Contact: Nicole Goines, PIO, (202) 536-7666 cell, [email protected]
Programs help the transition from disposable to reusable foodware
WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, announces $346,597 in grant awards to 22 small and local entities under the Small and Accessible Sustainability (SAS) Grant Program. In its second year, the SAS grant program provides funding to small, new, and historically excluded entities working to help meet the District’s environmental and sustainability goals in three categories: Ditch the Disposables, Donation and Reuse, and Urban Agriculture.
“The collaboration between DOEE’s Urban Sustainability Administration and Watershed Protection Division and the Chesapeake Bay Trust has created an innovative model to reach businesses and community organizations that have long faced barriers to accessing government funds,” said Interim DOEE Director Richard Jackson. “Initiatives like these support our agency’s equity goals and work to empower smaller District entities to reach our Sustainable DC and Zero Waste DC goals.”
DOEE is proud to support the diverse and creative sustainability-focused projects selected in 2023. See below for more information on each program and awarded entities.
Ditch the Disposables
This program aims to reduce the amount of waste generated by disposable, single use foodware and food service accessories by providing financial support to District businesses and organizations that serve food to the general public. Eligible projects are those that establish in-house dishwashing capacity and implement the use of reusable takeout containers. Eight projects received a total of $173,843 in grants. View complete project descriptions.
- B. Lin Catering ($11,000)
- Büna Coffeehouse ($23,169)
- Fresh Food Factory ($25,000)
- Metropolitan AME Church ($24,945)
- Open City at the National Cathedral ($25,000)
- RASA ($14,729)
- Sudhouse DC ($25,000)
- To Go Green ($25,000)
Donation and Reuse
The Donation and Reuse awards provide funding for donation and reuse projects, programs, and services for increased donation and reuse opportunities of materials otherwise headed to the waste stream in the District. Seven projects received a total of $59,674 in grants. View complete project descriptions.
- Common Good City Farm ($10,000)
- Community Forklift ($10,000)
- Food Rescue US ($7,500)
- George Washington University Office of Sustainability ($5,000)
- The Outrage ($10,000)
- The Salvation Army National Capital Area Command ($10,000)
- Swap Universe (aka Swap DC) ($7,174)
Urban Agriculture
The Urban Agriculture Awards provide funding to increase urban agriculture in the District. This year there were two tracks for funding opportunities: (1) infrastructure and operations at urban farms; and (2) supporting Foodscapes DC by installing edible landscaping at District homes in priority communities. Seven projects received a total of $113,080 in grants. View complete project descriptions.
Track 1 Awardees: Infrastructure and Operations Support for Urban Farms
- Blackland Farms ($14,964)
- Building Bridges Across the River ($14,320)
- Dreaming Out Loud Inc. (DOL) ($14,814)
- Three Part Harmony Farm (TPH) ($14,581)
- Up Top Acres ($7,401)
Track 2 Awardees: Foodscapes DC
- Love & Carrots ($23,500)
- Sean’s Veggie Garden ($23,500)