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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2024.09.19 - 41918 AGENDA ITEM: Grant Application with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants (CCG) Program DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability MEETING: Board of Commissioners DATE: Thursday, September 19, 2024 9:30 AM - Click to View Agenda ITEM SUMMARY SHEET COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD Resolution #2024-4418 Motion to approve submission of the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants (CCG) Program application with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the amount of $18,679,002 for the grant period of March 1, 2025 to February 29, 2028. ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY Grant Yolanda Smith Charles INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy. This competition is being launched in order to meet the goals and objectives of two Executive Orders (EO 14008 and EO 13985) issued by the Biden Administration that demonstrate the EPA’s and Administration’s commitment to achieving environmental justice and embedding environmental justice into Agency programs. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the Agency began review of initial applications in March 2024. EPA encourages applicants to submit applications as soon as they completely meet the NOFO requirements to ensure adequate time to resubmit it if needed per the NOFO instructions. EPA will continue to accept applications through November 21, 2024. The Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Michigan Saves and OLHSA, intends to apply for the CCG grant to advance the successful, ARPA funded, Oakland SAVES program specifically in the City of Pontiac to advance home improvement, weatherization, and energy efficiency upgrades to homes within the City to reduce energy utility bill burden, create healthier homes, and improve the lives of Pontiac residents. This program will also pilot an Oakland SAVES program for multi-family housing, as well as assist OLHSA with advancing clients on their deferral list, and create a pipeline of homes ready for the future Solar for All program through the State of Michigan expected in the Fall of 2025. POLICY ANALYSIS This is a request to approve a grant application with the EPA. The Office of Sustainability will partner with Michigan (MI) Saves and Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) for the proposed project “Oakland SAVES: Working Toward Climate Justice in Pontiac, MI Through Healthy and Efficient Homes.” • MI Saves is 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to equitable, accessible, and just investments in clean energy and energy efficiency to support healthy and thriving communities. • OLHSA is a Community Action Agency formed in 1964, that supports Oakland and Livingston County residents that are looking for assistance in removing the burdens of poverty. OLHSA provides tailored support to individuals and families, helping them overcome the challenges of poverty. The grant would provide additional funding to the Oakland SAVES program, an energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction initiative launched in 2024 with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Oakland County and MI Saves, the nation’s first nonprofit green bank, developed and administered the program. The $5 million funding dedicated to the program, was allocated to Oakland County residents in five days and supported energy improvement upgrades in more than 1,100 households. This model is the basis for this proposal, however unlike the first iteration of Oakland SAVES, this proposal focuses solely on the city of Pontiac. This project will serve an estimated 1,347 households throughout the city of Pontiac. The requested amount of EPA funding is $18,679,002. The funds sought in the application include 100% of the costs associated with the project. Personnel costs, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, and contractual components total $1,800,911 or 10% of the total budget. Indirect costs are $1,698,091 or 9% of the total budget, the majority of the proposal budget, $15,150,000 or 81% of total budget, is dedicated to program implementation via energy efficiency upgrades and equipment and home repair and weatherization materials. With funding from the Community Change Grant, Oakland SAVES will support 2 programs under the Climate Action Strategy: Get Weatherization Ready Program and Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program, and 1 program under the Pollution Reduction Strategy: Decarbonization Program. Grant award period and completion is March 1, 2025 - February 29, 2028. BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No Committee members can contact Barbara Winter, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at 248.821.3065 or winterb@oakgov.com or the department contact persons listed for additional information. CONTACT Erin Quetell, Environmental Sustainability Officer ITEM REVIEW TRACKING Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 9/19/2024 AGENDA DEADLINE: 09/19/2024 9:30 AM ATTACHMENTS 1. FINAL 2 8.29 Project Narrative 2. Pre-award Compliance_ EPA_form_4700_4_2023 - Required Form 3. SF424_4_0-V4.0 Application-Final2 4. SF424A-V1.0 (2) Budget Summary - Oakland SAVES updated FINAL2 5. Key Contacts epa_form_5700_54 6. Attachment A. - Budget Template final draft2 7. Attachment B1. Partnership Agreement_Michigan Saves_Signed 8. Attachment B2. Partnership Agreement1_OLHSA_encrypted_ 9. Attachment D. Project Area Map 10. Attachment E. Com Eng and Collab Gov Plan 11. Attachment F. Community Strength Plan 12. Attachment G. Readiness Approach 13. Attachment H. Compliance Plan 14. Grant Review Sign-Off COMMITTEE TRACKING 2024-09-11 Economic Development & Infrastructure - Recommend to Board 2024-09-19 Full Board - Adopt Motioned by: Commissioner Penny Luebs Seconded by: Commissioner Robert Hoffman Yes: David Woodward, Michael Spisz, Michael Gingell, Penny Luebs, Karen Joliat, Christine Long, Robert Hoffman, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, William Miller III, Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Brendan Johnson, Ann Erickson Gault, Linnie Taylor (17) No: None (0) Abstain: None (0) Absent: Kristen Nelson (1) Passed 1 Section A. Executive Summary • Application Title: Oakland SAVES: Working Toward Climate Justice in Pontiac, MI Through Healthy and Efficient Homes • Lead Applicant: Oakland County • Statutory Partner to the Lead Applicant: Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA). • Contact Information: Lead Applicant - David T. Woodward, Chair, Oakland County Board of Commissioners, woodwardd@oakgov.com, 248.858.0100. Statutory Partner – Susan Harding, Executive Director, Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA), susanh@olhsa.org, 248.209.2600 • Eligibility: The Lead Applicant is Oakland County, MI, which operates as a local unit of government. The statutory partner is the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA), a non-profit community-based organization (CBO), as defined in 2 CFR 200.1 and serves communities within Oakland County, including the project application community. The collaborating entity is Michigan Saves (MI Saves), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, which operates as Michigan’s only green bank entity. • Climate Action Strategy: (3) Energy-efficient, healthy, and resilient housing and buildings. • Pollution Reduction Strategy: (1) Indoor air quality and community health improvements. • Grant Award Period and Completion: March 1, 2025-February 29, 2028 • Amount of EPA Funding Requested: $18,679,002 • Target Investment Area: N/A • Disadvantaged Community to benefit from the projects: The City of Pontiac is a diverse urban community and former manufacturing center located in Oakland County, Michigan. The City of Pontiac was selected as the Project Area because of its extensive disadvantaged community needs, older housing stock, active community network, and relatively small population size, allowing for concentrated impact. Every census tract in Pontiac is an EPA IRA Disadvantaged Community, per the EPA EJScreen tool (See Attachment D). Pontiac is faced with poverty, disinvestment, high energy burden, high rates of asthma, and aging infrastructure. • Other Sources of Funding: The funds that we seek in this application include 100% of the costs associated with the project. As requested by the Duplicate Funding clause included in the NOFO (Section V.E), this proposal has not been submitted to another funding source. • Resubmission Status: This is the first time this application has been submitted. 2 Section B. Project Workplan Part 1. Community Driven Investments for Change 1.1 Community Overview Community Description The City of Pontiac is a diverse urban community in Southeast Michigan centrally located in Oakland County. Pontiac serves as the county seat and is bordered by the city of Auburn Hills to the east and north, the city of Lake Angelus to the north, Waterford Township to the west, and Bloomfield Township to the south. As a former auto-manufacturing hub, Pontiac has grappled with challenges that are common within post-industrial cities across the Midwest, such as loss of manufacturing jobs and other economic opportunities, aging infrastructure, depopulation, and the inequitable consequences of discriminatory housing policies. These challenges have led a once thriving economic hub to become one of the most impoverished cities in one of the nation’s wealthiest counties , creating a silo of underserved residents. According to the EPA EJ Screen Community Report, 51% of Pontiac’s population is low-income (compared to 18% of Oakland County’s population as a whole), 78% are People of Color, 22% are persons with disabilities, 25% are between the ages of one and 18, and 12% are above age 65. Fifteen of the 16 census tracts within the City of Pontiac are federal CEJST Justice40 zones, and all 16 census tracts are designated as EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities (See Attachment D). 26% of Pontiac residents live below the poverty threshold, double the poverty rate for the State of Michigan (13%). Pontiac attracted many workers during the Great Migrations of the early 1900s, and as a result, the majority of housing in Pontiac is now aging housing stock. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 24,343 households in the city, 75.9% were built before 1980, with 27.6% built between 1940-1959 and 21.1% built before 1939. In Pontiac, 56.6% of households are renter- occupied, twice as high as any other community in the county. In response to the factors outlined above, our project will maximize benefits to the community by focusing on activities within the Project Area that will improve the energy efficiency of older homes and reduce indoor air pollution to improve quality of life. To be successful, the project will take advantage of the various assets of Pontiac, including engaged utilities, active community action agencies, workforce development programs, community-oriented nonprofit organizations, and engaged civic leaders and community members. Community Challenges Pontiac residents face significant climate impact and climate change risks such as rising temperatures, power outages, and flooding. As a city in the Great Lakes Region, Pontiac is being significantly impacted by rising annual temperatures due to climate ch ange. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, the average annual temperature in the Great Lakes Region has increased by 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1951 and is expected to continue rising between six- and 11-degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100. The number of extreme heat days is also projected to increase throughout the region. Data also shows that Michigan is the second worst in the nation for power outages, having 132 major outages between the year 2000 and 2021, which is especially dangerous during cold winters faced by the Great Lakes Region . Additionally, since the 1900s, Michigan’s average annual rainfall has increased by five inches. 3 There have been multiple “500-year storm” flooding events in Southeast Michigan in the past decade, including a major flooding event in 2014 where Oakland County saw four to six inches of rain fall over a four-hour period, leaving at least $337 million in property damage across the County. These existing climate risks are exacerbated by inadequate, inefficient housing and social determinants such as low-income, age, disability, and historic segregation within Pontiac. Senior populations, individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, low-income residents, and children are particularly vulnerable to climate risks such as extreme temperature conditions. However, low-income residents are frequently unable to afford necessary home maintenance or retrofits without assistance. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) 2020 report, titled “How High Are Household Energy Burdens,” found that low -income households spend three times more of their income on energy costs compared to non-low-income households. The Detroit metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which includes Pontiac, has a greater percentage of households with a high energy burden (30%) than the national average (25%) In a recent Community Survey Report conducted by the Pontiac Collective Impact Partnership, housing and blight were highlighted by residents as critical community challenges. One resident is quoted in the report as saying “Living situation in Pontiac is no t good. Can’t afford the rundown places and can’t afford the nicer places.” The Pontiac-based health provider, Trinity Health Oakland (THOA), conducted a robust Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA – described further in Attachment E) from May 2023-February 2024 in the Greater Pontiac area. The CHNA noted housing as one of four priority health needs based on quantitative and qualitative community data from this process. The CHNA found that 37.8% of housing in Pontiac is substandard, and more than 10% of residents in the county dedicate 30% or more of their income to housing expenses. This substandard housing stock presents a significant energy burden for low-income households in Pontiac. According to the Department of Energy (DOE) Low-income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool, there is a 12% energy burden among households in Pontiac that are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. As the map in Attachment D shows, most of Pontiac is above the 90th percentile in rates of asthma. Community Vision The goal of the project is to retrofit existing residential and multifamily buildings to improve quality of life, health, safety, affordability, and climate resiliency for Pontiac residents. This project will address the existing structural barriers to maintaining housing stock such as removing household hazards, improving energy efficiency, reducing energy burdens, and stabilizing the housing stock. It will transform aging and inadequate housing into safe, sustainable, and healthy homes, and create thriving communities that are a source of pride. This project takes a comprehensive and equitable approach that prioritizes sustainability, resilience, and social justice. Fostering community engagement and empowering residents is critical to the success of this project. Funding this opportunity will allow Oakland County, MI Saves, and Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLHSA) to continue to strengthen connections between Pontiac residents, local government, and community partners. 4 Pollution reduction: The project will reduce pollution in several ways. First, grant funds will be used to remediate hazardous home conditions, such as lead, mold, and asbestos, air quality. Second, the project will reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency through the installation of residential heat pumps. Building climate resilience: This project will build resilience to climate change by making residents’ homes structurally sound and providing improved weatherization against extreme weather conditions. Homes served through this project will be less energy-intensive in extreme temperatures, which reduces burdensome utility bills and dangerous energy -limiting behaviors. Homes will also maintain their temperature better during power outages, protecting the safety and comfort of residents. By making homes safe, structurally sound, and efficient, this project will lay the foundation for successful residential decarbonization projects in Pontiac. Economic Opportunity: The project will also create increased economic opportunities for the local contractors performing the home retrofits. The county’s previous $5 million ARPA investment in energy efficiency has thus far led to 1,066 new job opportunities for contractors, totaling $7.7 million in total project cost. Program participants received an estimated annual savings of $200,376 dollars on utility bills. Based on a contractor feedback survey, 100% of respondents would participate in Oakland SAVES again, and 58.6% of res pondents experienced a medium or high increase in businesses as a result of the program. Ultimately, this project will be guided by the goals and needs of residents. The investments will benefit Pontiac residents, contributing to a brighter, safer, and healthier future. Residents will see a decrease in their energy burden and monthly expenses and increase in their homes’ property values and climate resilience. A safe and efficient home allows residents to build generational wealth and improves seniors’ ability to age in place comfortably and affordably. 1.2 Selected Strategies Strategy Overview: The proposed project encompasses two primary strategies to serve the project area’s disadvantaged communities: Energy-Efficient, Healthy, Resilient Housing and Buildings and Indoor Air Quality and Community Health Improvements. Climate Action Strategy 3: Energy-efficient, healthy, and resilient housing and buildings. • Install energy efficiency measures such as insulation, double or triple glazed windows • Install or retrofit homes or multi-family housing with higher-efficiency electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems (e.g., heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric and induction stoves, electric clothes dryers) Pollution Reduction Strategy 1: Indoor air quality and community health improvements. • Remediate or mitigate harmful substances in residential buildings, including lead, mercury, pesticides, radon, mold, PCBs (caulk, flooring, etc.), lead-based paint, asbestos, and other toxic substances. 5 • Install, upgrade, or replace HVAC and/or filtration systems that improve indoor quality in single-and-multifamily homes, in conjunction with climate strategies that reduce building GHG emissions To meet the needs of community residents and implement the Climate Action and Pollution Reduction Strategies, the project team is expanding Oakland SAVES, an energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction initiative launched in 2024 with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Oakland County and MI Saves, the nation’s first nonprofit green bank, developed and administered the program. The $5 million funding dedicated to this program, was allocated to Oakland County residents in five days and supported energy improvement upgrades in more than 1,100 households. This model is the basis for this proposal, however unlike the first iteration of Oakland SAVES, this proposal focuses solely on the city of Pontiac (see Figure 1). Figure 1. Oakland SAVES Programmatic Structure To implement the Climate Action and Pollution Reduction strategies, MI Saves will hire two Energy Coaches to guide and empower residents to make informed decisions regarding clean energy improvements. The Energy Coaches will guide participants through the Oakland SAVES process, provide energy education and technical assistance, and ensure that participants receive all possible rebates and incentives. For a full description of the responsibilities of the Energy Coaches, please see Attachment E. Climate Action Strategy: Design and Implementation With funding from the Community Change Grant, Oakland SAVES will support two programs under the Climate Action Strategy. 