Category : Newsletter Articles

PRESS RELEASE

Press Contact: Belinda Jones, HiTech Marketing llc, Tel: 860-399-1147, belinda.jones@hitechmarketing.com
Marketing Contact: Bridget Benedetti, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Tel: 401-886-2112, Bridget.Benedetti@hexagon.com
Link to press release: https://www.hexagonmi.com/en-US/about-us/news/media-releases/2019/november-2019/hexagon-and-university-of-rhode-island-form-collaborative-partnership-for-advanced-manufacturing

Hexagon and University of Rhode Island form collaborative partnership for advanced manufacturing

New generation of URI engineering students will be prepared for data-powered Smart Manufacturing 

North Kingstown, RI – November 13, 2019 – Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division announced today it has formed a collaborative partnership with the University of Rhode Island, College of Engineering. Hexagon will provide manufacturing technologies to enable a rich research environment for undergraduate and graduate programs focused on advanced manufacturing. In October, URI opened its new 190,000-square-foot, six-story Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering. The new facility will strengthen the College’s global leadership in engineering education. The work conducted there will build on research in the areas of clean energy, nanotechnology, robotics, cybersecurity, water for the world, biomedical technology, smart cities and sensors and instrumentation. Hexagon, a multinational company with the North American headquarters of its Manufacturing Intelligence division in Rhode Island, has supported engineering students with an internship program and study abroad assistance.

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division is a long-time supporter of URI’s International Engineering Program that combines engineering, foreign language and study abroad to prepare students for 21st century careers. Many of the company’s employees are URI graduates. Taking the partnership to a new level, Hexagon will provide the facility with state-of-the-industry metrology systems, applications software for both measurement and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), as well as sophisticated simulation software tools for design engineering. Hexagon’s diverse portfolio of hardware and software makes factories smarter, and helps manufacturers drive Smart Factory initiatives forward.

“The University is grateful for Hexagon’s continuing investment in our engineering programs. Its support is recognition of the strength of our faculty, their areas of research and the importance of educating and training the next generation of scientists and engineers,” said URI President David M. Dooley.

“Early on, Hexagon recognized that URI’s International Engineering Program was an important local asset for building our workforce with graduates with technical knowledge and the skills needed to delve into the international business arena,” said Angus Taylor, President and CEO, Manufacturing Intelligence, North America. “The State’s support and investment in the Fascitelli Center project underlines their commitment to the students and workforce that will drive Rhode Island’s future. We are a willing participant in their mission to shape engineering education and the world through innovation, invention and passion. We are proud that our technology portfolio and Hexagon experts across the global spectrum will support the University’s research and development efforts

About Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence Division

Hexagon is a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, and quality across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, safety, and mobility applications.

Our technologies are shaping urban and production ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous – ensuring a scalable, sustainable future.

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division provides solutions that utilize data from design and engineering, production and metrology to make manufacturing smarter. For more information, visit hexagonmi.com.

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 20,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 3.8bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.

11/06/19

No. 257 – Time to Wake Up: Colorado.  Watch it here. 

10/30/19

Time to Wake Up: Marathon Petroleum.  Watch it here

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse questioned Sean O’Donnell, nominee to be Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency, during the Senate EPW Committee nominations hearing.

10/29/19

Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Brian Schatz (D-HI) led a hearing of Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis entitled, “Dark Money and Barriers to Climate Action.” Watch it here.   

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was a witness in the House Oversight & Reform Environment Subcommittee Hearing: Trump’s Wrong Turn on Clean Cars: The Effects of Fuel Efficiency Rollbacks on the Climate, Car Companies, and California.

Funding And Other Opportunities

Please let us know if your RI-based entity submits an application for a federal grant.  If you send us a narrative/summary with grant details, we can submit letters of support. We will continue to send FYIs about grant opportunities as we see them.

Department of Energy  

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy funding opportunities here. 

The DOE announced a $12 million funding opportunity for new projects to support research and development (R&D) and education and workforce development that will enable U.S. manufacturers to increase the recovery, recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing of plastics and other materials.  DOE’s Reducing EMbodied Energy and Decreasing Emissions (REMADE) Manufacturing Institute will fund approximately 12 to 18 exploratory and full R&D projects aligned with REMADE’s research focus areas, as well as four to eight education and workforce development projects.  Details here.  A letter of intent is due on Thursday, November 14, 2019, and full proposals are due on Wednesday, December 18, 2019.

