Financial Assistance Opportunities — Grants and Loans

The State of Minnesota is switching to an enterprise account and procurement system called SWIFT. This new system will change the way the MPCA and other state agencies work with vendors and issue RFPs, grants and other financial assistance programs.

Switching to this new system will create efficiencies for vendors as well as the state. For example, these efficiencies will reduce long term operating costs for the MPCA and the state and should help speed up the contracting process. Vendors for the MPCA will also have better access to all state agencies in one system, making it easier for them to be notified of potential funding opportunities. In addition, they will have immediate and direct access to all RFP and contract documents as well as their vendor account. Also, by going largely electronic, the reduction in paper will save money, space and trees.

Every company and organization doing business with the state is considered a vendor. All vendors will be required to be registered in the Supplier Portal in SWIFT in order to view and respond to RFPs, sign contracts, and manage payments or invoices. To register as a vendor, locate your user ID, or update your vendor information simply go to the Supplier Portal webpage (http://supplier.swift.state.mn.us) and click on the Vendor Registration Link.

Once you have completed registration, you will be assigned a user ID and password. Note that this can take up to four days. Keep your new State of Minnesota vendor number, user ID and password in a secure place where you can find it easily. You will need this information to access the Supplier Portal.

For more information visit the Vendor Registration & Payment Questions webpage on the Minnesota Management and Budget website. If you are having troubles use the Vendor Contacts webpage for information on who to call. Detailed steps are also laid out in a letter from SWIFT.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has various opportunities available for receiving grants and other financial assistance for environmental projects in Minnesota. Listed below are the financial resources available.

RFP: Costs and Benefits Analysis of School Waste Management Programs

For more details, visit the Helping schools reduce pollution page.

Green Chemistry and Design Demonstration Project Grant

This grant opportunity is to develop a new or redesigned product which reduces life-cycle environmental and energy use impact compared to products previously serving the same purpose. Information regarding this grant is available on the Green Chemistry Web page.  Note: Applications are closed.

Purpose

The MPCA’s primary purpose in this project is to generate new or redesigned products that incorporate green chemistry and design, and case studies in the partnerships, resources and expertise necessary to develop those products.  These green chemistry and design products will produce measurable life-cycle environmental and energy use impact reductions in such areas as direct and indirect (upstream or downstream in the supply chain) chemicals of concern replaced, production waste avoided or energy consumption reduced.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — Stimulus Funding Opportunities

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has provided stimulus funding to help with Minnesota's environment. See the Stimulus Funding Opportunities page for a complete listing.

Clean Water Partnership and Section 319 Programs: Financial Assistance for Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Projects

Financial and technical assistance to local government and other water resource managers to address nonpoint-source water pollution.

• Budgeting and Reporting

Clean Up

Brownfields

MPCA offers financial assistance that can help parties with the upfront cost of investigating the presence and extent of contamination at brownfield sites. The assistance includes: 1) the MPCA’s Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TBA) grant program, and 2) site assessment assistance that is available specifically for old dumpsites. The MPCA gives preference to applications for financial assistance where the brownfield site will become a park, recreational area, nature preserve, or other type of green space.

Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS or Septic Tanks)

Information about various financial assistance programs available for both homeowners and municipalities.

Environmental Assistance

Solid Waste Processing Facilities Capital Assistance Program (CAP) Grant

As part of its process in identifying the need for financial assistance in the development of integrated solid waste management infrastructures, the MPCA always invites expressions of interest. The Solid Waste Processing Facilities Capital Assistance Program (CAP) provides financial and technical assistance to local governments to encourage the proper management of solid waste. CAP has provided over $62 million to assist more than 90 projects in Minnesota since 1985.

If you are anticipating capital expenditures for solid waste management systems (new/upgrade/expansion), please express your interest in CAP funding by contacting Mary Baker by e-mail at mary.baker@state.mn.us, or phone at 651-757-2208 at any time and providing the following information:

The objective of the CAP program is to recover materials and energy from waste and to minimize land disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) through solid waste processing and resource recovery. Eligible applicants are Minnesota cities, counties, solid waste management districts, and sanitary districts. Eligible projects are facilities that include resource recovery.

Depending on the project type, a project may receive funding of 25 to 50 percent of the eligible capital cost, up to a maximum of $2 million. Multi-county projects with an inter-county cooperative agreement may receive 25 to 50 percent of the eligible capital costs, or up to $2 million times the number of participating counties, whichever is less. A project to construct a new mixed municipal solid waste transfer station to serve an existing resource recovery facility may receive grant assistance up to 75 percent of the capital costs of the project.

Availability of CAP funding is subject to the appropriation of bond funding by the State Legislature.

Environmental Assistance Loan Program

The Environmental Assistance Loan Program is a revolving fund program whereby additional financial assistance is made available as past recipients repay their loans. The eligibility, priority focus, and application documents are updated/revised every two years. If at any time the latest documents are not available, you may refer to the posted documents as informational and/or contact Mary Baker: 651-757-2208 or 1-800-657-3864.