1) Get Weatherization Ready Program: As the implementer of the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in Oakland County, Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLHSA) often must defer service to homes that are ineligible for weatherization. Homes are 6 ineligible, and moved to deferral status, if they have underlying conditions that must be addressed first, including: health and safety hazards (presence of mold, lead, asbestos, vermin infestations, or other environmental risks), structural problems (i.e., roof damage, unsafe electrical systems (knob and tube wiring), foundation disrepair, or significant structural integrity concerns), and inadequate insulation or access (lack of proper access to areas needing insulation, such as inaccessible crawl spaces, or necessary repairs before weatherization can occur.) Deferrals occur to ensure the safety and effectiveness of weatherization efforts, but they leave residents vulnerable to climate impacts, such as heavy rains and extreme temperatures. The WAP is unable to address health and safety issues such as exposure to asbestos fibers from pipe wrap, vermiculite insulation, lead-based paint, or black mold. A priority of this grant is to eliminate deferrals so that customers can be served through WAP. Bringing homes up to a health/safety condition that eliminates deferrals can be resource intensive, and there is a limited patchwork of programs dedicated to addressing these issues throughout the state. Currently, OLHSA has a queue of 59 deferrals. Oakland SAVES would implement the appropriate repairs to make these homes eligible for weatherization resources. Homeowners in the Get Weatherization Ready Program will receive up to $50,000 toward home repairs, and will enter the program in one of two ways, described in Figure 3 below. MI Saves, as program administrator, would coordinate contractor selection for the homeowner and follow the federal government’s small purchase (simplified acquisition threshold) process for projects between $10,000 and $250,000. All contractors will abide by Davis-Bacon requirements. Once the cause of deferral is addressed, the homeowner will return to OLHSA and begin the weatherization process. 2) Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program: The core of the climate action strategy is the Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program. There are two tracks within this program: the Residential Energy Efficiency Track and the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Track. a. Residential Energy Efficiency Track: Eligible homeowners will work with an Energy Coach to determine their energy efficiency needs and align those needs with available incentives. Through Community Change grant funds, homeowners will receive up to $7,500 in energy efficiency and non-energy building performance improvements. Energy coaches will also recommend utility rebates and federal rebates though the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). By “braiding” rebates and incentives, the residential track leverages other funds to reduce costs and serve more Pontiac residents. This program will be open to single family homes and rental properties that are less than four attached units. Figure 2 shows the eligible energy improvements. All work within the Residential Track will be completed by contractors within MI Saves network of authorized contractors. Homeowners will select the contractor from the list of authorized contractors that have agreed to follow Davis-Bacon requirements. If asked, an Energy Coach will help the homeowner review bids, so they can make an informed decision on which bid provides the best value. 7 Figure 2. Eligible Energy Improvements b. Multifamily Energy Efficiency Track: In Pontiac, 56.6% of households rent, which is twice as high as any other community in Oakland County. Thus, an energy efficiency program in Pontiac would not meet the needs of the community if it did not have a multifamily or rental component. Pontiac’s multifamily rental scene consists of low-rise apartments that were often built in the 1970s and 1980s and are generally less than four floors. These buildings are prime candidates for energy efficiency improvements, such as cool roofs, LED lighting, high efficiency windows and doors, high efficiency appliances, and heat pumps. Multifamily efficiency improvements are more complex and costly than single family improvements, so Oakland SAVES will not cap the project incentive amount. Instead, projects will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A certified energy manager from MI Saves will work with the property owner to create a scope of work, which will then be bid out to MI Saves’ network of authorized contractors that have agreed to comply with Davis - Bacon requirements. Participating property owners must sign an agreement stating that they 8 will not raise tenant rent by more than the rate of inflation or evict a tenant for 24 months after the installation of the energy improvements. Pollution Reduction Strategy: Design and Implementation With funding from the Community Change Grant, Oakland SAVES will support one program under the Pollution Reduction Strategy. 1) Decarbonization Program: Electrification is a proven strategy to decarbonize space and water heating, with heat pumps and heat pump water heaters being the best available technologies. However, the upfront costs of electrification measures in combination with the relatively low cost of natural gas make it challenging to decarbonize homes in cold climates like Michigan. Switching a homeowner away from a natural gas furnace to an all-electric system will increase their energy burden by placing greater energy usage on the more expensive electric bill, instead of the less expensive natural gas bill. Despite this challenge, we should not abandon equitable electrification. A solution to this challenge is a dual-fuel system, where the homeowner uses a heat pump for cooling in the summer, spring, and fall. In the winter when the temperature is below 40 degrees, the homeowner uses their existing furnace as primary heat. This configuration offers homeowners comfort, manageable bills, and a reduced carbon footprint. According to a 2022 Oak Ridge National Laboratory study, a dual-fuel system can save heating energy by 42% over a gas furnace system. The simplest entry point to a dual-fuel system is to incentivize the installation of heat pumps as a replacement for traditional air conditioning systems. Once the heat pump is installed, it is critical to educate homeowners on how and when to run the heat pump to optimize savings without sacrificing comfort. Oakland SAVES’ Pollution Reduction Strategy is a Decarbonization Program that will install high efficiency heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, along with weatherization improvements, in the homes of Pontiac residents. The Decarbonization Program will b e fully integrated with, and complementary to, the process outlined in the Climate Action Strategy. As shown in Figure 3, applicants enter the Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program and receive a comprehensive energy audit (unless they have an existing audit from OLHSA), which will identify the most appropriate efficiency improvements. If the energy auditor recommends air conditioning or water heating, the applicant will be referred to the Decarbonization Program. To implement the Decarbonization Program, MI Saves will work closely with the Energy Coaches and our network of authorized contractors to deliver beneficial electrification to homeowners with unbiased guidance, appropriate system design, and full-service customer support. MI Saves will ensure that the entire system, including the size of the ductwork and the heat pump, is appropriate for the home. Retrofitting a home for a heat pump is a complex process. Bad design or a botched install can lead to discomfort, higher bills, and acute health and safety issues. MI Saves authorized contractors will modify the ductwork for optimal efficiency and upgrade the electric service panel for building code and safety when necessary. If the energy auditor recommends other weatherization or insulation measures, the Energy Coaches will coordinate the installation of 9 those measures. Finally, the Energy Coaches will ensure that homeowners qualify for all available rebates and incentives, including those through the IRA. IRA rebates will likely cover half of the project costs, with grant funds being used for the balance, up to $15,000. We expect to partially electrify and decarbonize the homes of 390 Pontiac residents with little to no out-of- pocket costs to them. Figure 3 below illustrates the potential paths for Pontiac residents or rental property owners and shows the integration between the residential energy efficiency track and the decarbonization program. Figure 3. Oakland SAVES Process Flow If the applicant is not a previous WAP deferral, then Oakland SAVES will screen for household income and send any applicant with a household income that is less than 200% of the poverty threshold to OLHSA for WAP evaluation. This ‘weatherization first’ approach ensures that program funding and resources are not used on projects that could be funded through other federal programs. If the applicant qualifies for WAP, OLHSA will provide a whole home audit and implement a suite of energy efficiency improvements that meet the federally required savings-to-investment ratio. Upon completion of WAP, they are returned to Oakland SAVES for additional energy efficiency improvements after completing WAP. If an applicant is not a previous WAP deferral, nor income qualified for WAP, they are sent directly to the Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program and the residential track for a whole- 10 home energy audit and energy efficiency improvements. Most applicants will receive an energy audit, implemented to the Building Performance Institute ANSI/BPI -1100-T-2023 Home Energy Auditing Standard including diagnostic testing, a report for the homeowner, and energy modeling according to the BPI-2400-S-2015 v.2 standard. If the energy auditor recommends air conditioning or water heating, the applicant will be referred to the Decarbonization Program. The integrated approach of the “Weatherization First” process and the Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program and Decarbonization Program ensures that we can serve as many residents as funding will allow. Project Scale, Scope, and Funding The integrated and complementary nature of the proposed programs are designed to optimize the use of many different funding sources to benefit a small urban community. The impact of these clean energy improvements will be concentrated in neighborhoods and blocks not dispersed throughout Oakland County. The project team believes concentrated outreach in, and collaboration with local communities is the most effective means of eliminating the barriers to decarbonizing homes and advancing electrification. Figure 4 below shows the allocation of incentive funds between the programs. The Get Weatherization Ready Program receives 30% of incentive funds, the Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program receives 50% of funds, and the Decarbonization Program, within the Pollution Reduction Strategy, receives 20% of all incentive funds. Figure 4. Estimated Climate Action Strategy Program Results In total, the proposal estimates the completion of 1,347 projects, using $15M of grant funds and leveraging $7.5M in WAP funding, rebates, incentives, and cash contributions. Climate Action Strategy: Addressing Climate Impacts, Risks, and Challenges: The goal of Oakland SAVES is to improve quality of life and health outcomes, reduce energy burdens, and build climate resiliency in Pontiac. The programs within the Climate Action Strategy are designed to achieve this goal in the following ways: • The Get Weatherization Ready Program eliminates OLHSA’s deferral list of projects that are ineligible for the federal WAP by correcting the structural defects that prevent weatherization measures from being installed. The outcomes will be customers who can now receive the 11 critical energy improvements that reduce their energy burden, improve the health, safety, and comfort of their homes, and make their homes more climate resilient and better able to withstand extreme weather events. • The Residential Energy Efficiency Track within the Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program will install traditional energy efficiency measures that reduce utility bills and improve the comfort of the home. This track creates more energy efficient homes that allow residents to better withstand extreme temperature fluctuations. • The Multifamily Energy Efficiency Track within the Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program will provide interior and exterior LED fixture upgrades, upgraded windows and doors, cool roof or heat pumps as necessary. The outcomes of this track will be a reduction in tenant utility bills, improved air quality and comfort in units, and improved safety and security around the building. Decreasing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Increasing Overall Resilience of the Project Area The estimated GHG emission reductions are based on the expected quantity and type of installed measures, using deemed savings through the Michigan Energy Measures Database. When the program is operational, GHG emissions reductions will be calculated from modeled energy savings within each energy audit. The goal for the Climate Action Strategy is 8,307 mT of GHG reductions over the life of the installed measures. For a more detailed description of anticipated climate impacts, see section 2.1. While the Get Weatherization Ready Program is not expected to result in any direct energy savings or GHG reductions, those measures will allow homes to qualify for OLHSA’s weatherization assistance program, where those savings will be achieved. More import antly, the homes in the Get Weatherization Ready Program will be structurally sound and free of pollution hazards, making them more resilient to current and anticipated climate impacts. Responsiveness to the Project Area Needs and Challenges Dangerous temperature conditions threaten vulnerable populations in Pontiac. Homes served through this project will be less energy-intensive in extreme temperatures, which reduces energy burden and energy-limiting behaviors. Homes will also maintain their temperature better during power outages, protecting the safety of residents. Additionally, the strategies and programs are designed to address the energy challenges, including long-term affordability, identified during the listening sessions in Flint and Detroit (see Attachment E). The Energy Coaches will be resources for the community, providing education and objective information to help clients make informed decisions that fit their needs and yield the greatest efficiency and resiliency outcomes. They will also help participants obtain incentives and rebates, select contractors, and navigate the program processes. Pollution Reduction Strategy: Addressing Localized Pollution Challenges According to the MI Healthy Climate Plan, the built environment is the third largest contributor of GHG emissions and accounts for 18% of Michigan’s total GHG emissions, primarily due to the use of heating fuels like natural gas, propane, and fuel oil. Within this sector, 61% of 12 emissions are from residential buildings and 39% are from commercial buildings. Because the built environment is one of the largest sources of GHG emissions, concentrated implementation of electrification technologies will provide significant benefits. Additionally, the combustion of natural gas within the home from gas cooktops or furnaces emits pollutants that degrade the air quality in and around the home, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and sulfur dioxide. The Decarbonization Program will improve health outcomes and indoor air quality through the reduction and/or elimination of these pollutants. This is a critical project outcome considering Pontiac’s high concentration of asthma. Preventing, Reducing, and Mitigating Existing and Future Sources of Pollution The Decarbonization Program will shift homes away from direct combustion of fossil fuels and toward the electric grid, which is increasingly powered by renewables. According to the MI Healthy Climate Plan, approximately 40% of electricity is generated using zero -carbon fuels like nuclear energy and renewables, and the remaining 60% from coal and natural gas. Michigan aims to generate 60% of electricity from renewables and phase out all coal plants by 2030, extending the benefits of electrification in the future. Also, with opportunities like Solar For All, residents in this program will be prepared and educated to leverage additional funding opportunities. For this proposal, the estimated GHG emission reductions are based on the expected quantity and type of installed measures, using deemed savings through the Michigan Energy Measures Database. When the program is operational, GHG reporting will be modeled from energy savings as part of the energy audits. The goal for the pollution reduction strategy is 3,155mT of GHG reductions over the life of the installed measures. Since the Pollution Reduction Strategy is working in conjunction with the Climate Action Strategy, as permitted by the grant, we have combined the estimate of GHG reductions which totals 11,462 mT of GHG. For a more detailed description of the anticipated climate impacts, see section 2.1. Responsiveness to the Project Area Needs and Challenges High energy costs, inadequate housing, and high rates of asthma are critical challenges in Pontiac. However, through Oakland SAVES ’ pollution reduction strategy focused on decarbonization, this project will reduce energy burdens and improve indoor air quality through electrification. This project will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter, etc. Ultimately, the decarbonization strategy is an investment in Pontiac neighborhoods, improving the housing stock, the health, safety, and comfort of residents, and the resiliency of the community in the face of climate change. Part 2. Program Management, Capability, and Capacity 2.1 Performance Management Plan, Outputs and Outcomes This proposal outlines the environmental benefits to include greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction and energy consumption reduction for both electricity and natural gas. The proposal also estimates lifetime residential utility bill savings for each strategy. Reduction of natural gas use not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but it also improves indoor air quality, thereby 13 reducing exposure to respiratory pollutants and irritants associated with increased cases of asthma and other respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Figure 5 below shows the quantitative primary project outputs, in the form of qualifying energy efficiency measures, such as air sealing, insulation, windows, doors, air conditioners, heat pumps, and heat pump water heaters, to name a few. Figure 5 also shows the quantitative outcomes from these outputs, in the form of the lifetime kWh and Therm savings, the utility bill savings, the GHG reductions, and the total amount of leveraged funds. The project will also produce qualitative outcomes from these outputs, such as greater awareness of the benefits of energy efficiency, a reduction in energy limiting behaviors, and a safer and more comfortable homes. Figure 5. Estimated Outcomes for the Oakland SAVES program Evaluation Activities: An important part of the project management plan is the project evaluation component, as it can assist with the overall implementation design and can identify collaboration opportunities and process improvements, provide accountability, determine the program’s effectiveness in meeting its goals, and guide decision-making for future initiatives. To evaluate the project’s progress toward achieving its goals, we will hire a third-party evaluation consultant with energy and environmental evaluation experience. This consultant will assist us throughout the project term making sure that baseline information and community engagement feedback is gathered early and used to complete the details of the project implementation plan. Also, six to nine months after the programs are launched, the consultant will do a midpoint quantitative and qualitative evaluation to examine program processes and identify barriers, chokepoints, or other factors that are limiting program performance and progress toward the outcomes. These mid-term evaluations will include surveys to customers, contractors, and partners, and a review of the program outputs and outcomes. The consultant will provide a final program evaluation, which includes satisfaction surveys for customers, contractors, and partners, a compilation of outputs and outcomes, and a summary of qualitative project insights. The project team will also create an online dashboard that tracks outputs and outcomes to provide transparent, real-time progress and accountability toward program goals and show the impact of this work. 14 2.2 Project Linkages to the EPA Strategic Plan This project considers the strategic goals and objectives of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2022 to 2026 Strategic Plan, targeting Goals 1 and 2, 4, and 6. The project will take a holistic approach to improving resident health and safety and revitalizing the Pontiac community under the umbrella of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and working against climate change. Goal 1 - Tackle the Climate Crisis: The project will address Goal 1, Objective 1.1 and Objective 1.2.1 from the EPA’s Strategic Plan by providing Pontiac households with funding to improve their homes’ energy efficiency through the Oakland SAVES home energy efficiency program. Increased energy efficiency not only improves housing stock and increases protection from climate impacts but will ultimately contribute to reducing GHG emissions from electric utility generating units within the city. Goal 2 - Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights : Pontiac has experienced historical disinvestment for decades which has contributed to the disrepair of homes and has left a vulnerable population unprotected from climate risks. Due to disinvestment and substandard housing stock that does not meet the climate reality of today , households in the City of Pontiac pay higher energy costs and are more vulnerable to climate hazards . In Pontiac, low-income households spend three times more of their income on energy costs compared to non-low-income households, while the median energy burden for Black households is 43% higher than for non-Hispanic white households. The project addresses the EPA Strategic Plan’s Goal 2, Objective 2.1 through the introduction of a three-pronged approach: Oakland SAVES, Get Weatherization Ready, and increased coordination between the Oakland County and OLHSA for both programs. Goal 4 - Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities: A result of the project, residents will have the opportunity to affordably convert their current HVAC to energy efficient options and/or weatherize their homes to protect from climate hazards such as unhealthy air quality. In the summer of 2023, the State of Michigan experienced extreme air quality events due to wildfires in Canada. While effects were felt throughout the state, the strongest health impacts were experienced by vulnerable populations and those residing in urban centers. By assisting residents in the OLHSA weatherization program, households will be protected from future climate events while the Oakland SAVES home energy upgrade program will reduce GHG emissions – contributing to clean, healthy air. Goal 6 - Safeguard and Revitalize Communities: The project aims to address Goal 6 of the EPA’s Strategic Plan by improving the older housing stock in the city. Through home energy efficiency upgrades and weatherization, there will be more modernized, efficient, and adequate housing in Pontiac, so new residents and small businesses can thrive within the city. The comprehensive Oakland SAVES program is estimated to save county residents approximately $2,490,181 in lifetime utility bills. Residents can then utilize the money saved from utility bills for groceries, shopping, and other economic drivers for the local economy – ultimately working to improve and revitalize their communities. 