The FY 2020 DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 2 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) have been issued and are available on the website: https://science.osti.gov/sbir/Funding-Opportunities.  The link includes information about upcoming webinars.

Environmental Protection Agency

Brownfields Grants

EPA released a Request for Applications – FY 2020 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grant Guidelines. The deadline to submit an application is December 3, 2019 at 11:59 PM. 

Availability of EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation for Methylene Chloride and Notice of its Public Peer Review Meetings 

EPA has submitted this evaluation for peer review through its Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC).  The 2-day peer review in-person meeting is scheduled for December 3-4, 2019.  You can find more information and register for the meeting here.  Comments on the draft risk evaluation are due on December 30, 2019.  However, if you would like for your comments to be considered by SACC in time for the meeting, please plan on submitting them by November 26, 2019.

Read the draft risk evaluation and other supporting documents here and submit comments here.

Environmental Education Grant Program

EPA announced the availability of up to $3 million in funding for locally-focused environmental education projects under the 2020 Environmental Education Grant Program. EPA will award three to four grants in each of the agency’s 10 regions. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 6, 2020, electronically through www.grants.gov by following the instructions in the RFA.  The full list of solicitation notices is available at www.grants.gov and at https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-ee-grant-solicitation-notice.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

On October 4, 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) published a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise regulations implementing sections 201 and 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. The agency states that the regulations implementing the Act have not been updated since the time of its enactment, and therefore do not take into consideration changes in the energy industry as it has grown and modernized. The proposed rule grants the sates various flexibilities with respect to energy rates, modifies electric utilities’ obligation to purchase from qualified facilities, and modifies the “one-mile rule” in addition to various other proposed changes. The Commission has stated that the proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Written comments are due by December 3, 2019.

FEMA

Public Assistance Guide

FEMA Seeks Comment for Public Assistance Guide.  The fourth edition of the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide is scheduled for publication in January 2020.  FEMA is releasing the updated draft version for a 45-day public comment period. The draft guide and accompanying comments matrix is located on the FEMA website. FEMA will accept public comments submitted through Nov. 18.

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

The application period for FEMA’s Fiscal Year 2019 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants under the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) programs is now open. Eligible applicants must apply for funding through the FEMA Mitigation eGrants system on the FEMA Grants Portal. All applications must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on January 31, 2020.

For FY19, a total of $410 million in funding is available through HMA’s two competitive grant programs, FMA and PDM.

• For the FMA program, FEMA’s predetermined funding priorities include flood mitigation planning and efforts for repetitive as well as severe repetitive loss properties. In this application cycle, $160 million in funds are available. View the FY19 FMA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and Fact Sheet for more information: www.fema.gov/flood-mitigation-assistance-grant-program.
• The PDM program is designed to implement a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program with the goal of reducing overall risk to the population and structures from future hazard events. For FY19, FEMA has set aside $20 million of the $250 million in PDM funding for federally-recognized tribes. View the FY19 PDM NOFO and Fact Sheet for more information: www.fema.gov/pre-disaster-mitigation-grant-program.

FEMA’s two competitive mitigation grant programs provide states, tribes, and territories funding for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future disaster damages.

The Fiscal Year 2019 hazard mitigation funding cycle represents a critical transition year for pre-disaster mitigation grants. One of the most substantive provisions of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 is Section 1234, which authorizes FEMA to develop a new pre-disaster mitigation program that is funded by a 6 percent set-aside from federal disaster assistance for each major disaster declaration. This new program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), will allow FEMA to support states and communities to undertake new and innovative infrastructure projects that reduce the risks they face from disasters. FEMA is already using the BRIC funding mechanism to advance its objective of increasing the nation’s resilience by making $250 million available for the FY19 PDM Program.

Federal Transit Administration

FTA announced a $19.2 million Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) program funding opportunity. The application period will close on November 18, 2019.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Find out about NFWF funding opportunities.

NOAA

All funding opportunities here.  

Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan.  Read the proposed rule  as published in the Federal Register, and submit your comments through the online portal.  You may also submit comments through regular mail to: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Please mark the outside of the envelope, “Comments on the Proposed Rule for Herring Amendment 8.”  Comments are due by November 25, 2019.

Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Projects

NOAA announced the availability of up to $4 million in Community-based Restoration Program funding for new coastal and marine habitat restoration projects in 2020. We are seeking proposals from non-federal partners for projects that will help recover threatened and endangered species and promote sustainable fisheries.

