The funding categories are being monitored by St. Louis County. Check back with this page often as the content will be updated.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
Broadly, this category includes:
- U.S. Department of Energy program funding designated for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants ($3.2 billion); Weatherization Assistance ($5 billion); State Energy Programs ($3.1 billion); Alternative Fueled Vehicles ($300 million); Transportation Electrification Grants ($400 Million); EERE Research; Development and Deployment Programs ($2.5 billion); and Smart Grid ($4.5 billion)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program funding designated for Diesel Vehicle Conversions ($300 million); and Brownfields ($100 million)
- U.S. Department of Labor dollars for Job Training Program ($750 million, including $500 million for green jobs)
St. Louis County received notification of $467,800 in formulary allocation for the new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block program on March 27. Initial application instructions have been released. It is important to note that in order to receive this formulary allocation, the County is required to submit an application, record Green House Gas and data in the www.energystar.gov benchmarking website and develop an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. The application for the formulary allocation is due June 25, and the application will go to the County Board prior to that deadline.
Watch for additional details here on state and federal competitive application processes. We are currently developing projects that we take to the County Board for approval and will be ready to submit when the application process opens.
On March 2, 2010 the St. Louis County Board accepted $180,000 and agreed to act as the fiscal agent for these funds on behalf of the Superior National Forest. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) includes funding for a grant program awarded to the Superior National Forest to reduce the threat of wildfires in high-risk areas identified in the St. Louis County Wildfire Protection Plan, which was adopted by the County Board on August 12, 2008 by Resolution No. 08-443. The ARRA funds are strictly for hazardous fuels cleanup (balsam fir, dead trees and brush).
The Superior National Forest was afforded this opportunity to work closely with private landowners to create defensible space and reduce the fire hazards associated with hazardous fuels on private land, by being named the grantee for this funding. In total, the Superior National Forest received $400,000 for these efforts and is partnering with St. Louis County ($180,000 of the total grant award), Cook County and Lake County to carry out these efforts.
St. Louis County will participate as fiscal agent for these funds and as a partner in facilitating this program. The Land Department will retain 10% of grant funds ($18,000) for administrative costs associated with their role.