and improve overall efficiency and effectiveness. 
   
Funding Opportunities
Technical Assistance Grant (TAG)

TAGs are a citizen participation tool available to eligible community groups to increase public awareness and understanding of remedial activities taking place in their community. Technical assistance is intended to help the grant recipient and the community it represents understand existing environmental data developed about the site, comment on site remedial activities and proposals, and share this information with the public.  
 
Sponsor: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Available Funding: Up to $50,000 per award
Deadline: Rolling deadline


Hudson River Estuary Program Grants Program 

The Estuary Grants Program implements priorities outlined in the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's 2010-2014 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. Projects that implement Action Agenda goals, provide direct access to tidal waters of the Hudson River Estuary, or provide restoration of free flowing waters on tributaries of the Hudson River estuary, including the removal of dams and right-sizing of culverts may apply for funding. 
 
Sponsor: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Available Funding: Varies
Deadline: June 20, 2014


Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) 

The NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation's Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) will again be available this year, with $12.6 million in funding to support projects across the state that improve stormwater quality and demonstrate innovative design.

Starting May 1st, applicants can use the on-line NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) to apply for the GIGP. GIGP supports projects that integrate green stormwater infrastructure elements into their designs to help manage stormwater on site and reduce impacts to existing infrastructure.

Sponsor: NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation
Available Funding: $12.6 million total available
Deadline: June 16, 2014 
 

In This Issue 

Syracuse EFC Releases Consolidated Funding Application Quick Guide
Summit Addresses Textiles in the Waste Stream
Green Infrastructure in President's Proposed FY2015 EPA Budget
Great Lakes Capacity/Funding Webinar Series
USDA-RD Consulting Engineers Statewide Training
City of Binghamton 50/50 Stormwater Management Fund
2014 Chesapeake Bay Stormwater Network Webcast Series
Smart Growth and Economic Success: Strategies for Local Governments
EPA Releases Disaster Preparedness Video for Water Utilities
Technical Assistance Grant (TAG)
Hudson River Estuary Program Grants Program
Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP)
Syracuse EFC in the Caribbean News
EFC Staff Members Selected as MAR Leadership Fellows Program Consultants

Syracuse EFC staff members Mark Lichtenstein and Laura Cardoso have been selected to join the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) Leadership Program's multidisciplinary consulting team. This network of experts provides training and guidance to MAR Leadership fellows as they conduct innovative conservation projects in the MAR.  
   
Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership (PRRP) Supports Plastic Bag Ban in City of Rincon 

The Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership is one of several key organizations supporting a new plastic bag ban in the City of Rincón. Rincón is the first municipality in Puerto Rico to enact legislation against the distribution of plastic bags at retail establishments, which the city seeks to eliminate by February 2015.
Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership Members Participate in Recycling Effort at the Puerto Rico Open 

More than 40 volunteers from the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership (PRRP) and Zero Waste Puerto Rico came together in a huge effort to monitor trash and recycling stations throughout the duration of the 2013 Puerto Rico Open, held at the Trump International Golf Course in Rio Grande this past March. 
Metropolitan University, Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership Co-Create Recycling Industry Curriculum in Puerto Rico 

The Metropolitan University Centro de Estudio para el Desarrollo Sustentable (Center for Sustainable Development Studies) and the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership (PRRP) have partnered to co-create the first college-level Recycling Industry Curriculum in Puerto Rico.

About Us

The Syracuse Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University facilitates the development of sustainable and resilient communities throughout US EPA Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and eight tribal nations), across the US, and internationally.
 
Located at the SyracuseCoE Center for Sustainable Community Solutions, Syracuse EFC enhances the administrative and financial capacities of state and local government officials, nonprofit organizations, and private sectors to make change toward improved environmental infrastructure and quality of life.

Syracuse EFC Staff

Ana V. Arache
Project Assistant

Tara Baron  
Project Assistant

Lydia Brinkley

Research Assistant

Laura Cardoso  
Program Coordinator

Aimee Clinkhammer
Project Specialist

Brad DeFrees
Program Coordinator

Khristopher Dodson
Associate Director

Caitlin Eger 
Project Assistant 

Kathy Forrest
Budget Administrator
 
Mark Lichtenstein
Executive Director and
Principal Investigator

Jessica Seiglie Quiñones
 
Project Assistant 
 
Mónica Salazar Ortiz
Project Assistant

Kate Palermo
Communications
 Assistant

Lisa Ruggero 
Project Assistant
 
Mandy Westerdahl
Communications Manager

Kyle Wilkinson
Project Assistant  

Melissa Young
Assistant Director

Please visit our website,  efc.syracusecoe.org, or
contact us at
Environmental Finance Center programs and projects are supported in part by funding from USDA-RD and EPA.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, and familial status.  

 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6582 (TDD).  

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To reach us via the NYS Relay Service, please dial 7-1-1. If you are calling from within Syracuse University, please dial 800-662-1220. Click here to download instructions on how to use this service.

You may also contact us via e-mail at efc@syracusecoe.org.