Title
Resolution to Accept Grant Funds from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to Create a Circular Economy Action Plan and Appropriate Funds to the FY25 Major Grants Program Fund ($99,630.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for review and consideration is a resolution to accept and appropriate $99,630.00 in grant funding from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (“EGLE”) through their NextCycle Circular Economy Grant program. This funding will support the expansion of circular economy work throughout the City. As part of this award, the City will match $91,000.00 in funding, bringing the total project amount to $190,630.00.
With the NextCycle Michigan Circular Economy Grant funding, the City will develop a Circular Economy Action Plan that will identify the needs, assets, and opportunities that exist within the Ann Arbor community to create a more circular local economy. This action plan will be created with input from frontline communities, businesses, and institutions in the City. The resulting document will complement the City’s A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan <https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Carbon-Neutrality/Documents/A2ZERO%20Climate%20Action%20Plan%20_4.0.pdf> by establishing priorities and goals regarding the circular economy, identifying resources for the long-term support of existing circular economy programming, learning directly from the Ann Arbor community as to what future programming is needed, and creating a plan to implement programming that meets these needs.
This work builds on the recently developed A²ZERO Circular Economy Community Engagement Strategy, the first phase of a broader equitable engagement project around the circular economy. Currently, the City is working with G. O. Williams & Associates, L.L.C. and a group of Resident Advisors from frontline communities throughout Ann Arbor to implement this strategy and receive input directly from frontline communities to inform the Circular Economy Action Plan.
Grant funds will be used to continue to engage frontline communities, extend this engagement to businesses and institutions, and use insights gained to create a Circular Economy Action Plan that will establish and support sustainable, equitable, and community-driven circular economy programming that will thrive in Ann Arbor.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Funds from this grant award will be used to cover $99,630.00 in project expenses over 18 months. Match funding of $91,000.00 is available through the Office of Sustainability and Innovation’s budget, $75,000 of which is currently under contract with G. O. Williams & Associates, L.L.C.
Staff
Prepared by: Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director
Reviewed by: Valerie Jackson, Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: Kim Buselmeier, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Body
Whereas, The City’s A²ZERO Plan outlines a goal to move towards a circular economy;
Whereas, The City’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations created a Circular Economy Engagement Strategy with the guidance of Resident Advisors and G. O. Williams & Associates, L.L.C. to identify the most effective ways of engaging with the public around circular economy activities;
Whereas, Work with the Resident Advisors also uncovered deep and sustained community interest in developing a more detailed circular economy strategy with specific actions the City, community, and collaborators can undertake to advance circularity-related activities;
Whereas, The City’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations submitted a grant application to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (“EGLE”) NextCycle Circular Economy Grant program to support the creation of a Circular Economy Action Plan;
Whereas, EGLE selected the City’s grant application for award and has approved a total assistance amount of $99,630.00; and
Whereas, The Office of Sustainability and Innovations has available $91,000.00 in matching funds to support the tasks in the City’s application;
RESOLVED, That City Council accept this grant award in the amount of $99,630.00 from EGLE through the NextCycle Circular Economy Grant program;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriate $99,630.00 to the Sustainability and Innovations FY25 Major Grants Program Fund with the source of revenue being the grant funds from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and appropriates an additional $91,000.00 to the Sustainability and Innovations FY25 Major Grants Program Fund with the source of revenue being a transfer from the Sustainability and Innovations Climate Action Millage Fund;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a Grant Agreement with EGLE for these funds, following approval by the City Attorney and the City Administrator;
RESOLVED, That all amounts herein are without regard to fiscal year; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.