This funding opportunity requires a pre-proposal. The pre-proposals will help determine if proposed projects are well-suited for this specific funding competition and if a full proposal is warranted. Pre-proposals are due January 8, 2020. Applicants who are successful in the pre-proposal process will be eligible to submit full proposals, with a deadline in April 2020.  NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal funding request of less than $75,000 or more than $3 million over a three-year award period. For more information, view the Fiscal Year 2020 Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants funding opportunity.

CZM Projects of Special Merit Competition – FY2020

Details here.  Closing date for applications is January 15, 2020. 

Sea Grant

Funding opportunities here. 

USDA

USDA released the FY 2020 Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications.  Complete applications must be submitted on www.Grants.gov, by 11:59pm ET on December 13, 2019.

NRCS – RCPP

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the launch of the updated Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Potential partners are encouraged to submit proposals that will improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.

USDA is accepting proposals for RCPP through Dec. 3, 2019. For more information on applying, visit the RCPP webpage or view the Application for Program funding on grants.gov.  Rhode Island partners may contact Brunilda Velez at 401-822-8820 or brunilda.velez@usda.gov with questions.

NRCS-Conservation Practice Standards

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comments on 13 conservation practice standards. Per direction from the 2018 Farm Bill, NRCS will gather feedback on 94 practices over the coming months through posting on the Federal Register. Comments on these current 13 practice standards are due by Friday, November 22.

Originally published on https://pbn.com/langevin-bill-would-fund-temporary-retention-of-retiring-manufacturing-employees-to-train-others/

PROVIDENCE – Rep. James R. Langevin, D-R.I., introduced a bill to encourage companies to keep retiring employees long enough to train the workers that will replace them.

The Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Act is a companion to legislation introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

“Rhode Island’s manufacturing workforce is aging, and as retirements increase, there are plenty of good, high-paying jobs available. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough younger workers with the skills needed to succeed in these positions,” said Langevin in a statement. “I applaud Sen. Whitehouse for taking the lead on this issue in the Senate.”

The Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Act would establish a pilot program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology allowing regional Manufacturing Extension Partnerships to offer workforce-training grants to local manufacturers.

The MEPs could then award funds to small manufacturers, allowing them to keep departing employees for up to 90 days to train others on how to do their jobs. The bill would authorize up to $10 million for the pilot program.

The initiative is supported by Christian Cowan, center director, Polaris MEP. He said the measure “provides new tools to address the skills gap.”

Dave Chenevert, president of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, calls the measure critical. “[RIMA] recently surveyed our members, and 35% to 90% of the employees of the responding companies are 55-plus of age,” he said.

Published originally at https://pbn.com/mckee-launches-volunteer-economic-ambassadors-program

PROVIDENCE – Lt. Gov.
Daniel J. McKee announced the launch of the International Economic Ambassadors
Initiative Tuesday. The program will recruit volunteer Rhode Islanders who
frequently travel outside of the country, grant them honorary ambassador
designations and provide them with professional marketing materials for the
state. The goal is to attract investments and economic opportunity in Rhode
Island.

Participants will be accepted to the program via an application
process. They will conduct business on their personal time and will not be
reimbursed by the state. If an ambassador finds a lead, they are asked to
report this back to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office so the state may follow up
with an appropriate economic-development agency.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Office said it does not know of
another similar program in the country.

“Rhode Island’s diversity has always been our strength. The International Economic Ambassadors Initiative gives us a new way to engage Rhode Islanders who have international ties to promote our state’s economic potential,” McKee said in a statement. “My team’s job is to equip ambassadors with the information, materials and authority to highlight Rhode Island in a positive and meaningful way. The ambassador’s job is to deliver that message to people who we, as a state, may otherwise never have reached.” The initiative was designed with the support of individuals from the Associated German Societies of New England, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Japan American Society, Museum of Work and Culture, R.I. Commerce Corp., Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative, Tai-O Group and the U.S. Department of Commerce in Providence.

Published originally by nam.org

The manufacturing industry, along with many others, will need a whole host of workers to handle new technologies in the 20th century . . . but those workers are in short supply. One option is to “reskill” existing workers, including older workers who have spent years or decades on outdated systems.

