Equity and the Inflation Reduction Act: Through the Lens of Emerging Planners in Florida

EQUITY & THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA):

Through the Lens of Emerging Planners in Florida

PRESENTERS

Jarrell Smith

Public Transportation Planner vhb

Tammy Reque, MPA, AICP

Long-Range Senior Planner

City of St. Cloud

Yash Nagal, PMP Transit Planning Director

Palm Tran

Corinne Arriaga, AICP, CPH

Transportation Planner

City of Sarasota

Outline

Overview of IRA

Federal Funding Suitability

Tips to Incorporate Equity

OVERVIEW OF (IRA)

“….AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE DESIGNED TO PUT THE U.S. AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE.”

Enacts historic deficit reduction to fight inflation

Lowers energy costs and reduces carbon emissions

Allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and caps out -of -pocket costs to $2,000

Lowers Affordable Care Act health care premiums

-Kelsey Tamborino

OVERVIEW OF IRA

Signed into law August 2022

Involves a combination of grants, loans, rebates, incentives, and other investments. A few examples relevant to Urban and Regional Planning are:

Investing in Coastal Communities and Climate Resilience

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program

FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF IRA

Clean Energy Investment

Newly announced projects in clean energy have resulted in over 86 ,000 reshoring and foreign direct investment (FDI) manufacturing jobs being announced . (Vanessa Cook, Bank of America Institute, “IRA Ripple Effect :10 Area of Impact ”)

Clean Energy Jobs

Jobs in the clean energy sector already grew by 3 . 9 % from 2021 to 2022 . (Vanessa Cook, Bank of America Institute, “IRA Ripple Effect :10 Area of Impact ”)

FEDERAL FUNDING SUITABILITY

Notice of Funding

Opportunity

SCALE

Federal Auditing Requirements Staffing Needs

FISCAL AND MANAGERIAL CAPABILITIES

Technical Expertise Local Match Requirements

PREPARATION TIPS TO INCORPORATE EQUITY

• Coordination between agencies and stakeholders

Incorporate indicators of a successful public involvement strategy

• Incorporate Equity into Common Engagement Tools

• Website

• Virtual Presentations

• Qualitative: Write a Compelling Story

• Quantitative: Utilize Federal Tools

• Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool

• USDOT Equitable Transportation Community Explorer

• Areas of Persistent Poverty & Historically Disadvantaged Communities

• The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) EJ Screen

• Social Vulnerability Index

INTERACTIVE SESSION

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Before Applying

• Review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

• Is your project the right fit?

• Do you have the local match - or - can you secure it prior to the award?

• Can your agency deliver a federally funded project?

When Applying

• Coordinate & Collaborate!

• Tell your Story!

• Equity

• Visualizations

• Data

Jarrell Smith

Tammy Reque, MPA, AICP

Yash Nagal, PMP

Corinne Arriaga, AICP, CPH