Community POWER Partners On Waste Education & Reduction A project of the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) Round 9 Selection Process Overview Grant Period: August 2009 – August 2010

Context This is the ninth round of Community POWER grants. Schools or community organizations are funded to implement toxicity and waste reduction, reuse and recycling projects. The maximum funding an organization can receive from Community POWER is $12,000. Each group can receive funding in up to two rounds. An exception to this policy is the toolkit grants that were used this year to encourage past grantees to build on existing tools and resources, created previously by the organization or other past grantees.

Community POWER grants budget Round 9 Funding SourceAmount SWMCB$84,000 Dakota County$29,000 Ramsey County$43,500 Washington County$14,500 Hennepin County (grants are contracted through HC, not SWMCB) $45,000 TOTAL$216,000

Selection Process Request for Letters of Interest was released and widely distributed early in applications were submitted, representing a variety of waste reduction and toxicity reduction projects, geographic areas, and demographic groups. 38 applicants were asked to submit full proposals and 32 proposals were received. Staff consulted with Lead Commissioners Callison and Reinhardt to select projects for funding.

Selection Process Nineteen total grants were funded for Round 9. Seven applications were selected for SWMCB funding. Three grants were awarded using Dakota County funding. Four grants were awarded using Ramsey County funding. One grant was awarded using joint Washington County and SWMCB funding. Hennepin County funded an additional four grants.

Next Steps Orientation meeting for all grantees was held in June. Contracts are currently under development. Project managers and county staff are currently meeting with each group individually. Grant period begins August 15, Next quarterly meeting will be held in October.