The Wall Street Journal (subscription) takes a look at the reskilling program of TSYS, a credit card payment processor, which sought to train its aging workforce to use cloud services. More:

• “To retrain its more than 4,500-strong tech staff, or 35% of employees, TSYS had many of them take dozens of hours of online courses. Many also have gone through an immersive two-week digital boot camp, where they use the online training to create a new product or feature.”

The company did have trouble recruiting workers for this shift:

• “Early on in the process, though, enthusiasm for training wasn’t as easy to muster with some of his cohorts. TSYS leaders said they expected hundreds of workers to sign up for one of the first digital boot camps; fewer than 50 applied.”
• “Many veteran employees feared that if they struggled with the training, they’d end up with no job, or a pay cut if they were moved into an entry-level cloud-computing position, company officials said.”

Manufacturers use reskilling as one way to keep older employees productive, and there are many ways to make that transition smoother. Refer to The Manufacturing Institute’s study with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for more recommendations.

OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN
JIM LANGEVIN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 28, 2019

CONTACT:
Stuart Malec: (401) 486-600

Langevin Leads Legislation To Strengthen Rhode Island Manufacturing Workforce

Bill would establish a new pilot program to help companies train the next generation of manufacturing workers

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today introduced the Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Act, a bill that would encourage businesses to retain retiring employees long enough to train the workers taking their place. Langevin’s bill is a House companion to legislation introduced by Senator Whitehouse that addresses a critical workforce development issue that Rhode Island manufacturers have long struggled to solve.

“Rhode Island’s manufacturing workforce is aging, and as retirements increase, there are plenty of good, high-paying jobs available. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough younger workers with the skills needed to succeed in these positions,” said Congressman Langevin, who co-chairs the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. “The Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Act helps manufacturers keep their retiring employees on staff to assist replacement workers who require hands-on training and guidance. I applaud Senator Whitehouse for taking the lead on this issue in the Senate, and I look forward to working together to advance this important legislation that will support manufacturing in Rhode Island and across the country.”

The Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Act would establish a pilot program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow regional Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) to offer workforce training grants to local manufacturers. MEP Centers would award funds to small manufacturing businesses to allow them to retain departing employees for up to 90 days for the purposes of training new or promoted employees on the unique functions of their jobs. The bill would authorize up to $10 million to be used for the pilot program.

“Manufacturing companies have identified skilled workforce development as one of their top priorities for growing their business,” said Christian Cowan, Center Director for Polaris MEP, Rhode Island’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership center. “We are pleased to support the Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Act, which provides new tools to address the skills gap associated with aging workforce in small and medium sized manufacturing companies.”

“The Rhode Island Manufacturers Association recently surveyed our members, and 35-90% of the employees of the responding companies are 55+ of age,” said Dave Chenevert, President of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association (RIMA). “It is critical that the Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Act be passed so that the knowledge and experience of our aging workforce can be passed to the next generation of manufacturers.”

Text of the legislation.

10/17/19

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse voted in support of a Senate resolution expressing disapproval of the Trump administration’s repeal of the Clean Power Plan.

9/26/19
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse sent a letter asking the USDA to help the state track, prevent, and respond to EEE.

9/25/19
The Government Accountability Office released a report that shows the federal government could be doing more to confront the global marine debris crisis affecting American coastal communities and businesses.

Senate Committees approved the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act. 

The Senator Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed Senator Whitehouse’s Clean Industrial Technology Act (CITA).  CITA would support research to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial sources, and help make American companies more competitive in the global economy.

Time To Wake Up: China.  Watch it here.

9/21/19
Senator Whitehouse urged the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase federal assistance for Rhode Island to help contain and combat EEE. 

9/16/19
July was the hottest month ever recorded, according to NOAA.  So it’s Time To Wake Up: We Did Start The Fire.  Watch it here. 

9/12/19
Listen to and watch Senator Whitehouse’s remarks in the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis.

Senator Whitehouse questions Aurelia Skipwith, nominee to be Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

8/27/19
Senators Sheldon Whitehouse joined his colleagues in submitting comments to the White House Council on Environmental Quality regarding its proposed guidance on consideration of greenhouse gas emissions under the National Environmental Policy Act.

A recap of a trip to Wyoming.  Time To Wake Up: Wyoming.  Watch it here.

Funding And Other Opportunities

Please let us know if your RI-based entity submits an application for a federal grant.  If you send us a narrative/summary with grant details, we can submit letters of support. We will continue to send FYIs about grant opportunities as we see them.

