EPA Presents Over $175K Ceremonial Check to University of Northern Iowa for Pollution Prevention Grant

EPA Presents Over $175K Ceremonial Check to University of Northern Iowa for Pollution Prevention Grant

January 15, 2025

LENEXA, KAN. (JAN. 15, 2025) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Land, Chemical, and Redevelopment Division Director DeAndré Singletarypresented a ceremonial check for over $175,000 to the University of Northern Iowa (UNI)at its Curris Business Buildingin Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Singletary was joined by university officials to celebrate UNI's selection for $175,159 in funding that will be used to provide training to technical assistance providers across the country, with an interest in developing their own pollution prevention program for breweries in their P2 in Breweries for TAPs (technical assistance providers) project.

"We look forward to working with UNI in their efforts to prevent waste in breweries," Singletary said. "Through this grant, UNI will empower P2 Technical Assistance Providers to create and implement brewery certification programs in other states."

"We've started something special here with the Iowa Green Brewery Certification and this grant is going to allow us to take it to the next level," said Iowa Waste Reduction Center Director Joe Bolick. "Through these efforts, we'll be able to create and provide useful resources and tools so other technical assistance providers in EPA Region 7 and beyond can enhance their service offerings with their own Green Brewery Certification program. We've got great partners in Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, so we're very excited to see how we can grow these programs across the region."

"Iowans use innovation and commonsense to develop our state's all-of-the-above energy approach, including clean energy solutions. The University of Northern Iowa is among the pioneers leading the way," said U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (IA). "As a longtime proponent of environmentally-sound, homegrown energies, I'm glad to see these federal dollars put to good use in Iowa."

In October 2024, EPA announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, tribal nations, and U.S. territories. Thanks to President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.

Pollution prevention, also known as P2 or source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Preventing pollution at the source, rather than managing waste afterward, is an important way to support American businesses' efforts to reduce costs, while protecting communities from exposure to toxic chemicals and conserving natural resources. These practices are essential for protecting health, improving environmental conditions - including in and around disadvantaged communities - and preserving natural resources like wetlands, groundwater sources, and other critical ecosystems.

Between 2011 and 2022, EPA's Pollution Prevention program issued over 500 grants totaling more than $54 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop, and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in 31.9 billion kilowatt-hours in energy savings, eliminated 20.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saved 52 billion gallons of water, reduced 1 billion pounds of hazardous materials, and saved businesses more than $2.3 billion.

EPA expects to award funds once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Once awarded, selected grantees will document and share P2 best practices that they identify and develop through these grants, so that others can replicate these practices and outcomes. Each selected grantee will also develop at least one case study during the grant period on P2 practices that are new or not widely known or adopted, or where detailed information on the P2 practices could benefit other businesses or P2 technical assistance providers.

Background

President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made a historic $100 million investment in EPA's P2 program, more than doubling the funding for P2 grants. The first round of 39 awards funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in September 2022and the second round of 24 awards was announced in October 2023.

Search P2 grantees by state and National Emphasis Area (NEA), and view selected grant summarieson EPA's page.

Read more about P2and EPA's P2 Grants program.

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