Institute for Sustainability Engagement | EFC Region 2

Applications are NOW OPEN for our newly expanded, year-long round of the NYS SMM Stewardship Program! ?? For college and university students in NYS who are passionate about #waste reduction, #reuse, and #recycling, the New York State Sustainable Materials Management (#SMM) Stewardship Program is a paid online educational and professional development opportunity offered by us here at the Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE). ?? Starting in Fall 2025, stewards will learn the fundamentals of SMM, which includes a holistic approach to minimizing waste and reducing reliance on landfills and incinerators while progressing towards a circular economy and zero-waste future.?? ????In Spring 2026, stewards will then apply their knowledge to complete locally-focused SMM projects in NYS communities, such as: recycling programs, reuse events, and plastic pollution prevention to create social, environmental, and economic benefits.?? ?? Application deadline: Wednesday April 9, 2025.?? Application link: https://lnkd.in/gusVgdSt Questions? Email Morgan Ingraham at [email protected] This program is administered in partnership with NYSAR3, with funding provided by CSMM and USDA. #RecyclingEducation #ReuseInitiative #CompostTraining #CommunityEngagement #NYSInternship?

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York Sea Grant have announced $200,000 in funding for projects to restore and protect the Great Lakes region! This grant supports community-driven efforts focused on ecosystem-based management to address local watershed challenges.? ?? ?Communities who are eligible to apply include: - Not-for-profit organizations? - municipalities? - government entities? - public agencies? - educational institutions (K-12 schools, colleges, universities)? ?? (It is important to note that budget requests must not exceed $40,000.)? ?? ?A virtual webinar will be hosted on March 26, 2025, at 12 p.m to provide information about the application process and project requirements. Register at the link below if you are interested in learning more. ? ?? Visit the New York Great Lakes Basin Small Grants Program for application forms and guidelines. ? For information, you can call (716) 270-2490 or check out DEC’s and New York Sea Grant’s websites.? ? View the press release here: https://lnkd.in/g_ATKDv7 ? ? Register for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/gW6Asm5J ? ?? #GreatLakes #EnvironmentalGrants #NewYorkSeaGrant #DEC #FundingOpportunities #RestoreProtectThrive?

Contrary to popular belief, the word “debt” isn’t a bad word, but it can sometimes be scary to talk about. In this first webinar of the “Debt isn’t a Bad Word” series, hosted by the New Jersey Future Funding Navigator program, ISE’s very own Tess Clark will be representing our Environmental Finance Center alongside other experts from the Environmental Policy Innovation Center and SUBURBAN CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC. The conversation will explore why debt should be seen as an asset rather than a liability, and the benefits of leveraging funds through the New Jersey Water Bank SRF for long-term investments. ? ?? Date: Thursday, March 27 ? Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT? Where: Zoom (Link below) ? ??? Register at the link below to learn more about how taking on long-term debt doesn’t have to be a scary thing for municipalities.? ?? Register Today! https://lnkd.in/edD8e2PH? ? #WaterInfrastructure #DebtAsAnAsset #NJFuture #CapitalImprovements #Webinar #EnvironmentalFinance #SustainableDevelopment #NJWaterBank #NewJersey #CleanWater #WaterInnovation #NJ #InfrastructureInvestments Jersey Water Works? ?

The Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE) is helping tackle plastic pollution in our waterways as a sub-awardee of a NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Sea Grant.?? This $300,000 project lead by Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Cornell University centers its efforts around stormwater-derived debris, specifically through the use of a trash capture technology known as the LittaTrap (example pictured in article), which is designed to capture debris that enters storm drains. As a sub-awardee on this project, ISE will help to deploy LittaTraps in the City of Syracuse, engage college students to analyze the materials captured (particularly plastic debris), and use that data to help inform plastic pollution reduction recommendations and to generally raise awareness about plastic pollution across the city.?? The team formed under the Sea Grant —which includes project leads RIT and Cornell University and sub-awardees ISE and University at Buffalo (UB) — plans to install more trash capture devices in storm drains across the region, with the goal to create a larger interconnected community network that is actively involved in preventing and remediating debris pollution in Western New York and the watersheds of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. “ISE is thrilled to be joining this effort to better understand the causes and impacts of plastic pollution in our upstate New York communities,” says ISE Assistant Director, Jesse Kerns. “We are thankful for NOAA’s support and for the opportunity to partner with our dedicated colleagues at Cornell, RIT, and UB to develop preventative solutions to this important issue.”?? #NOAAResearch #NYSeaGrant #CASCADE #LittaTrap #DebrisElimination #SyracuseNY Click the link to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gRxwVD7M??

