Local Sustainability Matching Fund Grant CFGD Green & Healthy Homes InitiativeMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Local Sustainability Matching Fund Grant Application
DATE: June 13, 2013
Dubuque
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All- America City
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Sustainable Community Coordinator Cori Burbach recommends City Council approval
of a grant application to the Local Sustainability Matching Fund in the amount of
$55,000 to support the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. The required $55,000 match
would come from Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque funds committed to this
initiative. There is no City match for this grant.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
brit44 krt., italy,
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
X
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
DATE: June 12, 2013
SUBJECT: Local Sustainability Matching Fund Grant Application
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to submit for Council approval an application to the Local Sustainability Matching Fund a grant
application in the amount of $55,000 to support the Green &Healthy Homes Initiative.
BACKGROUND
In 2011, the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) and the Urban Sustainability Directors
Network (USDN) joined together to launch a Local Sustainability Matching Fund initiated with leadership support from the
Kendeda Fund, New York Community Trust, Summit Foundation, and Surdna Foundation. I am one of a selection committee
of foundation staff and urban sustainability directors who review the applications for the Matching Fund. The purpose of the
Matching Fund is to catalyze partnerships between local government sustainability directors and local, place -based
foundations to advance important community -based sustainability initiatives. The Matching Fund is intended both to support
significant urban sustainability projects and to build bridges between public sector sustainability leaders and local
foundations. The Fund will provide matching investments from national foundations on a competitive basis to build
partnerships between sustainability directors and local place -based foundations to advance discrete sustainability initiatives
that demonstrate broad -based community support and engagement.
DISCUSSION
In partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, the City of Dubuque submitted the attached application
to support the Green &Healthy Homes Initiative.
In order to support sustainable neighborhoods with safe and healthy homes for our low to moderate - income children and
families, this application will support implementation of the GHHI model in Dubuque. This includes:
Increasing access for low- income families to sustainable practices and services though
the GHHI Home Advocate.
Increasing engagement and participation by Sustainable Dubuque partner programs and services. Building stronger, deeper
relationships between the GHHI partners and City of Dubuque departments by supporting a GHHI Coordinator who will work
in partnership with the City Sustainability Coordinator. Improving the long term sustainability of Dubuque's low- income
neighborhoods by raising the quality of housing stock and building social capital between neighborhood stakeholders and
Sustainable Dubuque partner service providers. The $55,000 grant funds would support GHHI Coordinator and Home
Advocate staff at the Community Foundation, printing, meeting and administrative costs, and support for the integration of
data systems to ensure that multiple agencies can share data in an effective and confidential way. As required by the grant
guidelines, the $55,000 match would come from CFGD funds committed to this initiative. There is no City match for this
grant.
RECO MME NDATION
I respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval of the attached grant application to the Local Sustainability Matching
Fund, submitted in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.
cc:
Nancy Van Milligen, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Alvin Nash, Housing & Community Development Director
Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
Round 3
Proposal for Local Sustainability Matching Fund
Cover Sheet (2 pages max.)
A. Name of Applicants: please list the names of the team partners including the
sustainability director and name of foundation(s)
City or Stat
County: City of Dubuque a IA
Name of
Person Cori Burbach
Title Sustainability Coordinator
Department
Foundation
name: Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
City: Dubuque State IA
Name of
Person Eric Dregne
Title Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
B. Primary Contact Person
Name: Eric Dregne
Title: Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
Organizatio
n: Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Mailing
address: 700 Locust Street, Suite 195
City: Dubuque State: IA Zip: 52001
Email: eric @dbqfoundation.org
Telephone: 563 - 588 -2700 Ext:
C. Proposed Grant Recipient
Name of
Organization:
Federal Tax ID
#:
Contact
Person:
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
42- 1526614
Eric Dregne
Title Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
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Mailing
address
City:
Email:
Telephone:
Round 3
700 Locust Street, Suite 195
Dubuque
State IA Zip 52001
eric @dbqfoundation.org
563 - 588 -2700 Ext:
D. Amount of request: $55,000
E. Amount of Local Match: $55,000
F. Name of matching organization(s): Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque
G. Total Project Budget: $110,000
H. Project Title: Building Connections between Sustainability Efforts and Neighborhoods in
Need
I. Purpose of Project (25 words or less): To build new connections between
Dubuque's sustainability efforts (Sustainable Dubuque) and low- income families living in at-
risk neighborhoods through the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI).
