Opportunities:

EAB management Grants

Illinois Urban Forestry Grant for Emerald Ash Borer Restoration Grant: This grant program seeks to provide grants to communities to plant trees trees and encourage sustainable urban forest management.  Applicants must be located in the Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine Zone.  Grants range from $10,000 - $40,000.  Grant application is due on January 20, 2012.  Download Grant Application her as a DOCX, PDF or DOC97 format. 

Illinois Urban Forestry Grant for Technical Assistance:   This grant program seeks to provide grants for communities for technical assistance for Emerald ash borer management.  This grant program seeks to minimize future loss of tree canopy, slow the spread of EAB and generally encourage sustainable urban forest management.   Applicants must be located in the Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine Zone.  Grants range from may not exceed $20,000.  Grant application is due on January 20, 2012. Download Grant Application her as a DOCX, PDF or DOC97 format. 

The following FAQ has been provided so that all applicants have access to the same information.  Prior to contacting the Caucus with questions, please consult the FAQ.  It is expected that the FAQ will be updated as needed through January 13, 2012.  If you have questions not yet addressed, please Eve Pytel at epytel@mayorscaucus.org.

FAQ 1

Workshops:

In the first half of December, four workshops and one webinar were provided to give applicants a chance to walk through the application, better understand EAB and tree planting/maintenance.  The following presentations have been made available for your reference:

Illinois Urban Forestry Grants for Emerald Ash Borer Management Overview by Eve Pytel

EAB Management Planning by Scott Schirmer

Tree Planting and Maintenance Basics by Stephanie Adams

EAB - What I have learned by Jim Tresouthick

www.treeownersmanual.info

Example Grant Applications: The following were successful grant applications. Please note that identifying information has been removed and that the grant format has been modified. Despite minor changes to the application process these examples provide solid examples from successful applicants.

Exampleston Tree Inventory Grant Application

Exampleview Urban Restoration Grant Application

Grants:

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Section 319(h) – Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Financial Assistance Program Request for Proposals. ILEPA prioritizes the following types of projects; Implementation of a Watershed Based Plan or TMDL Implementation Plan to address NPS Pollution, Development of a Watershed Based Plan to address NPS pollution and Development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or TMDL Implementation Plan to address NPS Pollution. To learn more about the opportunity that closes August 1, 2011, please visit ILEPA's website.

Illinois Alternate Fuels Rebate Program: The types of alternate fuels eligible for this program include:  ethanol (85% blend or “E85”), biodiesel (at least 20% blend or “B20”), natural gas, propane, electricity, and hydrogen.  The amount of an E85 fuel rebate is $340 if the vehicle travels less than 17,500 miles in the application year and $450 if it travels 17,500 or more miles.  For Biodiesel (B20+), the rebate amount is based on the incremental cost of using the Biodiesel fuel versus regular diesel.  The rebate amount will be calculated at 80 percent of the average incremental cost of using Biodiesel (B20+) throughout the year.  The applicant is to provide documentation on the average cost differences between regular diesel and Biodiesel (B20+) during the year.   For the 2010 calendar year, the Fuel Rebate application is due January 31, 2011.  www.illinoisgreenfleets.org

Vehicle Rebate Program: applies to the incremental cost of an alternate fuel vehicle purchased from a dealership or similar vendor as compared to the cost of its gasoline or diesel counterpart.  The vehicle must be purchased from an Illinois dealership or similar company doing business in Illinois. A Vehicle Rebate is more appropriate for E85, natural gas, propane, electric, and hydrogen vehicles.  Please contact the Illinois EPA at (800) 635-2380 if you are purchasing an electric vehicle to inquire about the eligibility status and application procedure.

Vehicle Rebate Amount:  The amount of the Vehicle Rebate is for 80% of the incremental cost of the alternate fuel vehicle versus the same type of gasoline or diesel vehicle, up to $4,000.  For example, if the “upcharge” of an E85 flexible fuel vehicle is $1,500 (as distinctly listed on the MSRP sticker or other paperwork for that vehicle), then the amount of the Vehicle Rebate would be $1,200.

Applicants for a Vehicle Rebate in which the vehicle was purchased on or after August 14, 2009, there is now a 12-month application time period (with the deadline being the last day of the 12th month).  For example, if the vehicle was purchased on August 16, 2009, the application must be postmarked by August 31, 2010 to be eligible.

The Illinois EPA processes Vehicle Rebates twice each year, at the end of June and at the end of the year, on a six month cycle.  Your approved Vehicle Rebate application will be processed for payment at the end of the next six-month cycle.  Please call the Illinois EPA at ( 800) 635-2380 if you have any questions. www.illinoisgreenfleets.org

Diesel Retrofits and Anti-Idling Technologies. Diesel Retrofit funding is available with 30%-75% matching requirement. While the program is rolling, it is best to get applications in earlier rather than later to secure the most beneficial match. www.illinoisgreenfleets.org

Services:

LED Sign Eco-Blitz Program and example Northbrook flyer.

Manufacturer-Sponsored Residential Electronic Recycling:

Vintage Tech Recyclers: Provides residential recycling programs to local governments sponsored by manufacturers subject to product stewardship legislation. Vintage Tech Recyclers offers collection events, permanent collection programs, and hybrid programs. For more information visit their website or 866-435-9223.

Com2Recycling Solutions: Offers a drop box program.  For more information, contact com2@com2computer.com.

Employment: Employment submittals will be charged a listing fee of $15.00 for member municipalities and $25.00 for non member communities. This listing fee will be invoiced to you. Once activated your listing run until you notify us that the position has been filled. To submit a position description, email Eve Pytel at epytel@mayorscaucus.org.

Request for Proposals: Caucus members may post RFPs here. Caucus members will be charged $20 for RFPs and nonmembers will be charged $30. RFPs will be removed on the opening day provided in the document. To submit a position description, email Eve Pytel at epytel@mayorscaucus.org.