Environmental Assistance Grant Program

The Environmental Assistance (EA) Grant Program provides financial assistance for the development of environmentally sustainable practices in Minnesota through voluntary partnerships and outcome-oriented, economically driven approaches to pollution prevention, waste reduction, toxicity reduction, water quality protection, and resource conservation.  The application period for this program is normally held on an annual basis. If at any time the latest documents are not available, you may refer to the posted documents as informational and/or, contact Mary Baker: 651-757-2208 or 1-800-657-3864 for program assistance or for more information on time-sensitive requests.

Small Business

Small Business Environmental Loan Program

This program provides low-interest loans to small businesses to finance environmental projects such as capital equipment upgrades that meet or exceed environmental regulations, and costs associated with the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites. These loans help small businesses help themselves with environmental projects. Through the program, small businesses are able to achieve successes with their environmental projects and goals, while at the same time helping to preserve Minnesota's air, land, lakes and quality of life. For assistance or more information, contact Mike Nelson, 651-757-2122 or 651-757-2121 or michael.nelson@state.mn.us.

Sustainability

None at this time.

Waste Reduction

None at this time.

Water-related Financial Assistance

State of Minnesota Request for Proposal (RFP) Beneficial Use Ethanol Set-aside Grant

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is soliciting direct Proposals from eligible political subdivisions for Beneficial Use Demonstration Projects that pre-design, design, and construct capital improvements to stormwater and wastewater facilities and appurtenances, where such improvements result in the beneficial use of stormwater or wastewater effluent in the production of ethanol.

With this RFP, the MPCA is making available Grants of up to $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) to political subdivisions eligible for set-aside Grant assistance for the pre-design, design and construction of ethanol beneficial use Projects. Grant assistance shall be for up to 50% (fifty percent) of total eligible Project costs and shall be matched by funds provided by the political subdivision receiving a Grant in an amount of not less than 50% (fifty percent) of total eligible Project costs. Matching funds provided by the political subdivision may include eligible in-kind services by the Grantee or its cooperating Ethanol Producer according to conditions set forth herein.

How to Request the RFP

Responders must supply an email address to receive the RFP document electronically. The subject line of the email request should state “Ethanol Set-Aside Beneficial Use, CR6270” and be sent to: contracts.pca@state.mn.us.

Due Date and Time

November 27, 2012, 2:30 p.m.

How to Apply

Proposals must be submitted electronically, via email, with Subject Line “Ethanol Set-Aside Beneficial Use, CR6270” to: contracts.pca@state.mn.us.

Contact

Daniel McLean
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Operational Support Division
520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155
Phone: 651-757-2563
contracts.pca@state.mn.us

Grant Contract Period

The anticipated start date is December 17, 2012, or from the date of Contract execution (whichever is later) to June 30, 2014.

Questions

Responders must submit questions they would like to have addressed in writing. Questions may be e-mailed to contracts.pca@state.mn.us any time before 2:30 p.m. on November 13, 2012. Questions received after this date will be answered at the MPCA’s discretion. All questions and responses will be forwarded to those who requested the RFP by November 20, 2012. State personnel other than MPCA contact Daniel McLean are not authorized to discuss this RFP with Proposers before the proposal submission deadline. Contact with others regarding this RFP could result in disqualification.

If necessary, after submission of proposals, but before selection decisions are made, MPCA personnel may have limited communication with Proposers for the purpose of clarifying certain aspects of the application relating to eligibility factors, for partial funding purposes, or to resolve minor or clerical errors. Such communications shall not be used to address and/or correct proposal deficiencies or material omissions, materially alter the application or Project proposed, or discuss changes to the Proposers’ responses to any evaluation or selection criteria.

Minnesota Watershed Project Funding System

Provides funding for water protection and restoration projects around the state.

Clean Water Revolving Fund

Known as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund or simply SRF, the Fund is established under the Federal Clean Water Act and state law to make loans to for both point source (wastewater and stormwater) and nonpoint source water pollution control projects.

• Point Source Financial Assistance
• Non-Point Source Financial Assistance

Phosphorous Reduction Grants

Phosphorus Reduction Grants program to assist municipalities with the costs of wastewater treatment projects, or portion thereof, that will reduce the discharge of total phosphorus from the facility to one milligram per liter or less.

Surface Water Assessment Grants

Surface Water Assessment Grants, supported by Clean Water Funding, provide funding to local groups interesting in monitoring the water quality of lakes and/or streams. Data from these monitoring projects are combined with data from other MPCA-supported monitoring activities and used to determine if lakes and streams are support water recreation, safe drinking water, and healthy ecosystems.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Grants

TMDL grant program assist municipalities with the cost of publicly owned wastewater or stormwater projects needed to meet wasteload reductions under a TMDL study prepared and approved in accordance with the federal Clean Water Act.

Wastewater and Stormwater

State loan and grant programs to help municipalities finance wastewater and stormwater construction projects.