Detroit Environmental Vision Healthy Air

Project Summary

In the early 1990s, residents in Southwest Detroit were suffering from air pollution in and around their neighborhood, primarily from factories and vehicles. To push for cleaner air and cut pollution, the neighborhood’s residents and businesses created the Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision. Since then, this nonprofit organization has worked with local governments and businesses in the community to create healthier air and lessen the health and climate impacts of pollution. Their work primarily involves projects funded by the USEPA and other entities to replace diesel vehicles with vehicles using cleaner fuels. 

Diesel emissions are toxic for the natural environment and for people. Poor air quality, which is in part caused by diesel emissions, has been linked to lower quality of life and specific health issues such as pre-term birth, low-birth weights, asthma, some cancers, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additionally, diesel emissions contribute to climate change while damaging some of the systems, such as green infrastructure, that can mitigate climate change. As the climate patterns change, unhealthy air levels and ecosystem damage will only get worse with higher temperatures and more days with unsafe air quality. To reduce diesel emissions in their community and improve local air quality, residents and the business community in Southwest Detroit created the nonprofit, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision.  

Using grant funding, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision began operating its Healthy Air Program and Clean Diesel Initiative with local governments and businesses in the community. One of the primary grant opportunities is the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), a program that funds grants and rebates to improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines. 

The Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision identifies grant opportunities through Grants.gov and other regional communication networks. The organization typically seeks grants for replacing aging diesel vehicles with newer, cleaner versions. Once a grant is identified, staff check the eligibility requirements and reach out to potential applicants to gauge interest. They also reach out to community members to show what is available and how they can help. As a nonprofit, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision can act as either a partner that guides the project or can fully coordinate the grant application and implementation.  

Once a grant and a partner are identified, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision starts compiling all the information it needs to apply for the grant. The information typically included in the grant application for the vehicle they are attempting to replace includes its travel routes, travel schedules, the service it provides, fuel type, title, make, and model.  

If a grant is successfully awarded, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision gets back in touch with the partner and begins working through the procurement process. Depending on the grant and the partner, the procurement process can include a request for bids.  

After going through the procurement process, the partner can purchase the new vehicle, which can be financed. Most grants require that, before the grant funding can be distributed, the partner must destroy the old vehicle and provide proof. The destruction process is typically explained in the terms of the grant, but generally requires a three-inch hole in the engine and cutting the chassis. As long as the engine can no longer be used, the other parts from the vehicle can be saved and used on other vehicles in the fleet. Upon certification of the old vehicle’s destruction, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision requests reimbursement on behalf of the partner and the grantor pays out the funding like a rebate.

Funding

The funding varies based on the grant and the vehicle being purchased. For the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act funding, there is a 75/25 match. State funding and funding from other sources, with some caveats, canbe put towards how much needs to be put up in matching funds. The partner manages the financing with Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision managing the grant process.

Timeline

The average time from when a grant is identified to project completion is around 24 months. This can be quicker depending on internal procurement processes and the available stock of vehicles being purchased. 

Reducing diesel emissions and improving air quality is an environmental justice and community priority for Southwest Detroit. Residents in Southwest Detroit face inequitable impacts from pollution due to the area’s hosting of the busiest US-Canada border crossing, three major highways, and other pollutingentities. These aspects have negatively affected the lives and health of residents in the area through the higher levels of pollution that they disproportionately bear. The work being done by Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision and their partners is helping to combat these injustices by creating healthier air for the community.