Empire State Development - Environmental Investment Program [13651]
Synopsis: The sponsor provides support for projects that lead to measurable pollution prevention and economic development outcomes. EIP awards are made on a competitive basis. Projects with a strong likelihood of creating results in a timely fashion receive more favorable reviews.
Objectives: The objective of the Environmental Investment Program (EIP) is to help New York State businesses capture the economic benefits associated with pollution prevention, reuse, and recycling. These economic benefits can include: increased productivity and competitiveness from reduced operating costs or avoided capital costs; increased capacity and revenues from reuse and recycling; increased employment; and job retention. Projects may be proposed in three categories. These are: Capital; Research, Development and Demonstration; and Technical Assistance. EIP projects may be proposed in two investment areas: Reuse and Recycling; and Pollution Prevention.
Reuse and Recycling: projects in this investment area result in the reuse or recycling of: solid waste; industrial process waste (all non-hazardous solid, liquid and airborne wastes resulting from industrial processes); or hazardous waste. Eligible recycling projects are those which focus on increasing the capacity for or volume of recycling solid or industrial process waste, including composting and other means of recycling organic material. Composting projects must include only source separated organic material. Eligible recycling projects include those in which hazardous waste is processed at the facility where it was generated for use as a feedstock at that facility.
Pollution Prevention: projects in this investment area are those that lead to reductions in the volume or toxicity of waste before it is generated and where pre-existing or potential costs associated with pollution control or management are reduced when pollution is prevented. Pollution prevention projects may also include source reduction.
Pollution prevention projects focus on: solid waste; industrial process waste (all non-hazardous solid, liquid and airborne wastes resulting from industrial processes); or hazardous waste. Preference is given to projects in which: the economic benefits derive directly from the environmental improvement; the environmental improvement occurs at the site where the investment is made; and the economic and environmental benefits are readily identified and easily measured.
Funding: The sponsor does not foresee awarding capital project contracts in which sponsor funds exceed $500,000, and will invest up to fifty percent of the eligible project costs. Projects that provide matching investments of greater than fifty percent will be given preference over projects with less matching investment. Eligible project costs include: physical assets such as buildings, facilities and equipment directly related to the project including their associated installation costs. Land costs for not more than the reasonable amount of land required for the project are eligible. Eligible transportation equipment includes items such as roll-off containers, trailers and mobile equipment that are used on site, such as forklifts. Improvements, alterations or repair to real property are also eligible, as are consulting costs. For RD&D projects, the sponsor may invest up to eighty percent of the eligible project costs or $200,000, whichever is less. Preference will be given to RD&D projects with cash versus in-kind matching investments and/or whose match exceeds twenty percent. RD&D contractors should complete their projects within a term of six months to two years. Eligible costs include any incremental expenses associated exclusively with the conduct of the test, evaluation, or demonstration. Reasonably priced equipment rental or straight leasing is eligible. Costs associated with the contractor's staff may be included only as part of the contractor's in-kind investment in the project, unless EMIG approves otherwise. For Technical Assistance Projects, the sponsor can invest up to fifty percent of the eligible project costs. Preference will be given to technical assistance projects with cash versus in-kind matching investments and/or whose match exceeds fifty percent. Eligible project costs include personnel expenses (salaries and fringe benefits) for project employees and support staff engaged in project-related activities such as analyzing opportunities for pollution prevention, reuse or recycling, facilitating their implementation and measuring baselines and results. Non-personnel expenses in support of the personnel assigned to the project, including supplies and materials, publications, travel, printing, postage, office equipment rental and repair, office space rental, telephone, utilities and office equipment purchases, are eligible. The sponsor does not foresee awarding technical assistance contracts exceeding $75,000. Technical assistance contractors should complete their projects within a six-month to two-year term.