15 2.3 CBO Experience and Commitment Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) Established in 1964, the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) provides vital services that improve the quality of life for families and individuals in our community. OLHSA provides comprehensive services to address the needs of under-resourced community members, older adults, people with disabilities, and those experiencing economic insecurity, homelessness, and other challenges related to poverty. In pursuit of their mission, OLHSA provides educational and economic resources to increase clients’ well-being and advocate on the community’s behalf to remove barriers to opportunity helping to reduce the causes and conditions of poverty. OLHSA has offered energy efficiency programs, including the Weatherization Assistance Program, since 1976 and has the experience, capacity, best practices, technologies, and techniques for improving energy efficiency in low - income residential dwellings. OLHSA has supported thousands of low-income households by making homes more energy-efficient, which in turn helps reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills. This financial relief can be significant for low -income families, allowing them to allocate their limited resources to other essential needs like food, healthcare, and education. OLHSA’s main office has been in Pontiac for 60 years. At least a third of its employees reside in Pontiac, their board includes several Pontiac residents, and the current board chairperson is the Deputy Mayor of Pontiac. OLHSA’s housing subsidiary, Venture Inc., has built homes for sale and rent since 1991 in Pontiac. OLHSA’s commitment and connections to Pontiac are demonstrated by its ongoing and multi-faceted investment in the city and its residents. 2.4 Programmatic and Managerial Capacity and Resources Oakland County – Lead Applicant Organizational Experience: Oakland County has experience managing large scale federal grants from departments such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The county received and managed $219.4M in CARES Act funding and $244M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds during the COVID-19 pandemic; $5M of the ARPA funding received was allocated towards the initial Oakland S AVES program in early 2024. Resources and Capacity: The Office of Sustainability, in conjunction with several Oakland County departments including Grants, Fiscal, Housing and Community Development, Community Engagement, and the Executive Leadership team, will assume responsibility of the project as Lead Applicant team. The Office of Sustainability will lead the day-to-day management of the project and is comprised of the Chief Sustainability Officer, a project manager, a project coordinator, and a full-time Americorp Climate Corp member. Financial Stability and Controls: The Department of Management and Budget is responsible for the financial functions of the County including Equalization, Fiscal Services, and Purchasing. The director is designated as the Fiscal Officer and is responsible for ensuring that the county operates within a balanced budget and that all financial transactions and reporting are completed in accordance with the accounting and reporting standards set by the Governmental Accounting 16 Standards Board. The County’s strong financial position is proven by its balanced long -term fiscal plan, low debt obligations, and responsible fund balance amounts. The county has consistently maintained AAA/Aaa bond rating, the highest bond rating achievable from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service. Transparency Reports are created on a monthly basis and serve primarily to assist County managers in monitoring their actual revenues and expenditures against their authorized budget. These reports have been created for internal management purposes; however, they are provided through the County's internet site in an effort to provide as much current financial data to the public as possible without being cost prohibitive. Financial Processing activities include the receipting and disbursing functions. These transaction processing activities are conducted with the goal of achieving accuracy and timeliness while maintaining appropriate records for federal and state reporting. The receipt function involves accurately recording all revenues received by the County. Financial Reporting also includes the publication of reports required by Federal guidelines for grants, reports required by the Michigan Department of Treasury pursuant to state statues, and special reporting needs of various departments. Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) - Statutory Partner/CBO Organizational Experience: OLHSA was founded as a Community Action Agency in 1964 during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. In 2022, OLHSA operated over 70 programs with a budget of $38,792,671. During 2022, $33,279,155 of our funding was from federal grants, $1,422,578 from private revenue, $1,235,938 from local grants, $1,227,478 from private grants, and $1,189,743 from state grants. We have extensive experience in overseeing federal grants, including Head Start/Early Head Start, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and Supportive Services for Veteran Families. Resources and Capacity: OLHSA’s executive team and weatherization leadership have a combined experience of close to 100 years of implementing community -based programs, effectively balancing program budgets and streamlining processes to meet program goals. Additionally, OLHSA has an existing Weatherization team of four intake staff members, three Weatherization Inspectors, one contractor supervisor, and two project managers. Through this grant we would hire a full-time coordinator dedicated to overseeing all grant related referrals, coordinating with grant partners, and expediting job completions. OLHSA is also contracted with 11 energy auditors/quality control inspectors, 13 shell contractors, 15 mechanical contr actors, and four deferral specialists (including mold, lead, electrical and plumbing). Financial Stability and Controls: OLHSA operates under the guidance of its Board of Directors. Representatives from the public sector, private sector and the low -income community are equally represented on the OLHSA Board of Directors. The OLHSA Board has a Finance Committee which is responsible for overseeing the financial management and health of the organization. The Board Finance Committee reviews financial statements, monitors financial performance, and ensures that OLHSA's finances align with its strategic goals. The board approves annual budgets, participates in long-term financial planning, and establish internal controls to safeguard assets and prevent fraud. 17 The Finance Division of OLHSA is experienced with performing comprehensive fiscal reviews of subcontracts and has developed a model policy for performing these reviews in conjunction with our federally funded Weatherization Assistance Program. These reviews include pre -award fully executed subcontracts, monthly financial reports, subcontractor fiscal operations, OMB Circular A-133 Audits, and subcontract close-outs. OLHSA abides by our Financial Procedures Manual, which requires adherence to fully transparency and is committed to maintaining robust fiscal controls. All expenditures are subject to a stringent approval process, with specific thresholds in place that dictate who can authorize payments, ensuring that funds are spent in alignment contracts. OLHSA’s financial integrity can be confirmed through our annual audit where we have consistently obtained an unmodified audit opinion. Michigan Saves (MI Saves) – Collaborating Entity MI Saves is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to equitable, accessible, and just investments in clean energy and energy efficiency to support healthy and thriving communities. Founded in 2009 with funding from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and the U.S. DOE, MI Saves is the nation’s first nonprofit green bank and has supported over $600M in clean energy improvements. MI Saves accelerates the development of financing solutions that address race- and income-related energy equity disparities, with more than half of the residential lending going to low- to moderate-income communities. Organizational Experience: MI Saves has extensive experience managing large statewide projects with local, state, and federal funds. MI Saves partnered with Oakland County to develop and implement Oakland SAVES, which used $5M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to reduce energy burdens for Oakland County residents. In 2023, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy granted MI Saves $30M to create the Septic Replacement Loan Program to provide affordable financing for the replacement of failed septic systems that are polluting the state’s surface and ground waters. Prior to that grant, in 2021, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services granted MI Saves $2M to create the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund (Lead Fund) and provide affordable financing for the abatement of lead-based paint hazards. In 2010, MI Saves received $26.8M in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds through the State of Michigan to implement the Better Buildings for Michigan (BBFM) Program. The BBFM program relied on community-scale outreach and deep energy efficiency retrofits as catalysts to develop economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable neighborhoods. BBFM was very successful, retrofitting 11,571 homes and 14.8 million square feet of commercial, industrial, and public buildings over a three-year period. The energy efficiency projects exceeded the program goals, by creating 3,214 jobs and avoiding 29,780 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Resources and Capacity: MI Saves has a full-time staff of 16, which includes project managers, community and contractor outreach specialists, marketing coordinators, customer service representatives, data analysts, and operations specialists. The MI Saves team is comprised of dedicated individuals who have the skills and take pride in implementing programs in an administratively efficient and cost-effective manner. 18 Financial Stability and Controls: MI Saves is governed by a 13-member board of directors, who provide management and financial oversight for the organization. MI Saves has internal management controls and policies that ensure transparency and good governance. In accordance with standard industry practice, MI Saves uses a separation of duties approach to internal financial processes. The responsibilities for reviewing and approving expenses, maintaining records of incoming invoices and outgoing payments, as well as physically issuing checks and maintaining accounts will be separately assigned. MI Saves’ procurement policy aligns with federal procurement guidelines to ensure that procurement is conducted in a consistent, cost- effective, equitable, and efficient manner. MI Saves also has written policies for conflict of interest, confidential information, and whistleblowers protection, which all staff and board must sign. As nonprofit organization, MI Saves annually files a 990 form with IRS, making the organization’s finances publicly available. Milestone Schedule for Proposed Project- Estimated Start Date: March 1, 2025 2.5 Past Performance Oakland County: Oakland County managed approximately 22 projects in fiscal year 2023, receiving $22M in funding for capital, external residential, and internal projects. The county routinely manages large scale federal awards from departments including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the county received $219.4M in CARES Act funding and $244M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. In 2023, Oakland County’s Office of Sustainability, in partnership with MI Saves, directly managed $5M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding leveraged for the 2024 Oakland SAVES program. The county has the appropriate accounting practices and systems in place to receive and manage grants, ensure compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements, and monitor , evaluate, and report on performance. 19 Part 3. Readiness to Perform, Feasibility, and Sustainability 3.1 Readiness Approach The Readiness Approach section is in Attachment G. 3.2 Feasibility The county and MI Saves successfully administered a $5M, 1,066 household Oakland SAVES program in one year (2024). The software, processes, qualified contractor network, and organizational collaboration is therefore already in place to successfully meet the three-year period of performance for this grant. Although this project is larger in scope than the 2024 Oakland SAVES, additional staff and energy coaches will be brought on to meet the increased administrative and outreach need, as shown in Attachment A. OLHSA has 59 Pontiac households on its deferral list that can enter the project immediately upon grant award. During the initial phase of weatherization deferral work, project staff will be hired and community outreach will begin, as described in Exhibit E. After staffing up and beginning the community engagement process, the project will come fully online and begin retrofitting homes. MI Saves’ large network of qualified contractors is capable of completing the retrofits within the grant period. The Weatherization Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds have been approved for five years and have allowed OLHSA to greatly increase and expand their production. OLHSA’s annual weatherization production expectation under BIL is 374. Over the three years of this grant, this equates to an expected 1,122 weatherization job completions. The degree of risk that these jobs will not be completed is very low, and would include the remote possibility of an unforeseen pandemic where health officials restrict staff from entering into homes to conduct work, much like during the COVID-19 pandemic time period. 3.3 Sustainability As described in the Michigan Energy Measures Database, commonly installed efficiency measures, like insulation, windows, doors, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, etc., have a useful life between 10 and 25 years. Every measure that this program implements will save energy, money, and GHG emissions for years after the project period, creating long-term reduction of residents’ energy burden. To ensure the longevity of work performed through Oakland SAVES, the project team will use a network of approved, properly trained contractors with proven records of high-quality work. Contractors will be required to provide a one-year labor warranty, and all installed equipment must carry the manufacturer’s warranty. Energy Coaches will share preventative maintenance best practices where applicable. The program is designed to leverage utility, state, and federal incentives to the greatest extent possible, as shown in Figure 5 in Section 2.1. In total, the project team expects Oakland SAVES to leverage $7.5M in incentives, which will expand the program benefits for all participants. Through the Weatherization program, each household sees an average of $283 in annual energy costs savings. For every $1 invested in weatherization, $1.72 in energy benefits and $2.78 in nonenergy benefits (i.e. medical expenses, missed days of work) are realized. Additionally, this project will prepare homes to take advantage of future decarbonization programs. The federal Home Energy Rebates and Solar For All programs aim to direct climate 20 investments to disadvantaged communities, but there are often barriers caused by the age and conditions of housing stock in those communities. By making homes safe, structurally sound, and efficient, this project will lay the foundation for successful residential decarbonization projects in Pontiac. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has been awarded $156M in Solar for All funding, and the Michigan Agency for Energy has applied for $210M in HER funding. Oakland County, OLHSA, and MI Saves are all engaged with EGLE throughout the Solar for All planning period. 3.4 Program Budget Description The total budget for this proposal is $18,679,002. Each project partner contributed to the overall budget design. Personnel costs, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, and contractual components total $1,800,911 or 10% of the total budget. Indirect costs are $1,698,091 or 9% of the total budget, the majority of the proposal budget, $15,150,000 or 81% of total budget, is dedicated to program implementation via energy efficiency upgrades and equipment and home repair and weatherization materials. The programs are categorized as follows: Get Weatherization Ready Program at $4.5M, Residential Energy Efficiency Track at $6M, Multi- Family Energy Efficiency Track at $1.5M, and Decarbonization Pilot Program at $3M. Program budget items were based on the previous Oakland SAVES program funded via ARPA funds and based on actual implementation dollars for home projects. Results of that program aided in the development of the new offerings proposed in this version of Oakl and SAVES and used partner information and community engagement to inform best and highest use of dollars. The team will follow the EPA guidelines and regulations around procurement and contracting and follow the internal procurement processes in place at each partner organization. The team also ensures that all contracted work will use Davis Bacon wage requirements, and other regulations as depicted in the NOFO and EPA Guidelines. The tables in Attachment A show administrative and programmatic costs for each project partner (personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, and contractual). There is also a table depicting overall budget for the various components of the Oakland SAVES programming. 