Brief description of project goals, strategy, and key activities (250 words
or less):
Low income families utilize recycling programs, energy efficiency programs and other
sustainability related services at a far lower rate than more affluent families. Through a unique
new partnership Dubuque's GHHI will connect families and neighborhoods to services and
practices, supported by Sustainable Dubuque, that save families money and resources while
helping them create green, safe and healthy homes.
The City Sustainability Coordinator and Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque have worked
together in the past. However, this will be a new opportunity for the Sustainability Coordinator
and CFGD staff to intentionally create a partnership to utilize GHHI and engage typically
disengaged populations in sustainable practices and programs that will strengthen families and
neighborhoods.
A key activity will be to build strong new connections between GHHI and City leadership including
Mayor, City Council, and Sustainability Coordinator in order to ensure a long lasting, and broad
support for GHHI and efforts to engage low- income families and neighborhoods in sustainable
practices and programs.
This includes:
• Increasing access for low- income families to sustainable practices and services though
the GHHI Home Advocate.
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• Increasing engagement and participation by Sustainable Dubuque partner programs
and services.
• Building stronger, deeper relationships between the GHHI partners and City of
Dubuque departments by supporting a GHHI Coordinator who will work in partnership
with the City Sustainability Coordinator.
• Improving the long term sustainability of Dubuque's low- income neighborhoods by
raising the quality of housing stock and building social capital between neighborhood
stakeholders and Sustainable Dubuque partner service providers.
I [ x ]do [_] do not agree to have the above primary contact person (B), project title (G),
purpose of the grant (H), and brief project description (I) uploaded to the "Idea Bank" on
the Funders' Network website.
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Round 3
Proposal Narrative (no longer than 7 pages)
A. Background rationale for project (Why this project? How did it come about ?)
Dubuque's sustainability efforts are recognized regionally and nationally for the innovative
approach taken towards engaging the community, integrating data and utilizing technology to
create exciting outcomes that are saving businesses and families' time and money in their daily
lives. The community works together towards sustainability through an initiative called
Sustainable Dubuque. However, as successful as Sustainable Dubuque has been, there are
families and neighborhoods that are not connected to these outcomes, in particular, our low -
income families and neighborhoods.
Dubuque's new Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) offers integrated interventions
including; health, safety, lead hazards reduction, energy efficiency and weatherization services
to low- income families. The result is safer and healthier children and families, stronger
communities and improved economic opportunities.
Creating greener, safer, and healthier homes leads to more stable housing, a higher quality of
life and better health, mental health and social and economic outcomes for parents and their
children, for residents of economically distressed communities.
GHHI coordinates funding sources, erases bureaucratic boundaries and works with families
one -on -one. By aligning and coordinating various resources, through a Home Advocate, GHHI
uses a single intervention process to address the challenges in each home, while ensuring the
work is safe for both residents and workers.
A key factor to the success that GHHI has had accessing our community's most challenging
neighborhoods is the Home Advocate position. This individual is a trained social worker who
makes valued connections with families and links them to services provided by GHHI and
other social services the families and their children may need.
In an effort to help low- income families access the savings and health benefits that sustainable
practices can provide, GHHI will establish a new partnership to link GHHI with Sustainable
Dubuque.
This will require significant new collaboration between the City of Dubuque Sustainability
Coordinator and a GHHI Coordinator housed at the Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque who will work to bring together GHHI partners and community sustainability
partners. It will require strengthened relationships and improved data sharing among all
existing and new GHHI partners.
The Green and Healthy Home Initiative has had significant success engaging low- income
families in making health and safety improvements to their homes. Sustainable Dubuque has
been able to engage partners in developing practices and programs that save families money
and resources, especially middle and upper income families. Together these two efforts can
help families who are most in need and ensure an equitable approach to sustainability in our
community. Strengthening the connections between partners and engaging new relationships
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between systems that serve our low- income families will be an important outcome from this
project grant.
B. Project goals /purpose
To support sustainable neighborhoods with safe and healthy homes for our low income
children and families through a new coordinated approach led by GHHI Coordinator and the
Sustainability Coordinator, to increase access to and use of sustainable practices and services
in Dubuque's most distressed neighborhoods.