Department of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Find funding opportunities here. 

Environmental Protection Agency

Toxics Release Inventory

EPA published the preliminary Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data about chemical releases, waste management and pollution prevention activities that took place during 2018 at more than 20,000 federal and industrial facilities across the country.  The 2018 TRI Preliminary Dataset is now available online at https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program/2018-tri-preliminary-dataset.

Brownfields Grants

EPA released a Request for Applications – FY 2020 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grant Guidelines. The deadline to submit an application is December 3, 2019 at 11:59 PM.  EPA New England will offer sessions in each of the six New England States to assist potential applicants of FY2020 Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants in writing their proposals.  The RI session will be held on Monday, October 28, 2019 at the RI Department of Environmental Management, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI.  The session will run from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.  At the session, EPA New England Brownfields Staff will provide key points for writing a competitive application and answer any questions you may have for preparing your grant application.  There will be two separate breakout sessions, one for the Assessment Guidelines and one for the Cleanup Guidelines.  For potential Revolving Loan Fund applicants, EPA New England is  planning an informational webinar – details to follow.  If you are interested in applying for more than one type of grant, EPA New England staff suggests that you have two people attend.  To register for one of these events, go to the Registration Page.  Due to space limitations, registration will be on a first come first served basis.

School Bus Rebates: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA)

EPA announced the availability of approximately $10 million in rebates to public school bus fleet owners to help them replace older school buses.  EPA will accept applications from Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, to Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019.

To learn more about the rebate program, applicant eligibility, selection process and informational webinar dates, visit: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-rebates.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

On October 4, 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) published a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise regulations implementing sections 201 and 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. The agency states that the regulations implementing the Act have not been updated since the time of its enactment, and therefore do not take into consideration changes in the energy industry as it has grown and modernized. The proposed rule grants the sates various flexibilities with respect to energy rates, modifies electric utilities’ obligation to purchase from qualified facilities, and modifies the “one-mile rule” in addition to various other proposed changes. The Commission has stated that the proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Written comments are due by December 3, 2019.

FEMA

Public Assistance Guide

FEMA Seeks Comment for Public Assistance Guide.  The fourth edition of the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide is scheduled for publication in January 2020.  FEMA is releasing the updated draft version for a 45-day public comment period. The draft guide and accompanying comments matrix is located on the FEMA website. FEMA will accept public comments submitted through Nov. 18.

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

The application period for FEMA’s Fiscal Year 2019 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants under the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) programs is now open. Eligible applicants must apply for funding through the FEMA Mitigation eGrants system on the FEMA Grants Portal. All applications must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on January 31, 2020.

For FY19, a total of $410 million in funding is available through HMA’s two competitive grant programs, FMA and PDM.

• For the FMA program, FEMA’s predetermined funding priorities include flood mitigation planning and efforts for repetitive as well as severe repetitive loss properties. In this application cycle, $160 million in funds are available. View the FY19 FMA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and Fact Sheet for more information: www.fema.gov/flood-mitigation-assistance-grant-program.
• The PDM program is designed to implement a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program with the goal of reducing overall risk to the population and structures from future hazard events. For FY19, FEMA has set aside $20 million of the $250 million in PDM funding for federally-recognized tribes. View the FY19 PDM NOFO and Fact Sheet for more information: www.fema.gov/pre-disaster-mitigation-grant-program.

FEMA’s two competitive mitigation grant programs provide states, tribes, and territories funding for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future disaster damages.

The Fiscal Year 2019 hazard mitigation funding cycle represents a critical transition year for pre-disaster mitigation grants. One of the most substantive provisions of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 is Section 1234, which authorizes FEMA to develop a new pre-disaster mitigation program that is funded by a 6 percent set-aside from federal disaster assistance for each major disaster declaration. This new program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), will allow FEMA to support states and communities to undertake new and innovative infrastructure projects that reduce the risks they face from disasters. FEMA is already using the BRIC funding mechanism to advance its objective of increasing the nation’s resilience by making $250 million available for the FY19 PDM Program.

Federal Transit Administration

FTA will host a webinar from 2-3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 30, for potential applicants and other stakeholders interested in the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning. The webinar will provide an overview of the program, describe eligible applicants and projects, and offer an opportunity to ask questions.  FTA announced a $19.2 million TOD program funding opportunity on Sept. 18, 2019. The application period will close on November 18, 2019.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Find out about NFWF funding opportunities.