3.5 Compliance Plan The Compliance Plan section is in Attachment H. Preaward Compliance Review Report for OMB Control No. 2030-0020 Approval expires 06/30/2024 Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Yes No III. List all pending civil rights lawsuits and administrative complaints filed under federal law against the applicant/recipient that allege discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Do not include employment complaints, unless covered by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7.) IV.List all civil rights lawsuits and administrative complaints decided against the applicant/recipient within the last year that alleged discrimination under federal law based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and enclose a copy of all decisions. Please describe all corrective actions taken. (Do not include employment complaints, unless covered by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7.) V. List all civil rights compliance reviews of the applicant/recipient conducted under federal nondiscrimination laws by any federal agency within the last two years and enclose a copy of the review and any decisions, orders, or agreements based on the review. Please describe any corrective action taken. (40 C.F.R. § 7.80(c)(3)) VI.Is the applicant requesting EPA assistance for new construction? If no, proceed to VII; if yes, answer (a) and/or (b) below. Yes No a.If the grant is for new construction, will all new facilities or alterations to existing facilities be designed and constructed to be readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities? If yes, proceed to VII; if no, proceed to VI(b). Yes No b.If the grant is for new construction and the new facilities or alterations to existing facilities will not be readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, explain how a regulatory exception (40 C.F.R. 7.70) applies. Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No VII.Does the applicant/recipient provide initial and continuing notice that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its program or activities? (40 C.F.R 5.140 and 7.95) a.Do the methods of notice accommodate those with impaired vision or hearing? b.Is the notice posted in a prominent place on the applicant's/recipient's website, in the offices or facilities or, for education programs and activities, in appropriate periodicals and other written communications? c.Does the notice identify a designated civil rights coordinator? II.Is the applicant currently receiving EPA Assistance? B.Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): C.Applicant/Recipient Point of Contact Name: Title: Phone: Email: All Applicants and Recipients Requesting EPA Financial Assistance Note: Read Instructions before completing form. This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2030-0020). Responses to this collection of information are required to obtain an assistance agreement (40 CFR Part 30, 40 CFR Part 31, and 40 CFR Part 33 for awards made prior to December 26, 2014, and 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 1500, and 40 CFR Part 33 for awards made after December 26, 2014). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 0.5 hours per response. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden to the Regulatory Support Division Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address. I.A. Applicant/Recipient (Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code) EPA Form 4700-4 C. DateB.Title of Authorized OfficialA. Signature of Authorized Official For the Applicant/Recipient I certify that the statements I have made on this form and all attachments thereto are true, accurate and complete. I acknowledge that any knowingly false or misleading statement may be punishable by fine or imprisonment or both under applicable law. I assure that I will fully comply with all applicable civil rights statutes and EPA regulations. For the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency I have reviewed the information provided by the applicant/recipient and hereby certify that the applicant/recipient has submitted all preaward compliance information required by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7; that based on the information submitted, this application satisfies the preaward provisions of 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7; and that the applicant has given assurance that it will fully comply with all applicable civil rights statutes and EPA regulations. A.Signature of Authorized EPA Official B. Title of Authorized Official C. Date X.If the applicant is an education program or activity, or has 15 or more employees, has it designated an employee to coordinate its compliance with 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7? Provide the name, title, position, mailing address, e-mail address, fax number, and telephone number of the designated coordinator. XI.If the applicant is an education program or activity, or has 15 or more employees, has it adopted grievance procedures that assure the prompt and fair resolution of complaints that allege a violation of 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7? Provide a legal citation or applicant's/ recipient's website address for, or a copy of, the procedures. VIII. Does the applicant/recipient maintain demographic data on the race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability status of the population it serves? (40 C.F.R. 7.85(a)) IX. Does the applicant/recipient have a policy/procedure for providing meaningful access to services for persons with limited English proficiency? (Title VI, 40 C.F.R. Part 7, Lau v Nichols 414 U.S. 563 (1974)) Yes No Yes No Instructions for EPA FORM 4700-4 (Rev. 04/2021) General. Recipients of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must comply with the following statutes and regulations. Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 provides that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. The Act goes on to explain that the statute shall not be construed to authorize action with respect to any employment practice of any employer, employment agency, or labor organization (except where the primary objective of the Federal financial assistance is to provide employment). Section 13 of the 1972 Amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act provides that no person in the United States shall on the ground of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended. Employment discrimination on the basis of sex is prohibited in all such programs or activities. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall solely by reason of disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Employment discrimination on the basis of disability is prohibited in all such programs or activities. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 provides that no person on the basis of age shall be excluded from participation under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Employment discrimination is not covered. Age discrimination in employment is prohibited by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act administered by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 provides that no person in the United States on the basis of sex shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Employment discrimination on the basis of sex is prohibited in all such education programs or activities. Note: an education program or activity is not limited to only those conducted by a formal institution. 40 C.F.R. Part 5 implements Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. 40 C.F.R. Part 7 implements Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 13 of the 1972 Amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Items “Applicant” means any entity that files an application or unsolicited proposal or otherwise requests EPA assistance. 40 C.F.R. §§ 5.105, 7.25. “Recipient” means any State or its political subdivision, any instrumentality of a State or its political subdivision, any public or private agency, institution, organizations, or other entity, or any person to which Federal financial assistance is extended directly or through another recipient, including any successor, assignee, or transferee of a recipient, but excluding the ultimate beneficiary of the assistance. 40 C.F.R. §§ 5.105, 7.25. “Civil rights lawsuits and administrative complaints” means any lawsuit or administrative complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability pending or decided against the applicant and/or entity which actually benefits from the grant, but excluding employment complaints not covered by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7. For example, if a city is the named applicant but the grant will actually benefit the Department of Sewage, civil rights lawsuits involving both the city and the Department of Sewage should be listed. “Civil rights compliance review” means: any federal agency-initiated investigation of a particular aspect of the applicant's and/or recipient's programs or activities to determine compliance with the federal non-discrimination laws. Submit this form with the original and required copies of applications, requests for extensions, requests for increase of funds, etc. Updates of information are all that are required after the initial application submission. If any item is not relevant to the project for which assistance is requested, write “NA” for “Not Applicable.” In the event applicant is uncertain about how to answer any questions, EPA program officials should be contacted for clarification. Oakland County Complaint Procedure 04/07/20 Page 1 of 2 Oakland County Complaint Procedure The Oakland County Complaint Procedure provides an avenue for employees to file a complaint regarding: • Fraudulent acts, including but not limited to: forgery or alteration of documents; misappropriation of funds or reporting of funds; misuse of any County equipment; • Conduct or behavior that may be in violation of federal and/or state law, local ordinances or Merit System Rules or policies. For a more detailed description of the County’s Non- Discrimination Policy, please see Oakland County Board of Commissioners Resolution #19250 and: https://oakgov.sharepoint.com/sites/intranet/departments/hr/Documents/Equal%20Employme nt%20Opportunity.pdf • Harassment, intimidation and/or other offensive behavior; • Retaliation for making a complaint about any of the above matters. Please note that if you are an employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and you wish to make a complaint or grievance regarding a violation of your collective bargaining agreement, you must follow the grievance/arbitration procedure contained in your collective bargaining agreement. Employees may bring their complaint to the attention of their immediate supervisor or department head. If the complaint alleges a violation of the County’s Non-Discrimination Policy committed by the employee’s supervisor or department head, the complaint should be filed with Human Resources. There are five ways that an employee may file a complaint with Human Resources: 1) in person, 2) in a written complaint mailed to Human Resources, 3) in a written complaint faxed to Human Resources, 4) in a written complaint emailed to Human Resources, 5) by telephone. Contact information is: Oakland County Director of Human Resources Human Resources – Labor Relations 2100 Pontiac Lake Rd., Waterford, MI 48328 Telephone: (248) 858-0539 Fax: (248) 975-9774 Email: laborrelations@oakgov.com When filing a written complaint, it is imperative to include a detailed account of the facts and circumstances that caused you to file the complaint, and any supporting documentation that you may have, including names of witnesses, dates, and times if applicable. Upon receipt of a complaint that does not involve allegations of employment discrimination, the Director of Human Resources or his/her designee shall make an initial review of the complaint to determine if it Oakland County Complaint Procedure 04/07/20 Page 2 of 2 warrants further action or investigation. If further action is warranted, an investigation will be conducted. It is the County’s intent to resolve all complaints internally on a prompt basis depending on the nature of the complaint. Upon conclusion of an investigation, contact may be made with the complainant and others involved to provide closure to the complaint. All complaints of employment discrimination will be investigated within 30 (thirty) days of the date that the complaint is received by the Human Resources Department, and the results of the investigation will be made available to the complainant. The 30 day period may be extended for a reasonable amount of time if extenuating circumstances exist. In such cases, the person investigating the complaint will record the extenuating circumstances in writing. In any investigation, Human Resources will make every effort to maintain the confidentiality of the complainant’s name. Depending on the nature of the investigation, the complainant’s name may need to be disclosed to certain persons. Human Resources cannot guarantee complete confidentiality during an investigation; however, complaints will only be discussed with those persons deemed necessary to investigate and resolve the complaint. If a complaint is determined to be falsely made in bad faith, disciplinary action up to and including termination of the complainant's employment may occur. OMB Number: 4040-0004 Expiration Date: 11/30/2025 * 1. Type of Submission:* 2. Type of Application: * 3. Date Received:4. Applicant Identifier: 5a. Federal Entity Identifier:5b. Federal Award Identifier: 6. Date Received by State:7.State Application Identifier: * a. Legal Name: *b. Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN):*c. UEI: * Street1: Street2: * City: County/Parish: * State: Province: * Country: *Zip / Postal Code: Department Name:Division Name: Prefix:* First Name: Middle Name: *Last Name: Suffix: Title: Organizational Affiliation: *Telephone Number:Fax Number: * Email: * If Revision, select appropriate letter(s): * Other (Specify): State Use Only: 8. APPLICANT INFORMATION: d. Address: e. Organizational Unit: f. Name and contact information of person to be contacted on matters involving this application: Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 Preapplication Application Changed/Corrected Application New Continuation Revision Completed by Grants.gov upon submission. USA: UNITED STATES Pontiac 1200 N. Telegraph Rd. Executive Administration Office of Sustainability HZ4EUKDD7AB438-6004876 Oakland County, a Michigan Constitutional Corporation 48341-1032 Michigan Erin Quetell Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer 248-600-9001 quetelle@oakgov.com Ms. * 9. Type of Applicant 1: Select Applicant Type: Type of Applicant 2: Select Applicant Type: Type of Applicant 3: Select Applicant Type: * Other (specify): * 10. Name of Federal Agency: 11. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: CFDA Title: * 12. Funding Opportunity Number: * Title: 13. Competition Identification Number: Title: 14. Areas Affected by Project (Cities, Counties, States, etc.): * 15. Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project: Attach supporting documents as specified in agency instructions. Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 View AttachmentsDelete AttachmentsAdd Attachments View AttachmentDelete AttachmentAdd Attachment County Government U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 66.616 EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-04 Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program Oakland SAVES: Working Toward Climate Justice in Pontiac, MI Through Healthy and Efficient Homes * a. Federal * b. Applicant * c. State * d. Local * e. Other * f. Program Income * g. TOTAL . Prefix:* First Name: Middle Name: * Last Name: Suffix: * Title: *Telephone Number: * Email: Fax Number: * Signature of Authorized Representative:*Date Signed: 18. Estimated Funding ($): 21. *By signing this application, I certify (1) to the statements contained in the list of certifications** and (2) that the statements herein are true, complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I also provide the required assurances** and agree to comply with any resulting terms if I accept an award. I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject me to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001) ** The list of certifications and assurances, or an internet site where you may obtain this list, is contained in the announcement or agency specific instructions. Authorized Representative: Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 * a. Applicant Attach an additional list of Program/Project Congressional Districts if needed. * b. Program/Project *a. Start Date:* b. End Date: 16. Congressional Districts Of: 17. Proposed Project: Add Attachment Delete Attachment View Attachment a. This application was made available to the State under the Executive Order 12372 Process for review on b. Program is subject to E.O. 12372 but has not been selected by the State for review. c. Program is not covered by E.O. 12372. Yes No Add Attachment Delete Attachment View Attachment ** I AGREE Completed by Grants.gov upon submission. * 20. Is the Applicant Delinquent On Any Federal Debt? (If "Yes," provide explanation in attachment.) * 19. Is Application Subject to Review By State Under Executive Order 12372 Process? Completed by Grants.gov upon submission. If "Yes", provide explanation and attach MI-011 MI-011 Erin Quetell Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer 248-600-9001 quetelle@oakgov.com Ms. 18,679,002 18,679,002 1/2025 2/29/2028 SECTION A - BUDGET SUMMARY $ BUDGET INFORMATION - Non-Construction Programs OMB Number: 4040-0006 Expiration Date: 02/28/2025 Grant Program Function or Activity (a) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (b) Estimated Unobligated Funds New or Revised Budget Federal (c) Non-Federal (d) Federal (e) Non-Federal (f) Total (g) 5. Totals 4. 3. 2. 1.$$$$ $$$$$ Standard Form 424A (Rev. 7- 97) Prescribed by OMB (Circular A -102) Page 1   Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-04 SECTION B - BUDGET CATEGORIES 7. Program Income d. Equipment e. Supplies f. Contractual g. Construction h. Other j. Indirect Charges k. TOTALS (sum of 6i and 6j) i. Total Direct Charges (sum of 6a-6h) (1) Authorized for Local Reproduction Prescribed by OMB (Circular A -102) Page 1A Standard Form 424A (Rev. 7- 97) GRANT PROGRAM, FUNCTION OR ACTIVITY (2)(3)(4)(5) Total6. Object Class Categories a. Personnel b. Fringe Benefits c. Travel $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $ $ 948,159 379,264 194,85 3 948,159 379,264 194,85 3 15,150,000 0 15,150,000 0 18,679,002 18,679.002 16,980,911 16,980,911 1,698,091.11,698,091.10 16,555 29,400 Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program 16,555 29,400 262,680 262,680 0 0 00 SECTION D - FORECASTED CASH NEEDS 14. Non-Federal SECTION C - NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES (a) Grant Program (b) Applicant (d) Other Sources(c) State (e)TOTALS $ $ $$ $ $ $ $ $ $8. 9. 10. 11. 12. TOTAL (sum of lines 8-11) 15. TOTAL (sum of lines 13 and 14) 13. Federal Total for 1st Year 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter $$ $$$ $$$$ FUTURE FUNDING PERIODS (YEARS) SECTION F - OTHER BUDGET INFORMATION SECTION E - BUDGET ESTIMATES OF FEDERAL FUNDS NEEDED FOR BALANCE OF THE PROJECT Authorized for Local Reproduction $ $ $$ $ $16. 17. 18. 19. 20. TOTAL (sum of lines 16 - 19) 21. Direct Charges:22. Indirect Charges: 23. Remarks: (a) Grant Program (b)First (c) Second (d) Third (e) Fourth $$ Standard Form 424A (Rev. 7- 97) Prescribed by OMB (Circular A -102) Page 2 Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A 6,514,501 5,650,000 5,650,000 5,650,000 6,514,501 5,650,000 6,514,501 6,514,501 N/A 00,000 775,000 2,037,500 2,037,500 00,000 775,000 2,075,000 2,075,000 16,0,1100 1,6,0110 OMB Control No. 2030-0020 Approval expires 06/30/2024 EPA KEY CONTACTS FORM Authorized Representative: Original awards and amendments will be sent to this individual for review and acceptance, unless otherwise indicated. Name:Prefix:First Name:Middle Name: Last Name:Suffix: Title: Complete Address: Street1: Street2: City:State: Zip / Postal Code:Country: Phone Number:Fax Number: E-mail Address: Payee: Individual authorized to accept payments. Name:Prefix:First Name:Middle Name: Last Name:Suffix: Title: Complete Address: Street1: Street2: City:State: Zip / Postal Code:Country: Phone Number:Fax Number: E-mail Address: EPA Form 5700-54 (Rev 4-02) This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2030-0020). Responses to this collection of information are required to obtain an assistance agreement (40 CFR Part 30, 40 CFR Part 31, and 40 CFR Part 33 for awards made prior to December 26, 2014, and 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 1500, and 40 CFR Part 33 for awards made after December 26, 2014). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 0.5 hours per response. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden to the Regulatory Support Division Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address. This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2030-0020). Responses to this collection of information are required to obtain an assistance agreement (40 CFR Part 30, 40 CFR Part 31, and 40 CFR Part 33 for awards made prior to December 26, 2014, and 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 1500, and 40 CFR Part 33 for awards made after December 26, 2014). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 0.5 hours per response. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden to the Regulatory Support Division Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address. EPA KEY CONTACTS FORM Project Manager: Individual responsible for the technical completion of the proposed work. Name:Prefix:First Name:Middle Name: Last Name:Suffix: Title: Complete Address: Street1: Street2: City:State: Zip / Postal Code:Country: Phone Number:Fax Number: E-mail Address: EPA Form 5700-54 (Rev 4-02) Administrative Contact: Individual from Sponsored Programs Office to contact concerning administrative matters (i.e., indirect cost rate computation, rebudgeting requests etc). Name:Prefix:First Name:Middle Name: Last Name:Suffix: Title: Complete Address: State: Street1: Street2: City: Zip / Postal Code:Country: Phone Number:Fax Number: E-mail Address: Attachment A. -Program Budget Template Final Budget - Oakland County Category Description Total Personnel 0 0 Fringe Benefits 0 0 Travel 4500 miles @ 0.585/mile $2,632 Equipment N/A 0 Supplies $50,000/year for community events $10,000/year marketing $150,000 $30,000 Contractual N/A 0 Construction N/A 0 Other N/A 0 Total Direct Costs (sum of the above categories) $182,632 Indirect Costs 10% $18,263.2 Total Project Costs (sum of direct and indirect costs) Funding portion for Oakland County’s grant project work $200,895 Budget - OHLSA Category Description Total Personnel Program Coordinator II Salary: $38,000 Annually 1 FTE (100%) Assumption of 3% increase annually $117,454 Fringe Benefits 40% $46,982 Travel OLHSA-600 miles/yr X 3 yrs= 1,800 miles @.585 per mile $1,053 Equipment N/A 0 Supplies Laptop/software ($1400) Cell Phone ($55/month x 36 months= $1,980) Basic office supplies ($50/month x 36 months= $1,800) $5,180 Contractual Audit (0.5%/ grant, based on sum of all categories above, $171,553) $853 Construction N/A 0 Other N/A 0 Total Direct Costs $171,522 Indirect Costs 10% $17,152 Total Project Costs (sum of direct and indirect costs) Funding portion for OLHSA’s grant project work $188,674 Budget - Michigan Saves Category Description Total Personnel Assume 3% increase per year $830,705 Fringe Benefits 40% $332,282 Travel Mileage to and from Pontiac 22000 miles at $0.585/mile (3 years) $12,870 Equipment Energy Audit Equipment; Energy Audit Software (SnuggPro) $29,400 Supplies Community Events; Marketing Collateral; Postage $77,500 Contractual Community Partners; Design/Editing; WebAscender (NGEN updates); Varnum (Legal); DEFI (LOS updates) $194,000 Construction N/A 0 Other N/A 0 Total Direct Costs $1,476,757 Indirect Costs 10% $147,676 Total Project Costs (sum of direct and indirect costs) Funding portion for Michigan Saves’ grant project work $1,624,433 Project Totals: Direct Costs: OC $ 182,632 OLHSA $ 171,522 MI Saves $ 1,476,757 Other: Contractual $ 15,150,000 (overall project, including evaluator consultant) SUB-TOTAL $ 16,980,911.00 Indirect costs 10% $ 1,698,091.10 TOTAL $ 18,679,002.10 = $18,679,002 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR A COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT PARTNERHSIP This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is entered into this ____ day of ________________________, 2024 by Oakland County, a Michigan Constitutional Corporation (“Oakland County”), 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford, Michigan 48328, and Michigan Saves, Inc., 230 N Washington Square Suite 300, Lansing Michigan 48933, a nonprofit corporation. Oakland County and Michigan Saves may individually be referred to as a “Party” or collectively referred to as the “Parties”. RECITALS AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDINGS WHEREAS on August 16, 2022, the President of the United States signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law which created the Environmental and Climate Justice Program and provided the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with $3 billion in grants and funding for related technical assistance to benefit disadvantaged communities, known as Climate Justice Community Change Grants (“Community Change Grants”); and WHEREAS the Community Change Grants are intended to deliver environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments; and WHEREAS the EPA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) for approximately $2 billion in IRA funding for Community Change Grants. Activities to performed under the grants are expected to fall under the following categories: • Climate resiliency and adaptation • Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events • Community-led air and other (including water and waste) pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation • Investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure • Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants Docusign Envelope ID: A53559B4-EF3E-45D4-BC87-F7A0699B0282 September 11th • Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution • Facilitating the engagement of disadvantaged communities in state and federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes WHEREAS the NOFO will be open for one year with a closing date of November 21, 2024. The EPA will review applications to the NOFO on a rolling basis to allow applicants to utilize technical assistance and possibly resubmit a new application if not initially selected. The EPA has encouraged applicants to submit applications as soon as possible; and WHEREAS Oakland County is a local unit of government that provides services to nearly 1.3 million people in 63 cities, villages, and townships across 907 square miles and is governed by a County Executive, elected countywide, a 19-member Board of Commissioners, elected from districts across the county, and has other countywide elected officials, including the Water Resources Commissioner; and WHEREAS Michigan Saves is 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to equitable, accessible, and just investments in clean energy and energy efficiency to support healthy and thriving communities; and WHEREAS Oakland County contracted with Michigan Saves to develop and implement Oakland SAVES, which successfully deployed $5 million of American Rescue Plan Act Funds for energy efficiency improvements throughout the county in 2024; and WHEREAS Oakland County, through the Office of Sustainability as its operating department, and Michigan Saves desire to form a partnership to apply for a $20 million Community Change Grant for the Oakland SAVES Project. The Parties’ shared objective for the Grant Project is to combat disinvestment in the City of Pontiac by offering funding and assistance for energy efficient home utility upgrades; and WHEREAS the Parties agree that, by implementing the Grant Project, it can help revitalize the Pontiac Community and create co-benefits for the health and well-being of the residents; and WHEREAS the scope of work for the Grant Project is detailed in the Project Narrative Form which is attached hereto as Addendum A; and WHEREAS through this MOU, the Parties have memorialized their understanding and agreement of their respective roles, rights, and responsibilities regarding application for the Community Change Grant. NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the foregoing Recitals and Mutual Understandings, the Parties agree to the following: Docusign Envelope ID: A53559B4-EF3E-45D4-BC87-F7A0699B0282 AGREEMENT 1. Partner Participation. Eligible applicants for Community Change Grants include partnerships between a Community Based Organization and local government. Oakland County, as a local unit of government, and Michigan Saves as a Community Based Organization, will be Statutory Partners for the Community Change Grant. Oakland County will serve as the Lead Applicant. Other organizations and entities may participate in the Community Change Grant as Collaborating Entities through subawards, or as contractors selected in accordance with competitive procurement requirements. Oakland County will serve as the Lead Applicant. 2. Lead Applicant Duties. If selected for a Community Change Grant award, Oakland County, as the Lead Applicant, will become the grantee, operating as a pass-through entity for purposes of 2 CFR Part 200, the EPA Subaward Policy, and take responsibility for making subawards to Collaborating Entities. In addition, as Lead Applicant, Oakland County will be responsible for the overall management, performance, oversight, and reporting responsibilities associated with the Community Change Grant, including the following responsibilities: a. Receiving federal funds from the EPA and for the proper expenditure of these funds, including bearing liability for unallowable costs. b. Making subawards to Collaborating Entities. c. Resolving disputes between the Lead Applicant and Statutory Partners. d. Adhering to grant compliance requirements and addressing legal issues. e. Managing risks associated with the Project. This includes procedures for replacing a Statutory Partner with another Statutory Partner, and for ensuring the replacement has the comparable expertise, experience, knowledge, and qualifications of the replaced Statutory Partner to ensure successful grant completion within three years. Replacement may be necessary for various reasons including performance issues. In the event a Statutory Partner is replaced, the Statutory Partner being replaced shall have no further obligations or responsibilities under this MOU and the Community Change Grant application to the extent of the replacement. 3. Application. Oakland County will submit the Community Change Grant application to the EPA on or before the NOFO deadline of November 21, 2024. Prior to submission, Oakland County shall provide Michigan Saves with a final draft of the Community Change Grant application and allow Michigan Saves a reasonable time to review and request revisions to the same. Docusign Envelope ID: A53559B4-EF3E-45D4-BC87-F7A0699B0282 4. Grant Award. If the Community Change Grant application submitted by Oakland County on behalf of the Statutory Partnership between Oakland County and Michigan Saves is selected for award, the Parties agree to enter into a subaward agreement that complies with the subaward requirements in the grant regulations at 2 CFR 200.331 and in EPA’s Subaward Policy and related guidance and that contains terms and conditions including those listed above in Section 2. No cost-sharing or matching is required as a condition of eligibility under the NOFO. 5. Grant Conditions. Oakland County shall be responsible for all grant conditions detailed in the Grant Agreement with the EPA, including, but not limited to, grant reporting requirements. The Parties agree to timely cooperate in providing any information or documentation regarding the Project as needed to demonstrate compliance with the Grant Agreement. 6. Effective Date: This MOU shall be effective upon the date of last execution below. 7. General Provisions: 1.1 Counterparts. This MOU may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. 1.2 Amendments. This MOU may only be modified or amended by written instrument executed by the Parties, or their successors in interest. 1.3 Entire Agreement. This instrument contains the entire agreement between the Parties relating to the rights herein granted and the obligations herein assumed. Any oral representations or modifications concerning this instrument shall be of no force and effect. It is understood and agreed between the Parties that the terms and conditions herein are contractual and are not a mere recital and that there are no other agreements, understandings, contracts, or representations between the parties regarding the Community Project Grant, except the Community Change Grant application. Any modification of this MOU must be in writing and must be signed by the Party to be charged. 1.4 Governing Law. This MOU is made and entered into in the State of Michigan and shall in all respects be interpreted, enforced and governed under the laws of the State Docusign Envelope ID: A53559B4-EF3E-45D4-BC87-F7A0699B0282 of Michigan. The language of all parts of this MOU is intended to and, in all cases, shall be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning, and not construed strictly for or against any Party. 1.5 Severability. If any provision of this MOU, or its application to any person or circumstance, shall, to any extent be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this MOU shall not be affected and shall remain valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 1.6 Reservation of Rights. It is understood and agreed between the Parties that a failure, by any Party, to fulfill a condition or term set forth in this MOU, shall not result in extinguishment of the MOU rights granted herein or constitute a waiver of such term or condition. 1.7 Discrimination. The Parties shall not discriminate against their employees, agents, applicants for employment, or another person or entities with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, or any matter directly or indirectly related to employment in violation of any federal, state or local law. 1.8 Notices. Notices given under this MOU shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by express delivery service, certified mail, or first class U.S. mail postage prepaid, and addressed to the person listed below. Notice will be deemed given on the date when one of the following first occur: (1) the date of actual receipt; (2) the next business day when notice is sent express delivery service or personal delivery; or (3) three days after mailing first class or certified U.S. mail. 8. Signatories. Each signatory to this MOU represents that they have the authority to enter this MOU and that they are authorized to sign on behalf of the entity which they represent. As evidenced by their signatures hereunder, the Parties acknowledge they have read the MOU and agree to the mutual understandings as set forth herein. THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTONALLY BLANK. Docusign Envelope ID: A53559B4-EF3E-45D4-BC87-F7A0699B0282 OAKLAND COUNTY, Date: ___________________ By: _________________________________ DAVID WOODWARD, CHAIRPERSON OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Its: Authorized Signatory MICHIGAN SAVES, INC Date: __________________ By: ____________________________________ TODD PARKER, VICE PRESIDENT Its: Authorized Signatory Docusign Envelope ID: A53559B4-EF3E-45D4-BC87-F7A0699B0282 8/16/2024 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR A COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT PARTNERHSIP This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is entered into this _11th___ day of __September___________________, 2024 by Oakland County, a Michigan Constitutional Corporation (“Oakland County”), 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford, Michigan 48328, and the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA), 196 Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Pontiac, Michigan 48343-0598, a Michigan Municipal Corporation. . Oakland County and OLHSA may individually be referred to as a “Party” or collectively referred to as the “Parties”. RECITALS AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDINGS WHEREAS on August 16, 2022, the President of the United States signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law which created the Environmental and Climate Justice Program and provided the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with $3 billion in grants and funding for related technical assistance to benefit disadvantaged communities, known as Climate Justice Community Change Grants (“Community Change Grants”); and WHEREAS the Community Change Grants are intended to deliver environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments; and WHEREAS the EPA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) for approximately $2 billion in IRA funding for Community Change Grants. Activities to performed under the grants are expected to fall under the following categories: • Climate resiliency and adaptation • Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events • Community-led air and other (including water and waste) pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation • Investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure • Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants • Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution • Facilitating the engagement of disadvantaged communities in state and federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes WHEREAS the NOFO will be open for one year with a closing date of November 21, 2024. The EPA will review applications to the NOFO on a rolling basis to allow applicants to utilize technical assistance and possibly resubmit a new application if not initially selected. The EPA has encouraged applicants to submit applications as soon as possible; and WHEREAS Oakland County is a local unit of government that provides services to nearly 1.3 million people in 63 cities, villages, and townships across 907 square miles and is governed by a County Executive, elected countywide, a 19-member Board of Commissioners, elected from districts across the county, and has other countywide elected officials, including the Water Resources Commissioner; and WHEREAS the OLHSA is a Community Action Agency formed in 1964, that supports Oakland and Livingston County residents that are looking for assistance in removing the burdens of poverty. OLHSA provides tailored support to individuals and families, helping them overcome the challenges of poverty; and WHEREAS Oakland County, through the Office of Sustainability as its operating department, and OLHSA desire to form a partnership to apply for a $20 million Community Change Grant for the Oakland Saves Project. The Parties’ shared objective for the Grant Project is to combat disinvestment in the City of Pontiac by offering funding and assistance for energy efficient home utility upgrades and OLHSA’s home weatherization program; and WHEREAS the Parties agree that, by implementing the Grant Project, it can help revitalize the Pontiac Community and create co-benefits for the health and well-being of the residents; and WHEREAS the scope of work for the Grant Project is detailed in the Project Narrative Form which is attached hereto as Addendum A; and WHEREAS through this MOU, the Parties have memorialized their understanding and agreement of their respective roles, rights, and responsibilities regarding application for the Community Change Grant. NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the foregoing Recitals and Mutual Understandings, the Parties agree to the following: AGREEMENT 1. Partner Participation. Eligible applicants for Community Change Grants include partnerships between a Community Based Organization and local government. Oakland County, as a local unit of government, and OLHSA as a Community Based Organization, will be Statutory Partners for the Community Change Grant. Oakland County will serve as the Lead Applicant. Other organizations and entities may participate in the Community Change Grant as Collaborating Entities through subawards, or as contractors selected in accordance with competitive procurement requirements. Oakland County will serve as the Lead Applicant. 2. Lead Applicant Duties. If selected for a Community Change Grant award, Oakland County, as the Lead Applicant, will become the grantee, operating as a pass-through entity for purposes of 2 CFR Part 200, the EPA Subaward Policy, and take responsibility for making subawards to Collaborating Entities. In addition, as Lead Applicant, Oakland County will be responsible for the overall management, performance, oversight, and reporting responsibilities associated with the Community Change Grant, including the following responsibilities: a. Receiving federal funds from the EPA and for the proper expenditure of these funds, including bearing liability for unallowable costs. b. Making subawards to Collaborating Entities. c. Resolving disputes between the Lead Applicant and Statutory Partners. d. Adhering to grant compliance requirements and addressing legal issues. e. Managing risks associated with the Project. This includes procedures for replacing a Statutory Partner with another Statutory Partner, and for ensuring the replacement has the comparable expertise, experience, knowledge, and qualifications of the replaced Statutory Partner to ensure successful grant completion within three years. Replacement may be necessary for various reasons including performance issues. In the event a Statutory Partner is replaced, the Statutory Partner being replaced shall have no further obligations or responsibilities under this MOU and the Community Change Grant application to the extent of the replacement. 