We will;
• Coordinate outreach efforts for sustainable practices and services such as improved
recycling programs, energy efficiency programs, smarter water programs, etc. through
GHHI.
• Building stronger deeper relationships between the GHHI partners and the Sustainability
Coordinator by supporting a GHHI Coordinator who will work to establish long lasting,
effective relationships.
• Increase engagement of families and target neighborhoods in Sustainable Dubuque efforts
to equal engagement levels of more affluent neighborhoods.
• Ensure the long term sustainability of the GHHI model by ensuring it becomes a top
priority of the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and private and nonprofit partner
leadership.
C. Detailed work plan that describes project activities, deliverables, and
timeline
The GHHI Coordinator, at the Community Foundation will work closely with the Sustainability
Coordinator to build connections with Sustainable Dubuque partners and the GHHI Home
Advocate to develop opportunities for GHHI families to engage in sustainability practices and
programs.
• Resource Development- build a network that strengthens GHHI's ability to connect resources
to families and homes in need;
i. volunteer network- that helps reduce costs of interventions while increasing
community awareness and engagement in our most in need neighborhoods;
ii. specialized partner network- that identifies and engages nonprofit and other
providers who can offer needed services that make families more sustainable (e.g.
recycling, energy efficiency, smarter water, etc.); and
• Engage Families in Sustainable Practices - Home Advocate will work with families to help
them learn sustainable practices by enrolling them in programs that save them resources
and money.
i. assess needs of families - to determine what services and practices will be most
needed by families
ii. develop menu of sustainable services - that helps families learn how to make their
homes more sustainable saving them money and resources
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D. Intended outcomes and impacts, including how the project could lead to
more equitable outcomes benefitting all members of the community
• Increase participation in sustainability programs and increase sustainable practices in
homes of low- income families to reach the same levels as more affluent families.
• Strengthened partnerships that result in a system of government and NGO providers who
work effectively together to serve all families that;
i. Make homes /neighborhoods safe - lead and other hazards removed
ii. Make homes /neighborhoods efficient - reduced energy and maintenance costs
iii. Make homes /neighborhoods healthy - reduced medical costs, reduced absence, from
work /school
iv. Increase access to healthcare, family support services and healthy local food
E. Plans for evaluating success and tracking /demonstrating impact
• Use of Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) system - shared data management system and "before
and after" assessments of each home to collect data that describes;
i. Home interventions - including lead and other hazard removal, energy efficiency
improvements, healthy home improvements, etc.
ii. Children and family interventions- including services provided to support health,
education, financial literacy, nutrition basic needs and other services
iii. Long -term impacts - follow -up assessments to ensure that sustainable behavior
change is accomplished and the home remains safe, healthy and efficient
• Track participation of GHHI participants in sustainability programs
• Measurement of supports and partners engaged in GHHI including:
i. GHHI partners serving identified needs of households /neighborhoods
ii. GHHI partners sharing data
iii. Volunteers engaged in meaningful activities that support GHHI
• Build new support and engagement from elected officials and high level management in the
City of Dubuque and other partners.
• Quarterly monitoring of work plan to ensure we are on target to achieve the objectives, as
well as follow up with GHHI partners at monthly meetings.
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Round 3
F. Key staff or implementation partners
City of Dubuque Sustainability Coordinator- Cori Burbach
Sustainable Dubuque Collaborative - group of partners who support and promote sustainable
practices and programs in the community.
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
• Eric Dregne, VP of Strategic Initiatives- Coordinator of GHHI
• Erin Reinicke, GHHI Home Advocate
City of Dubuque Housing and Community Development Dept
• Alvin Nash, Director
• Kim Glaser, Healthy Homes coordinator
• Kevin Hirsch, Lead Grant coordinator
City of Dubuque Health Department
• Mary Rose Corrigan, Director
Operation New View, Community Action Agency
• Tom Stovall, Director
• Mike Strader, Weatherization Program
Visiting Nurses Association
G. URL link to officially adopted local sustainability, climate action, or energy
efficiency and conservation plan (or PDF attachment)
In 2008, the City of Dubuque adopted the Sustainable Dubuque plan, which includes 11
sustainability principles housed under a three -part model that includes economic prosperity,
environmental integrity, and social /cultural vibrancy. In 2011, the City, University of Iowa and
its partners worked to develop a set of performance indicators that help to measure progress
towards achieving those goals. The progress report can be found here:
http:// www. cityofdubuque .org /DocumentCenter /Home /View /15189
H. Information on how the project addresses key selection criteria. Remember
to address each of the key areas listed below in order. Points will be awarded
based on the extent to which your proposal explains the following criteria.
