Recognize and Appropriate Funds From U. S. EPA to AQMD to be Used to Assist States in Developing Their Small Business Assistance Programs

BOARD MEETING DATE: July 12, 1996

AGENDA NO. 12

PROPOSAL:

Recognize and Appropriate Funds From U. S. EPA to AQMD to be Used to Assist States in Developing Their Small Business Assistance Programs

SYNOPSIS:

At the April 12, 1996 meeting, the AQMD Governing Board approved a $25,000 supplement to the AQMD FY 1995-96 budget from a US EPA Peer Match Grant. Of this amount, $2,000 has been expended. This action is to appropriate the remaining $23,000 to the FY 1996-97 budget.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, June 21, 1996, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Appropriate $23,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the FY 1996-97 budget to the accounts specified in "Resource Impacts" below.

James M. Lents, Ph.D.

Executive Officer

LVB:llm

Background

In 1994, the 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. EPA's guidelines for fund use include: development of training materials, payment of travel expenses for participants, and long distance telephone expenses.

AQMD Responsibility

The Public Advisor's Office will provide training materials and staff time and resources to conduct the Peer Match training. AQMD also will 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 EPA by December, 1996 and will 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 addition, if there exists 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 facilitates the opportunity for information and resource sharing by absorbing part of the cost associated with this process.

By working together, SBAP representatives already have 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.

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.

Resource Impacts

At its April 12, 1996 meeting, AQMD Governing Board recognized a $25,000 Peer Match grant that the EPA awarded the AQMD, and approved the appropriation of the $25,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the Public Advisor's Services and Supplies Major Object budget in three accounts as follows: $20,000 to Travel, $2,000 to Communications and $3,000 to Business Outreach.

EPA and AQMD have implemented the Peer Match Program and expended $2,000 to date. This action carries over the remaining $23,000 of the EPA Peer Match $25,000 grant to the FY 1996-97 budget to be allocated to the Public Advisor's Services and Supplies Major Object budget in the following accounts: $18,000 to Miscellaneous Expense (Travel Reimbursements to other agencies); $3,000 to Professional and Special Services (Business Outreach); and $2,000 to Communications.

This constitutes a supplement to the FY 1996-97 budget. Therefore, the required 30-day public notice of a proposed supplement to the FY 1996-97 budget was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, San Bernardino Sun, Riverside Press Enterprise, Orange County Register and the Inland Valley Bulletin.

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