3. Application. Oakland County will submit the Community Change Grant application to the EPA on or before the NOFO deadline of November 21, 2024. Prior to submission, Oakland County shall provide OLHSA with a final draft of the Community Change Grant application and allow OLHSA a reasonable time to review and request revisions to the same. 4. Grant Award. If the Community Change Grant application submitted by Oakland County on behalf of the Statutory Partnership between Oakland County and OLHSA is selected for award, the Parties agree to enter into a subaward agreement that complies with the subaward requirements in the grant regulations at 2 CFR 200.331 and in EPA’s Subaward Policy and related guidance and that contains terms and conditions including those listed above in Section 2. No cost-sharing or matching is required as a condition of eligibility under the NOFO. 5. Grant Conditions. Oakland County shall be responsible for all grant conditions detailed in the Grant Agreement with the EPA, including, but not limited to, grant reporting requirements. The Parties agree to timely cooperate in providing any information or documentation regarding the Project as needed to demonstrate compliance with the Grant Agreement. 6. Effective Date: This MOU shall be effective upon the date of last execution below. 7. General Provisions: 1.1 Counterparts. This MOU may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. 1.2 Amendments. This MOU may only be modified or amended by written instrument executed by the Parties, or their successors in interest. 1.3 Entire Agreement. This instrument contains the entire agreement between the Parties relating to the rights herein granted and the obligations herein assumed. Any oral representations or modifications concerning this instrument shall be of no force and effect. It is understood and agreed between the Parties that the terms and conditions herein are contractual and are not a mere recital and that there are no other agreements, understandings, contracts, or representations between the parties regarding the Community Project Grant, except the Community Change Grant application. Any modification of this MOU must be in writing and must be signed by the Party to be charged. 1.4 Governing Law. This MOU is made and entered into in the State of Michigan and shall in all respects be interpreted, enforced and governed under the laws of the State of Michigan. The language of all parts of this MOU is intended to and, in all cases, shall be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning, and not construed strictly for or against any Party. 1.5 Severability. If any provision of this MOU, or its application to any person or circumstance, shall, to any extent be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this MOU shall not be affected and shall remain valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 1.6 Reservation of Rights. It is understood and agreed between the Parties that a failure, by any Party, to fulfill a condition or term set forth in this MOU, shall not result in extinguishment of the MOU rights granted herein or constitute a waiver of such term or condition. 1.7 Discrimination. The Parties shall not discriminate against their employees, agents, applicants for employment, or another person or entities with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, or any matter directly or indirectly related to employment in violation of any federal, state or local law. 1.8 Notices. Notices given under this MOU shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by express delivery service, certified mail, or first class U.S. mail postage prepaid, and addressed to the person listed below. Notice will be deemed given on the date when one of the following first occur: (1) the date of actual receipt; (2) the next business day when notice is sent express delivery service or personal delivery; or (3) three days after mailing first class or certified U.S. mail. 8. Signatories. Each signatory to this MOU represents that they have the authority to enter this MOU and that they are authorized to sign on behalf of the entity which they represent. As evidenced by their signatures hereunder, the Parties acknowledge they have read the MOU and agree to the mutual understandings as set forth herein. THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTONALLY BLANK. OAKLAND COUNTY, Date: ___________________ By: _________________________________ DAVID WOODWARD, CHAIRPERSON OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Its: Authorized Signatory OAKLAND LIVINGSTON HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY Date: __________________ By: ____________________________________ SUSAN HARDING, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OLHSA Its: Authorized Signatory 9-11-2024 Attachment D: Project Area Map The Project Area Map shows that the entire City of Pontiac is consider ed an EPA IRA Disadvantaged Community. Maps also show the prevalence of asthma, the EPA Demographic Index, major roads, and community assets such as hospitals, parks, schools, and houses or worship. Finally, the maps show the federal CEJST Justice40 districts, and the Michigan Environmental Justice Screen tool’s assessment of Pontiac. Individual project locations are not mapped, as the households receiving grant funding will be decided through the post-award community engagement process laid out in Exhibit E. This project will serve an estimated 1,347 households throughout the City of Pontiac. However, a combination of community input and data (such as MI EJ Screen tool data and housing age data from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments) will be used to target outreach in communities with the most need for housing retrofits. Project Area Map - Oakland County Oakland County, Michigan, SEMCOG, Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, EPA, NPS, Esri, HERE, NPS Places of Worship Hospitals Schools Project Area - Oakland County EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities 2.0 No Yes 8/8/2024 0 1.5 30.75 mi 0 2.5 51.25 km 1:144,448 Demographic Index - Pontiac - Oakland County Oakland County, Michigan, SEMCOG, Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, EPA, NPS, Esri, HERE, NPS Demographic Index (National Percentiles) Less than 50 percentile 50 - 80 percentile 80 - 90 percentile 90 - 95 percentile 95 - 100 percentile Project Area - Oakland County EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities 2.0 No Yes 8/5/2024 0 1.5 30.75 mi 0 2.5 51.25 km 1:144,448 Rate of Asthma - Pontiac - Oakland County Oakland County, Michigan, SEMCOG, Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, EPA, NPS, EPA OMS, OEJ, Esri, HERE, NPS Current Asthma Less than 50 percentile 50 - 80 percentile 80 - 90 percentile 90 - 95 percentile 95 - 100 percentile Project Area - Oakland County EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities 2.0 No Yes 8/5/2024 0 1.5 30.75 mi 0 2.5 51.25 km 1:144,448 AUBURN HILLS BLOOMFIELD TWPKEEGO HARBOR LAKE ANGELUS ORCHARD LAKE PONTIAC SYLVAN LAKE WATERFORD TWP WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP 75 75 75 75 75 59 1 59 1 24 24 24 24 Project Area - Community Assets and Major Roadways Educational Facilities Recreation Lands Municiple Boundary Major Roadways Interstate State Route US Route 0 1 20.5 Miles AUBURN HILLS BLOOMFIELD TWP BLOOMFIELD HILLS INDEPENDENCE TWP KEEGO HARBOR LAKE ANGELUS OAKLAND TWP ORCHARD LAKE ORION TWP PONTIAC ROCHESTER HILLS SYLVAN LAKE TROY WATERFORD TWP WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP Project Area - Justice40 and Michigan EJ Screen 0 1 20.5 MilesMiEJscreen Overall Score MiEJScorePL 0.000000 - 10.000000 10.000001 - 20.000000 20.000001 - 30.000000 30.000001 - 40.000000 40.000001 - 50.000000 50.000001 - 60.000000 60.000001 - 70.000000 70.000001 - 80.000000 80.000001 - 90.000000 90.000001 - 100.000000 Municiple Boundary Justice40 Tracts Nov. 2022 v1 Disadvantaged Not Disadvantaged Attachment E: Community Engagement and Collaborative Governance Plan Past Community Outreach and Engagement Conducted The partners participating in this application were included in part for their broad engagement with and close connection to the Project Area. These past community engagement efforts were foundational in developing our implementation approach. Engagement through Oakland County: From our previous American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded Oakland SAVES program, we engaged and served 117 households within the City of Pontiac. In response to a post-program feedback survey, 91% of survey respondents living in Pontiac listed the need for housing retrofits as either some need or significant need (4 or 5) in their community, and 82% listed the need as significant (5). Respondents were also asked what they would change about the Oakland SAVES program. In their response, 36% of respondents mentioned the need for additional funding and more repairs. Respondents were also asked what methods were best for reaching members of their community (email blasts, flyers at community centers, brochures, community meetings, etc.). The feedback on best outreach methods has been integrated into our community engagement plan outlined in Attachment E.2. Oakland County is governed by a County Executive, who is elected countywide, and a 19 - member Board of Commissioners, who are elected from districts across the county. Two Oakland County Commissioners have districts in Pontiac. These Commissioners provide valuable input from their Pontiac constituents to the project team through their established outreach and representation of residents’ interests. In the 2024 calendar year, Oakland County has attended 14 community events within Pontiac, including the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition and Senior Summit, to strengthen the relationship between residents and the county. Oakland County has also engaged with both major utilities in the area, DTE and Consumers Energy, to discuss the potential project. The project team is in contact with the energy efficiency teams and low-income program teams at both utilities. There is potential to braid funding from utility low-income and energy efficiency programs, which will be explored further post-award. Engagement through Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLHSA): As a community action agency, OLHSA is required by federal regulation to conduct a community needs assessment (CNA) every three years. The most recent CNA was finalized in 2021 and OLHSA is currently in the midst of its 2024 CNA. The CNA process includes multiple opportunities to engage with community residents and clients of OLHSA. One required data source is our Client Satisfaction Survey results. The 2021 CNA found that home repairs such as furnace, drywall, windows/doors and insulation are services that clients need but are beyond OLHSA’s typical scope of work. This issue was found to be especially the case for older adults, one of our key vulnerable populations. The Community Change Grant project was designed to fill that existing gap for community members. Engagement through Michigan Saves: In 2023, Michigan Saves hired researchers to facilitate community listening sessions in Flint and Detroit to help the organization establish equitable approaches to energy program planning and development. Although these sessions were not done in Pontiac, the demographics and community challenges are similar to Flint and Detroit, so we can infer that similar barriers may exist in Pontiac. In these sessions, participants expressed concerned about their health, safety, and comfort. Through these listening sessions, Michigan Saves identified the following challenges, which are applicable to Pontiac, and have influenced the program design for this grant: • Knowledge and Access o There is an overall lack of knowledge of possible energy solutions and participants encounter challenges in recognizing the concepts of energy efficiency and the steps needed to adopt solutions o Participants want to live in safe, comfortable, and healthy environments, but often engage in energy-limiting behaviors, such as blocking windows and doors with plastic and keeping homes at extreme temperatures, which have potentially harmful health impacts from poor indoor air quality • Affordability and Value o Energy efficiency was a priority for most listening session participants, but financial barriers (cost, interest rates, credit scores, debt) often prevented them from making improvements o Participants need some form of financial incentives to make energy efficiency improvements affordable o There is a financial literacy gap for participants and a lack of understanding of the value of switching to more energy efficient solutions • Trust and Neutrality o Participants are searching for a trusted source of information that does not profit from the changes made by participants o Participants had both positive and negative experiences with contractors and value transparency when it comes to selecting a contractor The project Energy Coaches will be responsible for addressing these challenges. They will be a trusted resource for the community, providing education and objective information to help homeowners make informed decisions that fit their needs and yield the greatest efficiency and resiliency outcomes. They will also help homeowners obtain incentives and rebates, select contractors, and navigate the program processes. Roles and responsibilities of Energy Coaches are described further in Attachment E.2b. Engagement through existing home repair programs: Existing retrofit programs, such as Habitat for Humanity and the County’s Home Improvement Program, are regularly at capacity and unable to accept more applications. The new Pontiac Home Repair Program was also met with overwhelming demand and had to close applications within hours after opening. As part of the Pontiac Home Repair Program, the City inspected over 120 homes and found that approximately 60% of those inspected exhibit severe deterioration issues, including roof leaks, window leaks, chimney leaks, visible water damage on ceilings and walls, crumbling porches, unsafe electrical wiring, and outdated sewer plumbing. Oakland County and OLHSA both have strong connections with the entities running these home repair programs and have consulted with program administrators to learn what they’re hearing from the residents they serve. The need for pre-efficiency repairs is a major barrier, which informed the Get Weatherization Ready program. Survey review: The project team reviewed input from two surveys performed by Pontiac-based organizations. One is the Pontiac Collective Impact Partnerships Community Survey Report. The survey asked residents, “What are the five most important factors affecting your life in Pontiac are?” The survey was available online and in print, in English and Spanish. The survey team made direct outreach to underrepresented demographics, such as those not on social media or engaged with community groups, and men and Hispanic residents, who had the lowest response rate to past surveys. The survey found that residents are concerned about quality of life, safety, housing, economic opportunity, education, and health. The second survey is the Trinity Health Oakland Community Health Needs Assessment (THOA CHNA). This survey was performed over a 9-month period in partnership with the Pontiac social impact consulting firm, Tameka Ramsey & Associates. Specific outreach was targeted at food pantries and homeless shelters to reach marginalized residents. A 24 -question survey was implemented in print and online. The assessment also included focus groups in the following categories: Immigrant/refugees, Mental health patients, People with Disabilities, BIPOC, Veterans, and Hispanic patients. The assessment also conducted two community forums with community stakeholders, local subject matter experts, and community leaders within the Latino and senior population. The assessment found four priority health needs: behavioral health, access to care, food security, and housing. The community input, along with data regarding the City of Pontiac’s average building age, percentage of low-income residents, energy burden, environmental justice indicators, and climate vulnerabilities, has informed our project goal and design. Community Engagement Plan Implementation Clear methods for engagement and transparency: Post-award, representatives for the project team will host community engagement meetings at various locations throughout the City of Pontiac, such as the two senior centers and various houses of worship described below. At these monthly meetings, the project team will inform communities about the Oakland SAVES program and its benefits to them. The first three months of meetings will be community-listening sessions to gather neighborhood-specific community input. We will also gather feedback on preferred methods of communication within the community, to learn the how best to convey information regarding the project. Meetings will be offered at different times , locations, and with online options available to accommodate for various work schedules. We will also consider offering child-care and food for participants at the meetings to remedy other potential barriers to community engagement. Throughout this process, community members will have the opportunity to provide feedback on their housing needs and on potential barriers to participating in the program. The project team will also develop key metrics with the community, to establish the tracking metrics most important the residents of Pontiac. After the initial three months, the community engagement meetings will focus on energy efficiency education from the Energy Coaches, application assistance to the Oakland SAVES program, and continuous open communication. Through out the various stages of the project, these meetings will also help us receive community-based project evaluation and allow us to adjust as appropriate. Project updates and community feedback will also be available online and in physical flyers, posters, and surveys. At the mid-point process evaluation and the final outcome evaluation (see project timeline in section 2.4), focus groups may be formed as necessary to evaluate the program. As section 2.1 details, a robust evaluation process will be followed to ensure alignment and performance of project and community goals. We will work with local non-profits to reach community members within their networks and invite them to the community engagement sessions. Non-profits that Oakland County has an existing relationship with include Pontiac Promise Zone, Northern Oakland County NAACP, Pontiac Housing Commission, Greater Pontiac Community Coalition, Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition, Pontiac Collective Impact Partnership, Pontiac Funders Collaborative, Oakland Community Health Network, Talent Development Corporation, and Sidewalk Detroit. The project team will also attend the community meetings held by City Council members in each of their 7 districts. At these meetings, the project team will strengthen relationships with the local government and hear community input on the most pressing challenges in their neighborhoods. We recognize that faith-based organizations are critical community gathering places within the City of Pontiac. Faith-based organizations also provide important support and connections to community members who are homebound, due to age, disability, lack of transportation, or other restrictions. We will host community meetings and share information (via brochures, flyers, physical surveys, etc) at houses of worship throughout the community. Houses of worship within Pontiac that Oakland County has an existing relationship with include First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac, Neuman AME Church, and New Springfield Missionary Baptist Church. We will also host meetings and share information at Pontiac’s two senior centers to inform the community about the program and listen to community input. Senior centers and houses of worship allow us to connect with individuals who may not engage with online resources or other community meetings. Oakland County and OLHSA run the Senior Chore Program, which assists seniors with home maintenance such as lawn mowing. This program is also a valuable touchpoint to reach seniors throughout the community. Data-driven outreach: We will use building age data, available through the Southeast Michigan Council of Government (SEMCOG) , as well as data from the Michigan EJ Screen and the EPA EJ Screen to focus our outreach in the neighborhoods with the highest need for energy equity and housing retrofits. Through this outreach, we will connect residents to our community engagement meetings for project introduction and their feedback, and our Energy Coaches will guide them through the process of getting a home energy audit, planning a scope of work, and receiving grant funding. Communications: We will create a “post-program” page on our website, which will host information for program participants, such as a feedback form, links to utility rebate information, a calendar of upcoming community meetings, and updates on future funding opportunities such as Solar for All and Home Energy Rebates. The Project Management Team (described below) will meet regularly to plan communications such as flyers, workshops, webinars, and other project updates. These project updates will distribute information such as number of homes retrofitted, funds allocated, and lifetime energy savings expected. If there are other key metrics established in the community engagement meetings as important to the community, those metrics will also be included in all project updates. Multi-family outreach: Project Energy Coaches will promote the multifamily energy efficiency track during community meetings and events and work with city officials and community organizations to identify property owners. Then the project team will use a request for proposal (RFP) process to solicit project ideas from multifamily property owners. Within the RFP, the project team will outline the parameters of the funding opportunity, such as the needs of the property, the maximum grant amount, qualifying equipment, rebate opportunities, and the prohibitions on rent increases. We will send this RFP to multifamily property owners and invite them to submit a project idea that conforms to program parameters. For project ideas that are more conceptual, Michigan Saves can provide a certified energy man ager to help the property owner refine the idea and determine its feasibility and cost. The project ideas will be evaluated by the project team and grant funds will be encumbered on a first-come, first-served basis. The projects will be designed to leverage as many rebates and incentives as possible. The certified energy manager can work with the property owner to create a scope of work, which will then be bid out to Michigan Saves network of authorized contractors that have agreed to comply with Davis-Bacon requirements. Participating property owners must sign an agreement stating that they will not raise tenant rent by more than the rate of inflation for 24 months or evict a tenant after the installation of the energy improvements. Property owners will have the duration of the grant to complete the project. Energy Coaches: The project Energy Coaches are a critical part of our community engagement plan. Michigan Saves will use funds to hire two Energy Coaches to guide and empower residents to make informed decisions regarding clean energy improvements. An Energy Coach would have the following responsibilities: • Community Engagement: Organize workshops, webinars, and community events to raise awareness about clean energy opportunities and foster a sustainable community. • Education and Outreach: Educate residents on the benefits of clean energy technologies and improvements. • Consultation and Guidance: Provide personalized consultations to residents to help them understand their clean energy options based on their specific needs, budget, and property characteristics. • Financial Assistance: Assist residents in accessing utility rebates, government incentives, tax credits, and financing options available for clean energy upgrades. • Project Management Support: Coordinate with contractors and vendors to ensure smooth implementation of clean energy projects, from initial consultation to project completion. • Documentation and Compliance: Ensure all paperwork, applications, and Davis-Bacon Act documentation for rebates, incentives, and grant funds are completed accurately and submitted on time. • Monitoring and Evaluation: Track and evaluate the impact of clean energy projects implemented by residents, including energy savings and environmental benefits. • Continuous Learning: Stay updated on the latest developments in clean energy technologies, policies, and incentives to provide accurate and up-to-date information to residents. Mitigating Barriers: According to the EPA EJ Screen tool, 80% of Pontiac residents speak English at home, 15% speak Spanish at home, 2% speak other Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1% speak other languages. The US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) shows that the highest concentration of Spanish speakers in Pontiac is cens us tract 26125141400, where 40.1% of the population speaks Spanish at home. We will use the ACS survey data to target the appropriate multi-lingual outreach in neighborhoods with multi-lingual residents. The Oakland County Department of Communications is fully experienced and capable of creating outreach materials in multiple languages. As detailed above, the Project Team will use established networks of senior centers, social services, houses of worship, and non-profit connections to reach out to individuals who may not engage with in-person events or digital communications. Seniors are one of our targeted vulnerable populations and efforts to reach and include senior residents throughout the process will be prioritized, via targeted outreach, application assistance, physical flyers and surveys, etc. A community stipend will be considered to assist with transportation needs or childcare needs to facilitate equitable involvement in the community meetings. Government Involvement: Oakland County government is the prime applicant. We have engaged with City of Pontiac leaders as well as the County Commissioners whose districts are in Pontiac before submitting th is application. If awarded, we will continue our connection with the City of Pontiac staff who will be crucial stakeholders to this project, such as the planning and permitting team. We will engage further with each of the seven Pontiac City Council members if we are awarded funds. These partners will be key to successful community outreach and collaboration. Collaborative Governance Structure As the lead applicant, Oakland County is ultimately responsible for implementing, managing and overseeing all project activities associated with the Community Change Grant. The roles and responsibilities of the three entities are well-defined and supported by signed agreements. Those roles are summarized below. OLHSA’s investment in this project will be operational, as OLHSA will be partnering with Oakland County to provide assistance with deferral measures so that the dwelling can be ready for Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) services. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will in place so all partnering agencies will adhere to all client confidentiality and sensitive client information. Included in the plan of work will be a referral process to ensure that all parties adhere to the reciprocal guidelines and work together in the best interest of the client. All project partners will contribute to community engagement and communication processes. OLHSA will be responsible for administering Weatherization and for creating pipelines between WAP, Get Weatherization Ready, and Oakland SAVES. MI Saves will be responsible for hiring and supervising the Energy Coaches, creating and hosting the application website, and providing the network of qualified contractors. Oakland County will be responsible for program administration, communication development, feedback gathering, and program assessment. We will reach out to community members through various channels, as detailed above in Attachment E.2. Since the majority of the project is individual home retrofits, community members will have significant influence and input on the projects completed within their homes. An energy audit will be performed to assess the baseline status of the home, and to provide guidance to the homeowner. Energy Coaches will also be available to assist homeowners with developing a plan for their retrofits. There will not be a need to select community representatives to advocate for the community at large, since each household will be able to advocate for the needs of their own home. However, strategic outreach and community liaisons will be necessary to share this opportunity to a broad audience of community members and address any barriers to engagement. Decision Making Process: Operationally, the project will be guided by a Project Management Team that includes senior staff from the Oakland County Office of Sustainability and both collaborating entities (MI Saves and OLHSA). The Project Management Team, chaired by Oakland County, will meet monthly to review project progress, resolve any challenges, and plan for future activities. The monthly meetings are also the forum for transparent decision-making practices. By working collaboratively with the county’s network of community organizations in Pontiac, the project team will understand resident perceptions of housing services in the area, which will inform the project goals and focus points. The project team will be focused on building relationships and targeting outreach within disadvantaged neighborhoods of Pontiac. As the project continues, community engagement will shift more towards accountability, transparency, feedback gathering, and project updates. Individual project decisions will be made between the household residents andEnergy Coaches, under the guidance of energy audits performed as part of this program. Residents have direct decision-making power as part of this process. Replacing a collaborating entity if necessary: At the project management level, Oakland County and Michigan Saves are committed and are practically irreplaceable as the project has been configured. However, should an unforeseen and/or catastrophic circumstance cause one of the two collaborating entities to withdraw, Oakland County has a plan in place to proceed. I n the event OLHSA withdraws their participation from the project, the Get Weatherization Ready program will be absorbed into the Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency program. Households that are already in the Get Weatherization Ready Program will still receive critical home repairs, but instead of being directed to weatherization after repairs, they will go directly to the Oakland SAVES Energy Efficiency Program. If OLHSA withdraws before any households enter the Get Weatherization Ready Program, the project team will seek to fill this program with households from the City of Pontiac’s Home Repair Program waitlist. If Michigan Saves withdraws from the project, the project team will instead use the Oakland County Neighborhood and Housing Department’s list of approved contractors to conduct jobs. Oakland County will take on hiring the Energy Coaches in lieu of Michigan Saves. The project team will also need to develop an alternative applicant intake system, using Oakland County’s IT team and Sustainability website. Oakland County would work with OLHSA to determine what portions of Michigan Saves work could be absorbed by OLHSA to continue the project as planned. The likelihood of either collaborating entity withdrawing is very low, as both Michigan Saves and OLHSA are stable, established entities who have been operating in this community for decades. Neither collaborating entity can be replaced by a one to one substitution, as OLHSA is the only community action agency and only Department of Energy Weatherization sub -grantee in Oakland County, and Michigan Saves is Michigan’s only green bank, and has a robust network of qualified contractors and administrative capacity. Attachment F: Community Strength Plan Maximizing Economic Benefits of Projects The Oakland Saves program aims to improve the lives of Pontiac residents by improving the safety and energy efficiency of their home, removing barriers to access continued home improvement programming, and reducing the financial burden of paying for home upgrades completely out-of- pocket. Oakland County, Michigan Saves, and OLHSA recognize the value of locally owned contractor businesses as a beneficial economic impact of the program. The initial Oakland Saves program, which opened in January 2024, was open to residents from around the entire county. Through the program, 90 contractor businesses were employed with approximately 50% based within Oakland County. The program contracted seven women-owned small businesses, five minority-owned businesses, and two veteran-owned businesses. Oakland Saves reached over 1000 households, saving program participants in total approximately $3 million in lifetime utility bills. In the City of Pontiac alone, Oakland Saves reached 117 household, completing over $620,000 in home energy efficiency projects. Program participants received upgrades ranging from home weatherization to heat pumps, which helped to reduce burden on the homes and improve health over time alongside of the economic benefits to the homeowner. As described in the project narrative, funding from the Community Change Grant will support a three-pronged approach to improving health, wellness, and financial stability of Pontiac residents and the city’s housing stock . The programming will target one of Oakland County’s most climate vulnerable communities by reducing economic burdens from energy bills as well as improving residents’ health and wellness and increasing access to continued programming provided by OLHSA such as their home weatherization program. In total, the program is estimated to save residents 3,558,402 kWh in electricity usage and 1,098,153 Therms in natural gas usage for a total of $1,799,276 in lifetime utility bill savings. OLHSA’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) continues to significantly impact business opportunities by driving growth in the energy efficiency sector. Through WAP, OLHSA currently contracts with over 30 small businesses and independent contractors who se work focuses on improving the energy efficiency of homes. These local contractors include energy auditors, insulation installers, plumbers, roofers, mold remediation specialist, asbestos abatement workers, lead abatement workers, carpenters, electrician s and HVAC professionals. This opens up new markets for small businesses that might not have traditionally focused on energy efficiency, allowing them to diversify their offerings, hire additional staff and tap into a growing area of demand. The result is a broader scope for businesses to expand their operations and reach new customers seeking to lower their energy costs. Furthermore, WAP contractual partnerships have led to opportunities for public-private relationship building. Businesses then are prepared to collaborate with government agencies or other nonprofit organizations that administer energy savings programs, gaining access to contracts, grants, and financial incentives. These collaborations can also help businesses build their brand by aligning themselves with sustainability efforts, which is increasingly important to consumers. Companies can use their participation in OLHSA’s WAP as part of their green marketing strategy, enhancing their reputation and attracting environmentally conscious customers. As a federally funded program, OLHSA’s WAP intentionally seeks out opportunities to contract with a variety of groups to promote inclusivity, diversity, and economic equity. These groups include small businesses, particularly those owned by minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. OLHSA also places a strong emphasis on contracting with socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, as recognized by the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 8(a) Business Development Program. By engaging with these groups, OLHSA’s WAP aims to create opportunities for underrepresented and disadvantaged businesses, fostering broader participation in the federal contracting process and contributing to the overall economic health and diversity of the business community. OLHSA’s Weatherization Assistance Program opens up employment opportunities for disadvantaged populations by creating demand for skilled labor in sectors related to energy efficiency and building improvements. OLHSA’s WAP focuses its service delivery to low - income communities, where residents may face higher energy costs due to poorly insulated homes or outdated heating and cooling systems. As a result, there is a need for workers to perform energy audits, install insulation, upgrade HVAC systems, and carry out other weatherization related tasks. Many of these jobs do not require advanced degrees but rather focus on skills that can be learned through vocational training, making them accessible to individuals who might not have had access to higher education. This accessibility allows disadvantaged populations to enter the workforce in roles that offer stable employment, competitive wages, and the potential for career growth. OLHSA will rely on our pre-exiting relationship with Oakland County Michigan Works (our local workforce development board) to assist with recruiting candidates for OLHSA’s Program Coordinator II position. OLHSA will prioritize recruitment efforts (including job fairs, and hiring fairs) to low-income, Oakland County residents living in communities with a history of high poverty and are predominantly non-white. In Oakland County, these communities include Hazel Park, Pontiac, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Southfield, and Royal Oak. Additionally, OLHSA will seek out resources to address barriers to employment, to include childcare, transportation, housing, and physical/mental wellness. By designing these specific employment recruitment strategies, OLHSA’s WAP not only addresses immediate employment needs but creates a pathway out of poverty. Weatherizing a home has multiple benefits. In addition to the main goal of creating a more energy-efficient dwelling, an investment in weatherization also has a positive impact on local employment and energy costs and generates energy and non-energy benefits for the community. On average, dwellings that have been weatherized experience $283 average annual energy cost savings, 18% annual heating consumption savings and 7% annual electric consumption savings. For every $1.00 invested in weatherization, $1.72 is generated in energy benefits, and $2.78 in non-energy benefits. Displacement Avoidance Oakland Saves will aim to address both single-family owned homes and rental properties, maximizing economic and health benefits for residents of the city. However, offering energy efficient upgrades for rental properties raises the concern about property owners increasing rent and therefore increasing financial burden on renters. Oakland Saves will target this long-term risk by requiring that participating property owners must sign an agreement stating that they will not raise tenant rent by more than the rate of inflation for 24 months or evict a tenant after the installation of the energy improvements. This requirement will reduce long-term financial risk on the tenant. Finally, energy efficiency upgrades will set renters and homeowners up for continued financial support from OLHSA, who offer home improvement programs that require home evaluations before residents are granted approval for the program. Oakland Saves will ensure residents receive the home upgrades needed to participate in OLHSA’s programming in the future. OLHSA’s WAP can play a key role in mitigating the unintended impacts of EPA-funded investments, particularly when these investments lead to changes in housing affordability, environmental quality, and community dynamics. While EPA-funded projects often aim to improve environmental conditions, they can sometimes have unintended consequences, such as increasing property values and rents, which may inadvertently displace low -income residents. OLHSA’s WAP can help counteract this by making homes more energy-efficient, reducing utility costs, and allowing residents to remain in their homes despite potential increases in other living costs. By lowering energy bills, these programs enhance the financial stability of vulnerable households, helping them to better absorb any cost increases that might result from environmental improvements in their communities. Moreover, OLHSA’s WAP offers a client education component which traditionally includes education on potential household hazards such as carbon monoxide, mold and moisture, fire, indoor air pollutants, lead paint, and radon; demonstration of key functions of any new mechanical equipment or appliances; and discussion of the benefits of using energy -efficient products. OLHSA realizes that only focusing on these items may inadvertently overlook the immediate needs of the