Center For An Ecology-Based Economy

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE CENTER FOR AN ECOLOGY-BASED ECONOMY. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL SUPPORT THE TOWN OF NORWAY, MAINE TO IMPLEMENT LOCAL PROJECTS, AND DEVELOP A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN LINKED TO THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. MATERIALS AND TOOLS DEVELOPED IN NORWAY, MAINE WILL BE SHARED TO HELP OTHER LOCAL, RURAL MUNICIPALITIES INCREASE CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH. THEY WILL ALSO ACCELERATE THEIR WORK WITH THE OXFORD HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONDUCT ENERGY AUDITS AND SUPPORT LOCAL TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY INCLUDING BUILDING EFFICIENCY UPGRADES, PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO INCREASE CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND IMPROVE THE INDOOR QUALITY OF THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR LOCAL STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY THE PROJECT WILL DESIGN AND DELIVER EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AROUND FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT CAN GENERATE INCOME WHILE SEQUESTERING CARBON AND PROTECTING WATERSHEDS.ACTIVITIES:PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HIRING A PROJECT COORDINATOR TO MANAGE PROJECT TIMELINES AND BUDGETS, CREATE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TEMPLATES, DESIGN AND FACILITATE WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS, AND GENERATE MARKETING MATERIALS, PRESS RELEASES AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT. THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF NORWAY, MAINE, INCORPORATE CLIMATE CONCERNS INTO THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND BUILD ON EXISTING EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE TOWN'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE NORWAY CLIMATE ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (NCAAC) INCLUDING CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON OTHER MODEL PLANS, FINALIZE AND PRESENT RESULTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, FACILITATE A ROBUST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. USING NORWAY, MAINE AS A MODEL, THIS APPROACH WILL BE REPLICATED IN TEN OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION. TEMPLATE AND GUIDELINE DOCUMENTS WILL BE DEVELOPED INCLUDING CLIMATE ACTION PLANS SPECIFIC TO RURAL INLAND TOWNS, VULNERABLE POPULATION ASSESSMENTS, VULNERABLE INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENTS, AND GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING SOLAR ON LOCATIONS INCLUDING LANDFILLS. SUPPORT FOR THE OTHER TEN MUNICIPALITIES WILL INCLUDING FORMING AND MAINTAINING CLIMATE COMMITTEES AND IDENTIFYING RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS. THE RECIPIENT AND PARTNERS WILL CONDUCT TRAININGS AND CREATE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR TOWN OFFICIALS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING RENEWABLE ENERGY, FOREST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION, WATERSHED PROTECTION, AND OTHER ISSUES. THE RECIPIENT AND PROJECT PARTNERS WILL WORK WITH LANDOWNERS AND SOLICIT PUBLIC INPUT TO DESIGN UP TO SIX PROJECTS TO INCREASE SOIL CARBON, DECREASE EROSION, CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY AND DIVERSIFY POTENTIAL INCOME STREAMS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO PREPARE ENERGY ASSESSMENTS FOR LOCAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN THE OXFORD HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT, PREPARE REPORTS ON ENERGY-EFFICIENCY AND WEATHERIZATION PROJECTS, PREPARE REPORTS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY CONTRACTS AND PROJECTS AND ASSIST IN PURSUING OPPORTUNITIES TO ELECTRIFY VEHICLE FLEETS. SUBRECIPIENT:THIS SUBAWARD TO WESTERN FOOTHILLS LAND TRUST (WFLT) WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT ON BEST PRACTICES FOR LAND USE AND WATERSHED-BASED PROJECTS. WFLT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLABORATING WITH THE RECIPIENT AND THE OXFORD COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT ON DESIGNING AND DELIVERING 12 PUBLIC TRAININGS BETWEEN APRIL 2024 AND OCTOBER 2025. WFLT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHARING INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND OTHER TECHNICAL EXPERTISE WITH MUNICIPALITIES AND LANDOWNERS WITHIN THIS PROJECT SCOPE, FROM APRIL 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 2025, TO DESIGN LAND-BASED PROJECTS AS THEY RELATE TO WATERSHEDS, RIVERS AND STREAMS, AQUIFERS, SIGNIFICANT NATURAL HABITATS, CLIMATE RESILENCE AND PRIME AGRICULTURAL SOILS.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIP