Latest news with #REAP
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pensacola selects two non-profits to host 27 'pallet shelters' for the homeless
Pensacola is moving forward with bringing in 27 'pallet shelters' for the homeless. Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said two local non-profits were selected to use the shelters for homeless individuals they serve based on a recommendation from the Northwest Florida Homeless Taskforce. Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola will take at least 14 units at its West Blount Street location, and Offentsive Corp will take at least 13 units at a North Palafox location. Both locations are inside the city limits. 'Both of them have done a great job,' Reeves said. 'They've spoken to the neighbors. They've done all of the due diligence that we expect. And I appreciate the task force digging in, certainly deeper than my expertise, to make sure that all of those things make sense.' Last year, the city allocated $1.1 million to buy shelters from Pallet PBC, a public benefit corporation based in Everett, Washington, that specializes in building 'pallet shelters' for homeless relief and disaster response. The funds are coming out of the city's share of the American Rescue Plan Act. Pallet PBC builds small, one-room, movable temporary buildings that range from 70 square feet to 120 square feet. The buildings range from $17,970 to $23,595 a piece, plus a $1,200 shipping cost for most variations. Those prices do not include installation costs at the sites. Reeves said there is still work to be done to determine how much sitework and preparation needs to be done to determine how much of the $1.1 million will be remaining for additional shelters. The city has not taken possession of any shelters, and Reeves said that was done so the city could be flexible in how it rolls out this program. 'Once we diagnose what we need and exactly what we need, then we order, they bring them in, and they can be put up in a matter of hours,' Reeves said. The announcement came a day after it was reported that REAP's Max-Well Respite Center was closing because the organization can no longer afford to rent the building. The city contributed $400,000 in ARPA funds in 2022 to help REAP start the Max-Well Center. Reeves said he was personally disappointed with the ownership of the building charging the organization a market-rate rent. Last year, the News Journal reported REAP was paying 2200 N. Palafox LLC $15,000 a month in rent for the shelter. 'Looking for market rate when, when we're trying to house people, I was really disappointed with that, and have been for a long time,' Reeves said. 'I appreciate Vinnie (Whibbs) and REAP trying to make it work. And I do know they came back to the table, and lowered that rent some, but it's just a tough situation.' The shelters will be leased to the two non-profits, and the city will retain ownership of them, so if anything changes with the sites in the future, the shelters will go back to the city to be reused by another organization. 'In a situation like the Max-Well center, if they were to close or something were to change, we have the ability to go get them,' Reeves said. 'They're not lost to the citizens forever.' The pallet shelter plan arose after the city found it would be too expensive to start a low-barrier homeless shelter on its own. Reeves said he still believes the city needs a low-barrier shelter, but it will have to be driven by the entire community, including private companies and the federal government. 'We cannot be the sole solution for every issue in the city,' Reeves said. 'We need private development to get off the sidelines and work with us. We need—in case of low barrier—we need health care to get off the sideline to help us. I'm not saying that they aren't willing to, but when I say a community conversation, it's not just me and the county commissioners. It's going to have to be me, and the county commissioners, and our health care partners and our nonprofits. It's going to have to be a significant, significant conversation with Congressman Patronis. There's going to be a lot of conversation to capital stack this thing for it to be successful.' This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola will order 27 'pallet shelters' for the homeless
Daily Maverick
29-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Maverick
Academic Excellence Through Mentorship
Strategic Mentoring Programmes Drive Academic Excellence and Transformation Grow your own timber. This philosophy, rooted in the commitment to invest in 'home-grown' academic talent, has seen the University of the Free State (UFS) continue to make remarkable strides in transforming its academic landscape through innovative mentoring programmes. Building on five years of success, the university's comprehensive Transformation of the Professoriate Mentoring Programme has significantly enhanced research productivity, leadership capabilities, and institutional cohesion. Mentorship as a Catalyst for Transformation At the UFS, the strategic implementation of structured mentoring has proven to be a powerful tool in building a pipeline of accomplished scholars who are ready to excel at the highest academic levels. This approach recognises that true transformation requires more than just appointments – it demands sustained development and support. A Portfolio of Specialised Programmes Since launching its Transformation of the Professoriate Mentoring Programme five years ago, the UFS has expanded its initiatives to address the specific needs of academics at different career stages. The current suite of programmes now supports 165 staff members across four tailored interventions: The Future Professoriate Programme Targeting academics five to eight years post-PhD, this flagship programme focuses on developing scholars who are poised to become professors and associate professors. The two-year fellowship emphasises building international profiles, increasing research impact through quality publications, and achieving recognition as established researchers through NRF ratings. In total, 41% of the 2025 cohort are black South Africans, 41% are white South Africans, and 18% are foreign-born African scholars. The Emerging Scholar Accelerator Programme (ESAP) This programme supports academics one to four years post-PhD, helping them increase research productivity, prepare for NRF Y-ratings, develop postgraduate supervision capabilities, and advance to senior lecturer positions. ESAP provides crucial early-career guidance that establishes foundations for long-term academic success. In the 2025 cohort, 54% are black South Africans, 32% white South Africans, and 14% foreign-born African scholars. The Wise Programme (Women Influencing Scholarship And Education) Recognising the unique challenges that mid-career women academics face, WISE provides targeted support to female scholars. The programme emphasises strategic career planning and creating pathways for advancement. Among its 23 participants, 61% are black candidates, reflecting the university's commitment to intersectional representation. The Researcher Excellence Accelerator Programme (REAP) REAP supports staff members who are completing their PhD qualifications or have recently graduated. With 54 participants (54% black and 69% women), the programme focuses on successful PhD completion, publishing research findings, and developing scholarship of engagement skills. Established Programmes – Excellent Results The Future Professoriate and ESAP Programmes have made significant impact on the career progression and research productivity of candidates. The results after five years of structured mentoring speak volumes about the programmes' effectiveness: Career advancement: 3 promotions to Full Professor, 24 to Associate Professor, and 34 to Senior Lecturer, with several participants being promoted twice during this period. Research recognition: 29 scholars have achieved NRF ratings, enhancing the university's research profile. Research productivity: The 2024 cohort alone produced impressive research output, including journal articles, book chapters, and conference presentations. Among their achievements are 16 published books and 6 UFS Exceptional Achiever Awards. Emerging Programmes – Promising Results The REAP and WISE Programmes that were launched in 2024 are gaining momentum, continuing to effectively support members towards achieving their career goals. PhD completions: Multiple successful PhD submissions were secured, with around 22 candidates graduating in the 2024/2025 period. International exposure: Increased attendance at international conferences, with significant co-funding support from the mentoring programmes. Leadership development: Several WISE participants have secured leading research positions, delivered keynote addresses at international forums, and received institutional excellence awards. Beyond these quantifiable achievements, the mentorship initiatives have also fostered a culture of collaboration and excellence that permeates the institution. Comprehensive Development Approach The UFS mentoring programmes implement a holistic approach to academic development: Intensive Writing Support: Regular writing retreats provide dedicated time and space for focused research output, with guidance from experienced mentors and editors. Expert Mentorship: Participants benefit from both internal mentoring and connections with external mentors from leading South African universities, many of whom are A- and B-rated researchers. Tailored Workshops: Programmes offer customised workshops on supervision, academic leadership, grant writing, time management, and presentation skills. Peer Learning Communities: Strategic retreats and group sessions foster collaborative networks across departments and faculties, breaking down institutional silos. Individual Guidance: Each participant receives personalised career planning and progress monitoring towards specific milestones. Addressing Challenges Proactively While celebrating its successes, the UFS recognises the challenges facing emerging academics, and the toll that high academic output can take on scholars' health and family life. By identifying systemic barriers and providing targeted support, an environment is created where talented academics choose to build their careers at the UFS rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere. This proactive approach has proven effective in retention and succeeded in cultivating a strong community of emerging scholars committed to the institution's future. Building On Success As the UFS mentoring initiatives enter their next phase, the focus is on sustainability and expanding impact. Alumni of the programmes now serve as mentors themselves, creating a virtuous cycle of development and support. The university's Vision 130 strategy emphasises continued transformation of the professoriate, with these mentoring programmes serving as cornerstone initiatives. Through strategic mentorship, the University of the Free State is not only transforming its professoriate but also redefining what academic success looks like in the South African context – ensuring that excellence and representation go hand in hand. DM Contact Us: Bloemfontein Campus: +27 51 401 9111 Qwaqwa Campus: +27 58 718 5000 South Campus: +27 51 401 9111 [email protected] UFS social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's USDA resurrects one climate grant program, kills another
Farmers who were left in limbo after the U.S. Department of Agriculture froze renewable energy grants are finally starting to get paid. At the same time, however, farmers have been hit with the cancellation of another USDA grant program: the $3 billion Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, designed to promote farming and forestry practices to improve soil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Dale Westphal is among the farmers who recently got long-awaited grant money for a clean energy project. After learning last year that he'd been approved for a $20,000 grant under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), he put up about $46,500 to install solar panels on his corn and soybean farm in southern Minnesota last year. He viewed it as a smart way to protect himself from rising electrical rates. Earlier this year, the USDA told him — and thousands of other farmers nationwide — that his grant funding had been put on hold because of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on the first day of his second term in office. That order froze billions of dollars for renewable energy under President Joe Biden's signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In April, Westphal got his grant money — a welcome development that he says has made his solar investment worthwhile. 'I don't think I would have done it without the grant, because the payback would have been so much longer that it wouldn't have made sense,' he said. In an email to Floodlight, a USDA spokesperson said that between March 25 and May 9, the agency issued nearly $126 million in reimbursements to more than 1,000 grantees under the REAP program. As of May 9, more than $960 million in awards to nearly 5,000 grant recipients had not yet been sent out, the spokesperson said. That money remained undistributed because the grant recipients had not yet completed work on their projects, or had not yet submitted paperwork to show that the projects have been completed and paid for, according to the USDA. The release of funds comes after legal pressure and complaints from farmers who had already put money on the line. A federal lawsuit filed against the USDA in March sought a court order to compel the Trump administration to honor the government's grant commitments to farmers and nonprofits. That complaint, filed by the Earthjustice environmental law group, is still pending. And in April, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the USDA and five other federal agencies to release frozen IRA funds. READ MORE DOWNLOAD FOR REPUBLICATION
Mint
29-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Realty cos spend below 1% of revenue on tech, says Brigade's Nirupa Shankar
In 2016, Brigade Group launched a real estate-focused accelerator called Brigade REAP (Real Estate Accelerator Program). Conceptualised by Nirupa Shankar, Joint Managing Director at Brigade, the goal was to create a platform that connects early-stage start-ups with practical real estate challenges and allows them to pilot technology-driven solutions. Over time, REAP has accelerated adoption of technology in the sector, mentoring over around 80 startups, selected from over 4,000 who applied to the programme. The accelerator offers mentorship, access to leadership guidance, and opportunities to pilot solutions on live projects. According to Shankar, who appeared on Mint's show Brick by Byte anchored by real estate editor Vandana Ramnani, the accelerator was initiated at a time when the Indian real estate sector was not actively investing in technology. 'Most real estate companies spend less than 1% of their top line on technology. That includes hardware, software licenses—everything,' she said. Watch the full episode below, Start-ups working with REAP have addressed a variety of operational and infrastructure-related challenges. These include: Smart water management systems to detect leakages and enable consumption tracking Indoor air quality monitoring and purification using real-time data Sensor-based lighting systems and contactless access for office environments Retail optimisation using behavioural analytics to improve tenant mix and customer experience Sewage treatment systems that operate without chemicals or electricity Approximately 40% of the start-ups that have gone through the REAP program have raised follow-on funding, Shankar noted. To address the needs of later-stage start-ups that have outgrown the accelerator model, Brigade Group established Earth Fund, an investment vertical focused on scalable and sustainable technologies. Unlike REAP, which provides acceleration and mentorship, Earth Fund is positioned as an investment initiative targeting companies that can integrate with Brigade's core operations or contribute to broader smart city and sustainability goals. Shankar said Earth Fund allows the company to participate more meaningfully in the growth of solutions that have already demonstrated product-market fit and operational viability. While several areas of real estate operations have seen increased adoption of technology—particularly in sales, leasing, and customer experience—Shankar observed that the core construction process has not evolved at the same pace. The majority of on-site workflows remain manual, and there is limited automation in the physical building process. She highlighted a gap in innovation targeted specifically at the construction site, despite it employing the majority of the real estate workforce. According to her, tools that improve labor productivity, project speed, and efficiency are critical but still underdeveloped in the Indian context. Shankar also noted the importance of policy support in driving adoption of sustainable building technologies. She pointed to mechanisms such as green credits, concessional financing for certified projects, and incentives for resource efficiency as potential enablers for broader adoption. Shankar is a second-generation executive at Brigade Group and oversees multiple business verticals. She is involved in land acquisition, project feasibility, and operational execution. She emphasised that her role is not limited to a single function and that she participates directly in project negotiations and strategic planning. She also spoke about the internal structure of the company, noting that Brigade is building capabilities not only in real estate development but also in innovation and sustainability through structured programs like REAP and Earth Fund. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Shankar maintains an interest in fitness and endurance sports. She also engages in strategic games such as poker, which she described as helpful in decision-making and situational analysis. First Published: 29 Apr 2025, 08:53 AM IST
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
USDA unfreezes clean energy money while ‘inviting' recipients to remove DEI and climate language
Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images via Grist This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist's weekly newsletter here. This coverage is made possible through a partnership between Grist and Interlochen Public Radio in Northern Michigan. Jim Lively wants to install rooftop solar panels on his family's local food market, just minutes from the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan. Those panels could help power the RV campground they want to open next to the market and offset other electricity bills. But even though Lively was awarded a $39,696 grant for the project through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program called the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, he's not sure if he'll be able to get the solar panels he wants. As one of thousands of grant awardees across the country, Lively was banking on that money to cover half the cost of the solar project. Within President Donald Trump's first few days in office, he issued a set of executive orders intended to crack down on government initiatives geared toward addressing climate change, improving environmental justice, and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Amidst the now-familiar wave of fluctuations and uncertainty for farmers and business owners who had been counting on funding from various programs, Lively was told that the funding for REAP had been paused. Late last month, Lively got a welcome update: The money was now unfrozen. On March 25, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will release grant money through REAP and two other clean energy programs partly supported by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. But there appeared to be some fine print. In the announcement, the USDA also invited grant and loan recipients to voluntarily revise their proposals to align with Trump's executive order by 'eliminating Biden-era DEIA and climate mandates embedded in previous proposals.' In an email, a USDA spokesperson said that people who had already been awarded funding could voluntarily 'review and revise' their plans within 30 days to more closely align with the Trump administration's executive order. If recipients confirm in writing that they don't want to change anything about their proposals, the USDA said 'processing' for their projects would continue immediately. If recipients don't communicate with the USDA, 'disbursements and other actions will resume after the 30 days,' according to the statement. But many questions remain, and the agency did not address Grist's requests for clarification. For instance, the agency did not offer specifics about the timeline for already-approved projects to actually receive funds; whether or not the agency will open new application periods; whether the funding announcement and invitation to revise apply to REAP grants, loans, or both; and whether the announcement applies to future REAP applications. Perhaps most crucially, it is also not clear what the agency means by 'processing': Will those who choose not to change their applications still receive the money they'd been awarded or will their proposals be subjected to another review process? The phrase 'other actions' has many observers worried. Mike Lavender, the policy director at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, doesn't expect to see the request barring farmers and businesses from receiving the money they are due, but acknowledges that 'anything is possible with this USDA.' 