residents who have been historically underserved. Therefore, OLHSA’s WAP will adopt a more holistic approach which will include education to program participants (in the form of referrals, brochures, flyers, information packets, etc.) on tenant rights, discrimination, reasonable accommodations, harassment, lease interpretations, and free legal assistance through Legal Aid and Defender Association, Inc. Legal Aid and Defender Association provides free legal services to low and moderate income persons in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. This holistic approach ensures that the benefits of EPA investments are more equitably distributed, enhancing the overall well-being of the communities they are intended to help. Attachment G: Readiness Approach Government Approvals: Oakland County is required to submit grant application requests through the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for approval before applications can be submitted. The county will submit the application request for approval at the September 19 Board of Commissioners meeting. The approval of the initial request will additionally cover any post award approvals that are required. In addition to Board of Commissioner approval, all projects through Oakland County are required to obtain any local permits and receive inspections to ensure alignment with any state or community regulations. MI Saves authorized contractors will submit for any required permits through the Pontiac Building Safety Division. This includes permits for HVAC upgrades, electrical work, or any necessary outdoors alternations, such as roofing, siding, concrete work. These permits have not been obtained in advance, as the households receiving upgrades will be selected in the post- award community engagement process laid out in Attachment E. These permits are standard regulatory process for home retrofits; therefore, the project team does not anticipate any issues in relation to permitting. While the project team has deep experience complying with federal regulations, Davis-Bacon compliance is a new regulation for the project team, therefore we have allocated planning time within the first 60 days of our project to design program policies and procedures to ensure compliance. MI Saves recently updated its procurement policy to align with federal requirements. All installation contractors and other vendors will be hired in a manner consistent with federal procurement requirements. MI Saves is happy to provide a copy of its procurement policy upon request. It is our understanding that the Build America Buy America requirements do not apply to our project as the energy efficiency retrofits occur on private property and not public infrastructure. Since all projects are retrofits on existing residential buildings, everything is zoned appropriately and there is no concern over land use restrictions. Alignment with Existing Plans: This project aligns with several regional plans for the area. The Southeast Michigan Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP), covering Pontiac, was approved by the EPA in 2024. One regional priority of the PCAP is decarbonizing buildings and industry. The first goal within that priority is decarbonizing households with an 80% focus on households in equity and environmental justice zones. Pontiac is an equity and environmental justice focus area for the PCAP. This project also aligns with the Michigan Healthy Climate Plan (MIHCP) and specifically its goals to pursue environmental justice and to decarbonize homes and businesses. This project also aligns with the City of Pontiac Master Plan. The Master Plan outlines the following goals: work with banks, savings and loans, credit unions, other private lenders and non-profits to provide affordable home repair and improvements loans to low- and moderate- income residents; work with non-profits and other groups to help older residents maintain their homes as they age; and reduce Pontiac’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions in measurable ways. Site Control: Households that apply for the Oakland SAVES program grant permission for MI Saves contractors to enter their home and perform the agreed upon scope of work. A homeowner application and consent form will be signed by each household as a prerequisite for par ticipation in this program. Project work will be completed by authorized contractors with the appropriate training and experience to perform proper installations. Energy coaches will provide homeowner education on the importance of HVAC tune ups, regular maintenance, and best practices for using heat pump technology, if relevant. In most cases, project investments (i.e. insulation, air sealing, efficient windows and doors) will not require maintenance or operations. OLHSA’s Weatherization Program is a voluntary program for low -income homeowners and renters. Through OLHSA’s intake process, applicants indicate their desire and willingness to have energy efficient measure conducted on their home in an effort to reduce energy consumption. Within the intake packet, renter/landlords and homeowners are required to sign paperwork which contains their permission for Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) work to be conducted on the dwelling. This includes a release of all liability claims. OLHSA’s WAP will not be performing any building or construction activities. Operations and Maintenance: The project team will require all installation contractors to provide participants with written estimates and enter into written contracts with them. Contractors must provide the participant with a written warranty of labor and materials for a minimum of one year from the date of service. All installed equipment installed must carry the manufacturer’s warranty. All equipment installations and the work of all trades shall be performed in accordance with applicable codes; manufacturers’ written instructions and recommendations; industry best practices and standards; and federal, state, and local requirements. Examples of installation best practices include: • The Air Conditioning Contractors of America HVAC Quality Installation Specification (Standard Number ANSI/ACCA 5 QI-2015) • • The American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM E 2112 -07(2016)—Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior Windows, Doors, and Skylights • By requiring contractors to install equipment according to industry best practices and manufacturers recommendation, the participant will get the most energy savings out of the equipment’s useful life. Attachment H: Compliance Plan Oakland County adopted Fiscal Services Policies in 2008. The financial policies are guidelines for operational and strategic decision making related to budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting matters. They establish parameters within which the gover nment can operate, identify acceptable and unacceptable courses of action, provide a standard against which the government’s fiscal performance can be judged, offer guidance to new staff, and serve as an on- going context for management decisions Oakland County’s project partners, Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) and Michigan Saves, will have Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) with Oakland County for the contract work to be performed under this grant and agree to comply with the fed eral grant requirements and disclose all grant-related financial information. 2 CFR 200.302(b) Financial Management Oakland County utilizes Workday Financial Management software to manage state and federal grant awards, budgets, engineering services and construction contractor invoices, and payments. In Workday, every transaction is documented, creating electronic evidence that enables the county and its departments to proactively manage risk and monitor compliance. Workday provides real-time cash balances to allow for managing resources effectively and making better decisions about funding, paying, and collecting money. In addition, Workday offers a single settlement engine that processes payments across all transactions, including supplier payments, employee expense reimbursements, customer payments, and payroll. By having complete visibility into all inflows and outflows, Oakland County can forecast future cash flow requirements more accurately. Workday also complies with privacy regulations by maintaining a comprehensive, written information-security program that contains technical and organizational safeguards designed to prevent unauthorized access to and use or disclosure of customer data. Tracking: A work order will be created in Workday for the project to track the federal grant award. Information included in the system will reflect the Assistance Listings title and number, Federal award identification number, year awarded, and the Federal award agency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The creation of a work order allows all budgets, contracts, and payments to be linked to a single project and distinguish work from other Oakland County projects. The work order creates a unique identifying code for the project that is required for the processing of all grant related activities. Oakland County’s fiscal team has an established procedure requiring staff to put a digital stamp, complete with all grant tracking codes, on all invoices to ensure the invoices are paid from the appropriate account. The work order also provides Oakland County Fiscal Services and staff real-time tracking of financial data to provide accurate and transparent reporting to the EPA, project partners, and the public. This system has allowed Oakland County to provide accurate, on-time fiscal reporting to support grant activities for all of its state and federal grant awards. All grant authorizations for purchases are tracked through Workday. Purchase orders (PO’s) are created and entered into Workday upon approval to track all invoices and approvals associated with grant purchases. Purchases are not authorized without the creation and approval of a PO. This ensures grant funding is spent in accordance with the approved grant budget and scope. Oakland County will track staff time and travel as funds are appropriated in the project budget. As outlined in the other grant application attachments, Oakland County is partnering with OLHSA, our designated Community Based Organization, and Michigan Saves. This partnership will be supported by an executed MOU. Note, Oakland County and OLHSA have an executed MOU as part of the grant application. Michigan Saves has provided a Letter of Commitment (available upon request) acknowledging that Michigan Saves will enter into a MOU with Oakland County upon grant award. These MOUs will serve as the contract between Oakland County and the non-profit organizations. In addition, Oakland County will follow federal requirements to enter into contracts for community services and engagement as well as aid with program activities associated with Oakland Saves and OLHSA’s Home Weatherization Program. As previously mentioned, Oakland County’s fiscal team will set up multiple POs for the dedicated grant project contracts. This allows for Oakland County Fiscal Services to track through Workday the associated PO budgets, approved expenditures incurred, expenditures incurred pending approval for payment, and balance remaining for the associated project contract. This information, along with an understanding of the remaining scope of work, provides project staff with reliable cost estimating information to ensure the contract remains within budget. As identified in the submitted budget, Oakland County is not utilizing the federal funding to purchase any assets. The MOU’s will outline the tracking requirements for assets purchased by our nonprofit partners and contractors for equipment and software with federal funds. The MOUs ensure the partners will demonstrate that they are complying with the grant requirement for all project purchased assets from the grant funding to be classified with an identifier, such as an EPA account number or the EPA grant number. In addition, Oakland County will not be engaging in any activity that will result in income from fees for services performed, the use or rental of real or personal property acquired under federal awards, the sale of commodities or items fabricated under a federal award, license fees and royalties on patents and copyrights, and principal and interest on loans made with federal award funds. The grant funds received from this project will be placed in a cash fund and no appreciable interest will be earned pending disbursement. A grant drawdown for contractor payments will only occur after all necessary Oakland County approvals have been obtained and a payment disbursed. This ensures Oakland County is able to comply with the terms and conditions of the EPA award requiring recipients to disburse grant funds (payments to employees, contractors, subrecipients, or program participants) within five business days after funds for the grant have been drawn down. To ensure project partners receiving grant funding also adhere to all EPA grant terms and conditions addressing grant payments and the allowability, reasonableness, and allocability of costs, appropriate language demonstrating adherence will be included in the MOU. 2 CFR 200.303 Internal Controls Established Responsibilities: Workday allows for an approval hierarchy to be established for project administration. For this project, the following assignments will apply to ensure appropriate expenditures of grant funds: Project Owner: Assists Project Manager with overseeing daily grant activities and performs initial review of invoices for consistency with project scope andbudget. Project Hierarchy Manager: Oversees all aspects of the grant administration to ensure the County and Project partners are meeting grant requirements as defined in grant agreement, project scope, outcomes, and budget. Requisition Creator: Enters invoices into Workday Fiscal Project Hierarchy Manager: Fiscal Services assigns an accounting supervisor to manage the review and approval of financial activities Project Administrator: Fiscal Services, serves as the final approval for any expenditures of grant funds. Approval for expenditures has a streamlined process allowing multiple reviews and approvals prior to distributing grant funds. The project coordinator reviews the invoice in accordance with the tasks performed and the proposal budget. The invoice is coded with a digital stamp (refer to Figure 1) to allow for proper financial tracking. The invoice is then reviewed by the Project Manager overseeing the project. The Project Manager verifies that the invoice and budget is appropriate. If acceptable, the invoice is submitted to Oakland County Fiscal Services and the Requisition Creator enters the invoice into Workday. The Requisition Requestor verifies the invoice has been entered correctly, has received appropriate project staff approvals, and funds are still available within the vendor approved budget. Once the Requisition Requestor has verified the requisition is appropriate, a notification is sent to the Fiscal team through Workday. Oakland County Fiscal Services reviews the payment request. Once approved, it is sent for final review to the Project Administrator. Approval from the Project Administrator is required before any grant fund payments are issued. It is important to note that Workday provides access restrictions to prevent unauthorized staff from issuing approvals outside of their assigned role. This safeguard ensures grant funding expenditures follow Oakland County established procedures and prevents fraud or misuse of public dollars. Policies and Procedures: Oakland County implemented a Grant Reference Manual (available upon request). This manual serves as a guide to assist Oakland County departments and project managers in accessing and referencing the County's grant policies and procedures. All grant awards accepted by Oakland County are subject to financial and program audits by grantor agencies that outlines the directives that must be followed when applying for grants and complying with state and federal grants upon award. Plante Moran performs Oakland County’s annual audit. As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the County’s financial statements are free from material misstatement, Plante Moran perform tests of Oakland County’s compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the financial statements. The results of the tests disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards. 2 CFR 200.332 Requirements for Pass-Through Entities Oakland County has established Subrecipient Monitoring Procedures (available upon request) to comply with federal and state regulations, in addition to, the contractual requirements applicable to those grants. The purpose of these procedures is to ensure all county departments are performing an adequate level of subrecipient monitoring. To avoid a duplication of efforts, Fiscal Services will only require that Oakland County, who is monitoring subrecipients based on their granting agency’s guidelines, send documentation to Fiscal Services to keep on file. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all grants passed through Oakland County are monitored in accordance with the Uniform Grant Guidance. All county departments who administer grants involving payments to or make purchases on behalf of subrecipients will p erform monitoring to make sure that the objectives of the programs are being met, to verify that subrecipients adhere to all the terms of the contract and comply with applicable laws and regulations. Fiscal Services will track the progress of the departments who perform their own subrecipient monitoring and will offer assistance to departments that lack support or experience with risk assessments and monitoring. A secondary goal is to have departments perform the required monitoring in the most efficient manner by finding ways to leverage the information collected and consolidate or reduce any duplication. Subrecipient Agreement: If a subrecipient relationship is determined, Oakland County will work with Corporation Counsel to draft a subrecipient agreement which must include the following information (when available): • Subrecipient’s DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number. • Federal award identification number (FAIN) • Federal award date. • Subrecipient agreement period of performance, start and end date. • Amount of federal funds obligated by this action. • Total amount of federal funds obligated to the subrecipient (Note: this would only be different from the federal funds obligated if an amendment was issued by the county). • Total amount of the federal award. • Federal award project description for FFATA (Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act) purposes. • Name of federal awarding agency, pass-through entity (Oakland County), and contact information for awarding official. • CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) number and name. The dollar amount made available under each Federal award. • Identification of whether the award is for research and development. Indirect cost rate (Federal approved rate or de minimums rate). • A requirement that the subrecipient permit Oakland County staff and auditors to have access to the subrecipient's records and financial statements. • Appropriate terms and conditions concerning the closeout of the subrecipient agreement. GRANT REVIEW SIGN-OFF – Environmental Sustainability GRANT NAME: FY 2024-2025 Community Change-Environment Protection Agency Grant APP00179 FUNDING AGENCY: United States Environmental Protection Agency DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Erin Quetell 248-600-9001 STATUS: Application (Greater than $50,000) DATE: 09/09/2024 Please be advised that the captioned grant materials have completed the internal grant review. Below are the returned comments. The Board of Commissioners’ liaison committee resolution and grant application package (which should include this sign- off and the grant application with related documentation) should be downloaded into Civic Clerk to be placed on the next agenda(s) of the appropriate Board of Commissioners’ committee(s) for grant acceptance by Board resolution. DEPARTMENT REVIEW Management and Budget: Approved – Shannon Lee (09/06/2024) Approved – Sheryl Johnson (09/09/2024) Human Resources: Approved by Human Resources. No position impact. – Heather Mason (09/04/2024) Risk Management: Approved. No County insurance requirements. – Robert Erlenbeck (09/04/2024) Corporation Counsel: Approved. CC conducted a legal review of the provided docs. CC recommended renaming the two Attachment B docs as "Attachment B 1 and Attachment B 2 " and inserting references to these attachments in the proper locations of the narrative prior to submitting the application. JLB agreed and will make these minor changes before submitting. – Heather Lewis (09/05/2024)