Proposal:
Recognize and Appropriate Funds From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the AQMD to be Used to Assist States in Developing Their Small Business Assistance Programs
Synopsis:
The U.S. EPA has a Peer Match Program to assist states in developing their Small Business Assistance Programs and has designated the AQMD as a Peer Match recipient for a grant of $25,000. EPA's guidelines for fund use include: payment of travel expenses for participants, development of training materials, and long distance telephone expenses.
Committee:
Administrative, March 22, 1996, Approved.
Recommended Action:
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
LVB:llm
Background
In 1994, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) instituted a Peer Match Program to assist states, territories and agencies in developing and implementing their small business assistance programs (SBAPs). EPA recognized that the benefits achieved by Peer Match (mentoring) exceed the costs. States and agencies which have participated in Peer Match have saved money by adopting, rather than recreating elements of successful programs.
EPA selected the AQMD as a Peer Match recipient, based on its outstanding small business assistance program. Section 507 of the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, requires each state to have a SBAP. AQMD's program was established in 1989 and has already served as a model for several states, including Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Louisiana. US EPA's guidelines for fund use include: development of training materials, payment of travel expenses for participants, and long distance telephone expenses.
States that have interest in participating in this peer match program must submit a written request to the US EPA's Small Business Ombudsman, who determines eligibility. EPA's Small Business Ombudsman arranges the match between the requester and states which have grants to provide Peer Match. All state and local programs with small business assistance responsibility under the Federal Clean Air Act, including AQMD, are potentially eligible participants.
AQMD Responsibility
The Public Advisor's Office will provide training materials and staff time and resources to conduct the Peer Match training. AQMD will also be available to assist Peer Match participants on an on-going basis and will provide on-site assistance if required. Each Peer Match participant will be asked to complete an evaluation of the assistance they receive. A lessons learned summary will be prepared. AQMD will provide a written report on the program results to US EPA by December, 1996 and will also report back to the Governing Board.
Benefits
Before there was a Peer Match Program, the AQMD and other agencies had to assume the full cost of sharing information and resources. Some states, territories and agencies have been slow to implement small business assistance because they lack the knowledge and resources. In other cases, if there was a way for the states to get together and share detailed information, resources developed in one state could enhance the program in another state. Peer Match enhances the opportunity for information and resource sharing by absorbing part of the cost associated with this process.
By working together, SBAP representatives have already made significant progress in obtaining EPA policy interpretations that benefit small business owners/operators nationwide. For example, SBAPs obtained an enforcement policy guideline which made the information obtained from an on-site consultation by a SBAP confidential.
US EPA, national trade associations, states, territories and agencies all have expressed their support for strong small business assistance programs nationwide. The parties anticipate that these programs will result in better air pollution control strategies, commonly acceptable clean industry standards, and information dissemination to equipment and product manufacturers.
The required 30-day public notification period of a proposed supplement to the FY 1995-96 budget ends April 10, 1996. Therefore, the Board may take action April 12, 1996 to recognize and appropriate $25,000 from the US EPA Peer Grant Program.
(EPA04-96.DOC)