'Our current understanding from the USDA is that REAP grantees will receive the reimbursements that they are owed under their signed grant agreements whether or not they choose to complete the voluntary REAP review form, including whether they submit the form stating they do not intend to make any modifications to their projects,' said Lavender. 'It's critical that USDA clearly and publicly affirms the voluntary nature of the REAP review to avoid sowing further confusion and uncertainty.' Rebecca Wolf, a senior food policy analyst with the nonprofit Food & Water Watch, isn't as confident that the program will proceed seamlessly. She said the very act of issuing the invitation in conjunction with news about resuming funding is likely to prompt farmers and business owners to feel pressured to comply for fear of not getting their money. The ambiguity of it all is its own source of stress. 'I know there are folks that were awarded solar grants, that are wondering, 'Does this even fall in line anymore? Because we know that the administration is keen more on fossil fuels,'' Wolf said. 'So there's just a ton of that type of, 'What does this actually mean?'' What's more, Wolf fears that this may only be the start of such so-called 'open requests' issued by the agency to those waiting on paused funds. The USDA's efforts to comply with Trump's executive orders are taking different shapes across the vast agency. A leaked internal memo circulated within the USDA's Agricultural Research Service detailed instructions on reviewing 'agreements' for a list of banned keywords, including 'people of color,' 'climate change,' and 'clean energy,' as first reported by the nonprofit news organization More Perfect Union. And, last week, the USDA's Rural Development agency scrubbed the application process for 14 programs — including REAP — of 'scoring criteria' tied to equity and climate resilience goals established by the Biden administration. Representative Chellie Pingree, the Democrat who represents part of southern Maine and is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said she considers the USDA's request for revisions 'just another example of the chaos and confusion that have become hallmarks of the Trump Administration.' She added that the move is 'petty and cruel.' Representative Jill Tokuda, the Democrat who represents Hawai'i's second congressional district and also sits on the Agriculture Committee, told Grist, 'USDA's job is to support our agricultural producers and rural communities. It's impossible to do that when USDA is adding unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions and blocking federal resources that farmers and rural communities depend on just to appease President Trump's extreme agenda. Our farmers don't have time to be jumping through extra hoops to get support for critical conservation work they depend on for their livelihoods. They need and deserve better.' Grist reached out to the Republican chair of the House Agriculture Committee and two other GOP members for comment, none of whom responded before publication. Other critics say the USDA's actions could result in a return to the discriminatory practices the agency conducted for decades, such as rejecting disproportionately more loans for Black farmers than for any other demographic group and excluding Indigenous farmers from agricultural programs. Activists and scientists have also argued that many of the solutions necessary to mitigate agriculture's gargantuan carbon footprint have been developed by marginalized communities. In this way, Trump's attacks on justice and climate-smart agriculture are linked. 'From a climate-justice perspective, the implications of this decision, and the equally hostile policies we know are coming, are nothing short of devastating,' Pingree said. All told, the USDA has so far complied with Trump's efforts to eliminate DEI initiatives and climate action mechanisms across every level of the federal government. The agency has halted education, research, and state funding. It has paused a slate of programs receiving IRA funds and gutted others. The public messaging behind these moves has remained consistent: the agency, working in lockstep with the initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency, aims 'to enhance the USDA workforce and eliminate wasteful spending.' According to Wolf, of Food & Water Watch, the USDA's actions suggest the opposite. 'We've seen a real gutting from Day 1, whether it's jobs or funding,' she said. 'And a very clear indication of how things are going to look moving forward.' For his part, Jim Lively has decided to wait out the 30-day period rather than change any language. 'It's just a solar equipment installation project. There was no DEIA anything in there. So I don't really think I need to make any changes,' he said. 'We may just take our chances, leave things as they are, and hopefully we get a funding award announcement at the end of the month.'