NOAA

Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan.  Read the proposed rule  as published in the Federal Register, and submit your comments through the online portal.  You may also submit comments through regular mail to: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Please mark the outside of the envelope, “Comments on the Proposed Rule for Herring Amendment 8.”  Comments are due by November 25, 2019.

Marine Debris

NOAA announced its FY 2020 “Marine Debris Prevention” federal funding opportunity. Prevention projects funded through the grant competition will actively engage and educate a target audience (such as students, teachers, industries, or the public) in hands-on programs designed to raise awareness, provide practical approaches, reduce barriers, and encourage and support changes in behaviors to ensure long-term prevention of marine debris. 

The Letter of Intent (LOI) submission period for prevention projects will extend from September 17 to November 5, 2019. Applicants who submit successful LOIs will be invited to submit a full proposal following the LOI review period.  NOAA will select projects through a rigorous and highly competitive merit review process, with awards announced in the late summer of 2020.

This FY 20 Marine Debris Prevention federal funding opportunity is in addition to the FY 20 Marine Debris Removal federal funding opportunity announced last July. For more information on FY 2020 grant opportunities, please visit Grants.gov and the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s website.

USDA

The Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021 USDA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I Request for Applications has been published and is now available for public viewing. Deadlines are 5:00 P.M. Eastern, FY20: October 23, 2019 and FY21: October 1, 2020.

USDA released the FY 2020 Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications.  Complete applications must be submitted on www.Grants.gov, by 11:59pm ET on December 13, 2019.

NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the launch of the updated Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Potential partners are encouraged to submit proposals that will improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.

USDA is accepting proposals for RCPP through Dec. 3, 2019. For more information on applying, visit the RCPP webpage or view the Application for Program funding on grants.gov.  Rhode Island partners may contact Brunilda Velez at 401-822-8820 or brunilda.velez@usda.gov with questions.

Over the next few years, JPMorgan Chase is investing in New England with more than 60 new branches, 130 ATMs and hiring more than 350 people, including veterans. More than 80 of these employees will be in Rhode Island.

While Chase is new to the state, JPMorgan Chase is not. We’ve had a presence in the market since 2017, with the Commercial Bank, Private Bank and Real Estate. With the expansion of retail, our commercial and private banking practices are also growing.

Chase will open 12 branches and 20 ATMs in Rhode Island in the next five years.

The first Providence branch opened on August 1, 2019 at 234 Thayer Street.

New branches will include modern design elements and feature open, collaborative spaces with ample room for meetings and “Chase Chats,” a new series of small group sessions focused on financial health.

• Given the first branch’s close proximity to Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Employees will go on to local campus’ to hold financial health classes.

Over the next five years, the bank will invest $3 billion for home and small-business lending in the New England region. Home loans will include low- and moderate-income communities. Eligible customers may also receive up to $3,000 in homeownership grants.

Small businesses entrepreneurs will have access to dedicated bankers and products, including small-business loans, merchant services, cash management and credit card services. In addition, through our Small Business Forward initiative, the firm will provide women, minority- and veteran-owned small businesses increases to capital and technical assistance. 

Entry Level employees will be paid no less than $16.50/hour and will receive the firm’s full benefits package, which is valued at an average of $12,000 annually per employee in this pay range. It includes health care coverage and retirement savings, as well.

• To help ease the burden of out-of-pocket medical expenses, the firm reduced medical plan deductibles by $750 per year for employees making less than $60,000.

To learn more about JPMorgan
Chase, please visit us at https://www.jpmorganchase.com/.
We look forward to meeting you!

Christopher Stevens, Executive Director   | T: 401 519 3685   | christopher.stevens@chase.com 

Carolyn Evert, Media Contact   | T: 617 223 9224   | Carolyn.Evert@chase.com

The initial tariffs imposed in 2018 on imports from China didn’t
affect Cooley Group, a Pawtucket-based company that manufactures an array of
engineered materials, used in waterproof liners, inflatable boats and oil
containment booms.

But when the trade dispute between the U.S. and China spiraled beyond aluminum and steel imports, a second set of tariffs in August 2018 hit two of the divisions within Cooley, according to CEO and President Daniel Dwight.

The J.P. Morgan Global Manufacturing PMI contracted for the fourth straight month, albeit up from 49.3 in July, the lowest reading since October 2012, to 49.5 in August. There continued to be some optimism that future output would rebound over the coming months.