1. How the project advances a key aspect of the officially adopted local
sustainability, climate action, or energy efficiency and conservation plan
As the Sustainable Dubuque plan is a holistic, comprehensive approach to sustainability for
individuals and the community at large, the GHHI initiative is a holistic approach to
improving the quality of life for Dubuque residents. Specifically, GHHI addresses the
principles of Smart Energy Use by creating more energy- efficient homes, Green Buildings
by creating healthier and safer homes for individuals and families, Healthy Air by creating
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Round 3
decreasing lead poisoning and other indoor air toxins in order to reduce asthma and other
negative health effects, Resource Management by teaching residents about recycling and
less toxic cleaning practices, and Community Knowledge by providing a variety of
education opportunities to participants to increase their self - sufficiency.
2. Description of collaborative process between local government
sustainability director and local foundation in developing the proposal,
including how the project fits into the local funder's grant strategy
The GHHI Initiative has largely been a pilot program led by the Community Foundation
who facilitates a set of partners including the City Housing Department (Lead /Healthy
Homes), Operation New View (WAP), and the Visiting Nurses (healthcare). In order to
develop this proposal, City Housing and Health department staff met with CFGD staff and
the Sustainability Coordinator to review the successes of the current GHHI pilot, complete
strategic planning to identify opportunities and goals for the expansion of the program,
identify new partnerships, and create a work plan to satisfy the requirements of this grant
application.
3. Evidence of thoughtful and pragmatic work plan with means to
demonstrate impact
In 2011 -12, GHHI was launched as a pilot program, with a majority of the work being
completed by the City's Housing and Health departments, the CFGD, and Operation New
View: Community Action Agency. These stakeholders have worked together over the past
year to share information about how their respective programs operate, including
information regarding federal funding requirements, intake processes, data collection, and
homeowner support services. Staff completed LEAN training to identify ways in which the
various processes could be streamlined in order to make the process homeowner - centered.
Today, the initial partners need to engage City leadership and the Sustainability
Coordinator in order to ensure broad support of GHHI and to ensure equitable access to
sustainable practices and programs for families in low- income neighborhoods. Our work
plan above will do this.
Currently- engaged program staff has met with the Sustainability Coordinator and CFGD
staff to identify a process to expand the partnership in the next year to additional City
departments and non - profits. By growing the Initiative strategically, we will be able to
grow the capacity of the partnership and the reach into the community.
Data collection and sharing will be key to proving the value of the Initiative, identifying
benchmarks for success, tracking community impact, and identifying additional partners
that are needed at the table. This collection and analysis will be a key component of work
over the next year. It will be the responsibility of the Home Advocate and key partners to
use this information to make a strong case for private sector support of the program in the
future. Additionally, identifying efficiencies in the system and communicating these
efficiencies to the appropriate state and federal funders offers the opportunity to shift
funds currently used for administrative support to impact more homes in the future.
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Round 3
4. Whether and how a cross - section of the community was involved in the
project
GHHI partners have involved various human service and health- focused non - profits and
additional City departments in the planning of this program expansion. A monthly meeting
of these partners and the Sustainability Coordinator has been established during the grant
writing and will continue thru the grant to ensure we engage partners who can bring
sustainable practices and programs to GHHI families.
By involving the Sustainability Coordinator in the expansion efforts, the GHHI team will be
building a new partnership with the Sustainable Dubuque Collaboration, a community
leadership team staffed by the Coordinator. The Collaboration consists of business leaders,
government and college representation, non - profit groups, and citizens who play a key
leadership role in the ongoing Sustainable Dubuque initiative. The purpose of the
Collaboration is to identify and help to implement community sustainability priorities,
provide outreach and education to raise the awareness level of citizens and businesses, and
collect data to measure the community impact of programs such as GHHI. This new
collaboration will help the GHHI team to identify additional partners and clients
throughout the Dubuque community and to bring sustainable practices and programs to
GHHI families.