We are thrilled to welcome and introduce Hannah Mesa?as one of the new?Graphic Design Assistants on our team!? ? Hannah is currently a student at Syracuse University, where she is pursuing double majors in Illustration and Art History, with a minor in Marketing. She is enthusiastic about creating informational graphics that are visually engaging, creative, and easy to read for various audiences. In the future, Hannah aspires to work as a professor while simultaneously engaging in graphic and illustration projects. She is passionate about teaching and aims to make educational materials more accessible through her work. ? ? In her free time, Hannah enjoys making jewelry, thrifting, crafting, and painting. Hannah also has two adorable cats that she adores.? ? Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Hannah!? ? #GraphicDesign #SyracuseUniversity #ISE #NewTeamMember #Welcome?#WelcometotheTeam?

We're excited to introduce one of our new Project Assistants, Ivy Ven Roy! Ivy will be contributing to the NYS Sustainable Materials Management Stewardship Program and other ISE projects, including the Reuse/Repair Locator tools for Recycle Right New York. ? ? Ivy graduated from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a B.S. in Environmental Studies, specializing in Natural System Applications, and a minor in Environmental Writing and Rhetoric. Her educational background has sparked her?passion for learning about mammals and finding innovative ways to reuse/upcycle and repair items.? ? Ivy's career goal is to improve people's knowledge of and access to sustainable decision-making while fostering a love for our shared environment. Deeply interested in challenging the perception of "waste," she aims to cultivate gratitude for our materials and combat throw-away culture.? ? Some additional fun facts about Ivy: She has lived in five states, played rugby in high school, and has a beloved black cat named Orion (after the constellation)! In her spare time, she also enjoys trying new recipes, doing puzzles, reading, photography, and playing board/video games with friends and family.? ? Join us in giving a warm welcome to Ivy!? ? ? #ISE #NewTeamMember #Welcome?#WelcometotheTeam?

?? New Yorkers! Stay up to date with upcoming events, recent news, and more in the latest edition of our Environmental Finance Center’s NY Newsletter. Get all the latest water-related news and resources for NYS communities all in one place.?? ? ?? Featured in this newsletter: A new resource highlighting new directions for local septic system management in New York State, a new video on Combined Sewer Overflow events, and more! Learn about upcoming webinars through the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN), and learning opportunities throughout the state.? Check out the latest edition here: https://lnkd.in/g5n_72j2 ?? Subscribe today: https://lnkd.in/eSCQpU6e ? ? ?? #Newsletter #Events #NYS #Webinars #Funding #WaterisLife #Water #NewYork?#SepticSystems??

Last week, ISE team members Averi Davis, Patrick Lynch, and ISE Director Melissa Young proudly represented our Environmental Finance Center at this year's Association of Towns of the State of New York conference. The team had the honor of discussing critical issues around water and sewer infrastructure, and it was a great opportunity to connect with town leaders and other partners across New York State.? ? While at the conference, our EFC hosted two insightful sessions on municipal infrastructure funding opportunities. Our first session featured state and federal representatives who presented their water infrastructure grants and financing options. In our second session, we brought a real-world scenario to life with?our 2nd annual Funder Games! In this session, attendees stepped into the interactive world of the fictional Town of Calamity Falls where they tackled real-world funding challenges alongside state and federal funders. Attendees left with practical insights into navigating co-funding opportunities and learned strategies to better navigate funding prerequisites, questions, and challenges.? ? At the conference, guest speakers Senator Charles Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul spoke about the importance of investing in water and sewer infrastructure. Senator Schumer highlighted water projects that our team have worked on with towns throughout the Hudson Valley and central New York, and governor Hochul talked about her time as a town official. The team had a fantastic time exhibiting and connecting with leaders from towns across New York State, including Syracuse University alumni, about the water and sewer challenges that affect their communities.? ? A huge thank you to our state and federal funders for their support, and NYS Association of Towns for putting on such a successful event: NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation, New York State Department of Health, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of State, USDA Rural Development, New York State Homes & Community Renewal #AssociationOfTowns #NYAOT #FunderGames #Funding #InfrastructureFunding #SUEFC

The future of water is bright—this notion was palpable at New York Water Environment Association’s 97th Annual Meeting in NYC earlier this month! Major highlights from the largest water quality technical conference in NYS: ?? ISE’s Environmental Finance Center, repped by Tess Clark?and TyLin’s Walt A. Walker, PE, ENV SP organized “Tackling Wastewater’s Affordability Challenges,” an interactive panel discussion of tradeoffs and lessons learned. Thank you to our panelists Erica DePalma, Bill Brizzell, and Philip Sapone. ?? Former EPA Water Chief Radhika Fox (pictured) delivered an inspiring keynote, reminding us that communities large and small choose water, even when the road ahead has challenges. ??The NYWEA InFLOW Program celebrated its largest cohort yet—welcoming 19 scholars to an immersive introduction to the water sector, with Cristen Crew mentoring for the first time. ?? Our team supported the brilliant and indefatigable Nadia Mugisha, PE, PMP, CDT, who put together a one-of-kind panel “Navigating the Tides: Inspiring Future Leaders in Water,” (pictured) where real water stories and insights highlighted what makes the water industry so special. We were thrilled to participate and support!? ? #NYWEA #AnnualMeeting? #InFLOW

We are currently at the Association of Towns of the State of New York, stop by and say hello!