Introduction

The San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) has established a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program.  The TAGs can be awarded to businesses, government agencies, nonprofit groups, and institutions that want to promote, start and/or expand waste reduction and landfill diversion efforts.

Grant Goals

The TAG Program is designed to empower local groups/change agents to develop community-based strategies for the prevention, separation, diversion, recycling, and composting of material. Applicants typically act as a catalyst for reducing waste, promoting zero waste strategies, demonstrate circular economy practices in order to eliminated waste and maximize material resources.  Applicants should increase community awareness about the negative health effects of improper waste disposal and promote best management practices/alternatives.

Special Consideration

Each year, the State of California enacts new regulations that local governments must implement. Based on current and upcoming state regulations, the following projects will receive special consideration:

• Reuse & Repair Projects:
  That demonstrate innovative methods that prevent waste through reuse, repair, product/process redesign, redistribution, recovery, and other ways that keep goods and other materials out of disposal or recycling in order to stimulate local economic activity and conserve natural resources.
• Food Waste Reduction Projects:
  Designed to demonstrate innovative ways that prevent edible food from going to compost or landfill by recovering and redistributing it to feed people, or by preventing the production of surplus edible food through product or process redesign. The end-goal is to reduce the amount of surplus edible food generated and/or to donate surplus food.
• Choose Reusables Project:
  Outreach efforts designed to promote reusable alternatives to disposable food ware. Outreach methods include social media, articles, and newsletter reminders. In addition, applicant organizations must host a gathering of at least 25 group/community members to receive a presentation about reusable food ware options and engage at least 15 of the attendees in adopting three behaviors related to reusable food ware over six months.

The TAG Shall Be Administered as Follows

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY:

Any business, government or nonprofit agency or institution located in the Cities of Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and the Special Districts with Solid waste Services are eligible to apply. No applications submitted from outside the County of San Luis Obispo will be accepted.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be in compliance with all Federal, State and local land use, regulatory and permit requirements.
• Projects must not duplicate existing IWMA Agency programs or services.
• Projects must be located inside San Luis Obispo County, divert discarded materials generated in San Luis Obispo County, or involve educational campaigns targeting San Luis Obispo County residents or businesses.
• If applicant is a private nonprofit organization, proof of Federal tax-exempt status under section 501 (c) required.
• If applicant is a for profit entity, a valid business license is required.
• All awardees are required to complete and submit a W-9 form.
• Applicants will be required to submit quarterly invoices supporting all expenses paid with grant funds.
• Projects must be completed within 24 months of award.

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS:

• REQUIRED: Comprehensive general liability insurance, including personal injury liability, blanket contractual liability, and broad-form property damage liability coverage. The combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage shall be not less than $2,000,000.
• REQUIRED: Automobile bodily injury and property damage liability insurance covering owned, non-owned, rented, and hired cars. The combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage shall be not less than $1,000,000.
• REQUIRED: Statutory workers’ compensation and employer’s liability insurance as required by state law.

Funding

The IWMA is looking to fund multiple grants totaling no more than $40,000 per fiscal year.  Each grant award is limited to a maximum of $10,000.  Funding can only be used to purchase, lease or rent equipment or to pay for services/supplies needed to start or expand source reduction and/or waste diversion efforts.  The applicant must provide at least a matching in-kind contribution.  The in-kind contribution is not limited to the funding restrictions below.

Any equipment leased, rented or purchased for the TAG must be used for its intended purpose for at least two years.

INELIGIBLE USES OF GRANT FUNDS:

Grant funds through this program may not be used for the following purposes:

• Payment for any activities before contract execution.
• Payment of legal fees, loans or bank fees, fines or penalties.
• Payment of existing debt or pre-existing tax liens or obligations.
• Subsidizing existing contracts.
• Funding for staff (full or part-time) in excess of 50%.
• Payment of organizational overhead exceeding 15% of project budget.

For questions prior to submitting an application, please contact Andrea Biniskiewicz at abiniskiewicz@iwma.com or call the IWMA office at (805) 782-8530.  

HOW TO APPLY:

Please complete the Technical Assistance Grant Application (linked at the top of this page) and respond to the six (6) items / questions online. Applications must be date stamped and signed in order to be fully processed.  

To submit, please email your application and any supporting attachments to Andrea Biniskiewicz at  abiniskiewicz@iwma.com or print and mail the complete packet by US Postal Service to the office address listed below.  

IWMA OFFICE ADDRESS:

SLO County IWMA
c/o TAG Grant Application
870 Osos Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Selection

Selection will be done on a competitive basis through the application process.  Priority will be given to projects that track/measure quantities and can determine if intended goals are met.  The San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) reserves the right to reject any and all applications for any reason.  The IWMA will not reimburse any applicant for the cost of preparing an application.

Grant Contracts

The selected projects will receive grant agreements from the IWMA.  Each applicant must sign the agreement and return it to the IWMA for agency signature.

Audit Requirements

The Grantee agrees that the IWMA or their designed representatives, will have an absolute right of access to all of the Grantee’s records pertaining to the grant to conduct reviews and/or audits, including, but not limited to the Grantee’s contractors, subcontractors, vendors, and any entity receiving benefit from the grand funds.  These records pertaining to the grant funds will be made available within 5 days to the designed auditor(s) upon request for the reviews and/or audits.  Such records will be retained for at least three (3) years after expiration of the agreement, or until completion of any action and resolution of all issues which may arise as a result of any litigation, claim, negotiation, or audit, whichever is later. If an audit reveals the grant funds are not being expended or have not been expended in accordance with the agreement, the Grantee may be require to forfeit the unexpended portion of the funds and/or repay the IWMA for any improperly expended monies.

Presentation

Applicants agree to prepare a brief (4-5 minute) PowerPoint presentation for the IWMA Board to illustrate the outcomes (and hopefully success) of the program and the benefit of the Technical Assistant Grants.

General Conditions

Applicants will be expected to estimate the quantity (pounds) of materials that will be reused, recovered, re-distributed, recycled or otherwise diverted. Education and outreach programs are expected to estimate the number of people educated through various mediums.  Priority will be given to projects that can track/measure quantities and monitor/prove outcomes that ensure intended goals are met.

Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with existing IWMA programs and priorities before submitting applications. We are looking for projects that build upon existing efforts, and are not duplicative of current programs and projects.  Please refer to the IWMA website or call the IWMA office at (805) 782-8530 for additional information on current programs conducted by the Agency or for more information on the TAG Program PRIOR to submitting an application.

Phone: 805-782-8530

All materials submitted become the property of the IWMA and will not be returned. Funds awarded are public funds and any information submitted or generated is subject to public disclosure requirements. In specific instances, certain financial information may be deemed confidential and not subject to public disclosure. Prior arrangements may be made for the return of such information.

This packet may be modified at any time during the application period and may, where necessary, allow applicants adequate time to submit additional requested information. The IWMA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to waive minor irregularities in submittal requirements, to request modifications of the proposal, to accept or reject any or all proposals received, to grant full or partial funding of any request, and/or to cancel all or part of this grant solicitation at any time prior to awards.

Each applicant understands that there is no appeal process for proposals that are not accepted for funding and that all decisions are final.