5. Whether the proposal represents a new relationship between a city or
county sustainability director and a local, place -based funder(s)
The City of Dubuque and Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque have partnered
together in the past on successful community initiatives. However, this will be a new
opportunity for the Sustainability Coordinator and CFGD staff to utilize GHHI to engage
typically disengaged populations in sustainable practices and programs that will
strengthen families and neighborhoods.
6. Whether and how the partnership project addresses one of the following
seven sustainability priorities:
• Embedding Adaptation and Resilience Considerations in Government Functions
from Health to Infrastructure
• Undertaking EcoDistrict/Comprehensive Neighborhood Sustainability Projects
• Implementing a Community Vision for a Sustainable Urban Food Systems
• Using Communitywide Sustainability Performance Measurement/Indicators to
Drive Collaboration and Progress
• Integrating Sustainability and Economic Development Programs
• Using Current Social Science -Based Knowledge to Mobilize Resident and
Business Actions That Advance Sustainability (water, energy, waste, food,
transportation, open space, etc.)
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Round 3
• Advancing Towards Total Waste Diversion Through Recycling and Waste
Prevention
This initiative encourages comprehensive neighborhood sustainability by coordinating the
efforts of many programs and providers into targeted underserved neighborhoods to bring
sustainable practices and programs through GHHI in a coordinated way. In addition, the
data collected through the ETO will also directly feed the Sustainable Dubuque Indicators
project, addressing the priority of using community -wide Sustainability Performance
Measurement /Indicators to Drive Collaboration and Progress.
7. Whether project partners bring other funding to the project beyond the
matching requirement.
In addition to the required match, which is provided by the CFGD, the City will be
dedicating $2.71 million in funding from two separate HUD grants that will align with the
implementation of the GHHI. These funds are available through March 2014. Additional
committed funds include weatherization funds received by Operation New View. Finally,
in -kind leverage including 7.8 FTE at CFGD, City of Dubuque Housing, Healthy, and
Sustainability Offices, and Operation New View will support this program.
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Budget
The grant funding will be critical support to ensure improved coordination of partners.
GHHI /Sustainability Engagement - $25,000
Coordination and engagement efforts that connect more families to sustainable
practices and programs. These efforts led by the GHHI Coordinator in
partnership with the Sustainability Coordinator will build connections between
partner organizations, engage City leadership and educate families about
sustainable lifestyles.
Home Advocate Staff -
A Community Foundation supported, GHHI position that works directly
with families to connect them to programs with an emphasis on new
sustainable practices and programs developed though this effort.
Printing /Marketing /Meetings -
Support, supplies and tools to engage GHHI stakeholders and
identify /attract and highlight sustainable practices and programs
as well as new partners and resources to the initiative.
$10,000
$5,000
Office /Rent /Administration - $5,000
Supports administrative and other costs of the initiative.
Data System Support -
Increase effective data collection by connecting GHHI data and
outcomes to Dubuque's Sustainability Indicators in order to increase
understanding, ensure more efficient use of resources, improve
communication between partners.
$10,000
Sub Total: $55,000
Match
The Green and Healthy Homes Initiative will provide $55,000 to match the total amount of the
grant with funds from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.
No grant or match funding will support any City staff positions.
G H H I Coordinator Staff- $10,000
Home Advocate Staff- $25,000
Data System Support Match- $15,000
Printing /Marketing /Meetings- $5,000
Sub Total: $55,000
Total: $110,000
May 20, 2013
To: The Funders Network
From: Nancy Van Milligen, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Re: Match Verification for Application to TFN Local Sustainability Matching Fund
Thank you for the opportunity to apply for a grant from the Local Sustainability Matching
Fund. As the local -place based funder and partner in Dubuque's Green and Healthy
Homes Initiative, we are very proud of the initiative.
We are pleased to be able to provide a 100% match for the $55,000 requested.
Please accept this letter as verification of our intent to match the grant if awarded.
We sincerely appreciate the work and partnership of The Funders Network and are
excited to support the effort to improve the sustainability partnerships in our community.
Sincerely,
va-7 /7/(112-;---
Nancy Van Milligen
President and CEO
C mmuNny Rxusa AfloN
of Grf/tIr RrY6*r1
The Roshek Building Phone 563.5861100
700 Locust Street, Suite 195 Fax: 563.583.6619
Dubuque. IA 52001 office®dbgfoundation.org
www.dbqfoundation.org