KBS Client, GLACC Receives State Tribute - Kicks Off $725,000 EPA Grant Program to Improve School Buses and University Vehicles
October 31, 2011
GLACC Executive Director, Maggie Striz Calnin receives a Michigan State Tribute on behalf of GLACC grant partners for their work in the EPA clean bus project.
October 27 – Grand Ledge, MI –Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities (GLACC) hosted supporters, school officials, students, district legislative staff, local officials, and the media to present how a $725,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will help school children and local resident benefit from cleaner air. The clean vehicle project will work to improve public health - particularly among school children, by assisting schools and institutions in updating their diesel vehicle fleets. GLACC’s application was one of 9 recommended for award out of a pool of 36 applicants to the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program.
The GLACC-led project will reduce harmful emissions by installing advanced exhaust control equipment on school buses and Michigan State University vehicles, and by replacing school buses outright. The diesel oxidation catalyst to be installed on vehicles replaces mufflers and utilizes a chemical process to break down pollutants from diesel exhaust, turning them into less-harmful components. Updates and replacements will contribute to reduced rates of premature deaths, incidents of asthma and other respiratory ailments, lost workdays, and other problems impacted by poor air quality.
“Installing emission control units on 14 MSU fleet vehicles adds to our ‘Be Spartan Green’ initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations,” said Brian Wolfe, MSU Fleet Services Manager. “This grant makes it possible for us to implement these equipment upgrades in a cost effective way.”
Belinda Hoyle, Transportation Director for Charlotte Public Schools stated: “Many districts are forced to delay replacing aging school buses, but this grant allows us to stretch local bond support further to update our fleet. We’ll be able to leverage these grant dollars to purchase alternative fuel buses powered by clean-burning propane.”
Attendees at the reception included grant project partner representatives: Superintendent Brian Metcalf, Grand Ledge Public Schools; Dr. Debra Jones, Superintendent, Waverly Community Schools; Waverly school board member Edith Suttles; Rhonda Sosnowski, Waverly Transportation Director; Chris Fralick, student at Waverly Community Schools; Debra Dean, Transportation Director, Haslett Public Schools; Patrick Dean, Director of Development, Dean Transportation. Also in attendance were local elected officials including Mayors Kalmin Smith of Grand Ledge, and Dee Smith of Charlotte. Sandra McCormick representing the office of Senator Rick Jones presented a Michigan State Tribute signed by state level elected officials from the region to GLACC for its work on this project.
Vehicles on display during the event included a Thomas Built school bus with Cummins ISB diesel engine and SCR emissions control – achieving the lowest emissions output on the market courtesy of Hoekstra Transportation. The Thomas Built school bus represents a zero-waste-to-landfill manufacturing process. Also displayed was a Bluebird school bus powered by alternative fuel propane, which meets the lowest emissions ratings courtesy of Holland Bus Company. Representatives from Cummins Bridgeway were on hand to explain emission reduction equipment.
Waverly Community Schools student Chris Fralick inspects a low-emission bus on display during GLACC’s press event Thursday, October 27, 2011.
“We are grateful to the U.S. EPA for recommending GLACC for this grant award, and excited to work with project partners across Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties over the next twelve months to get these clean vehicles on the road,” said GLACC Executive Director, Maggie Striz Calnin. “This project boosts our efforts to advance clean transportation solutions and we’re proud to attract federal funds for transportation projects in mid-Michigan.”
GLACC is a coalition working to achieve cleaner air and energy security in mid-Michigan through alternative fuel and vehicle usage, fuel economy, and emissions reduction practices. Stakeholders include public and private fleets, nonprofit organizations, utilities, local governments, and individuals. For more information go to: www.michigancleancities.org, connect on Facebook or call (517) 925-8649.
Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities coalition is professionally staffed and managed by Kuntzsch Business Services, Inc., the team responsible for this successful grant award and press event.
KBS Insider Bulletin: Featured Funding Opportunities for October 2011
October 18, 2011
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Receives $725,000 EPA Grant to Improve School Buses and Air Quality for Local School Children.
KBS Client GLACC and Partners Awarded $725,000 EPA Grant
October 13, 2011
October 13 – Grand Ledge MI – GLACC supporters, school administrators, students, district legislators, local officials, and the media will have an opportunity to learn how a $725,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will help school children benefit from cleaner air at a reception and press event held by the Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities (GLACC) at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 27 in Grand Ledge. GLACC received the grant for a mid-Michigan clean school bus project and will exhibit how the undertaking serves to improve public health, particularly in school children, and assists schools and institutions in updating their diesel vehicle fleets. The award was made through the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program.
The GLACC-led project will reduce harmful emissions by installing advanced exhaust control equipment on school buses and Michigan State University vehicles. Equipment upgrades will benefit several local school districts, Michigan State University, and Dean Transportation. The initiative will also provide aging fleets with new, low-emission buses selectively. Updates and replacements will work to reduce premature deaths, incidents of asthma and other respiratory ailments, lost workdays, and other problems impacted by poor air quality. Equipment vendors will be on hand to display the emission reduction equipment.
“We are grateful to the U.S. EPA for this award, and excited to work with project partners across Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties,” said GLACC Executive Director, Maggie Striz Calnin. “This project boosts our efforts to advance clean transportation solutions and we’re proud to attract federal funds for transportation projects in mid-Michigan.”
GLACC is a coalition working to achieve cleaner air and energy security in mid-Michigan through alternative fuel and vehicle usage, fuel economy, and emissions reduction practices. Stakeholders include public and private fleets, nonprofit organizations, utilities, local governments, and individuals. The reception and press event will be held in the offices of Kuntzsch Business Services at 300 N. Bridge Street in Grand Ledge. For more information or to RSVP for the event, go www.michigancleancities.org, connect on Facebook or call (517) 925-8649.
[Complete Release in PDF Format] [Register for Reception and Press Event]
Smart Growth Assistance Available
October 10, 2011
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting letters of interest for Smart Growth Implementation Assistance until October 28. The SGIA program is open to state, local, regional and tribal governments and non-profits that have partnered with a governmental entity that want to incorporate techniques to foster economic growth, protect environmental resources, enhance public health, and plan for development. Assistance includes a multiple-day site visit from a team of national experts.
Go to http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htm for more information.
MDOT Grant Proposals For Nonmotorized Transportation Improvements
October 3, 2011
Grant Funds for Nonmotorized Improvements
Starting October 1, MDOT is accepting grant proposals on a rolling basis for nonmotorized transportation improvements like development of facilities for bicycles and pedestrians, preservation of abandoned railway corridors, acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites, rehab of historic transportation buildings and environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff. Contact Meredith Johnson at meredith@kbsincorporated.com for more information.