St. John, USVI – December 2024 – Led by nonprofit Island Green Living Association, the U.S. Virgin Islands Partnerships for Community-Wide Sustainability (USVIPCS) project proposal has been selected for final review by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in consideration of a multi-million dollar Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant. The EPA announced the selection in mid-December. During the next phase, the EPA will be evaluating specific project elements and compliance issues further before a final award decision is made, anticipated by mid-January.

“We are elated that our comprehensive $20 million USVIPC grant proposal, which provides an unprecedented opportunity to make transformative changes in the U.S. Virgin Islands on pollution reduction and climate resilience including community composting, expanded recycling, infrastructure investments, environmental justice, education and more, has reached this stage in the EPA’s evaluation process,” said Harith Wickrema, President of Island Green Living. “Creating a model for environmental excellence in the territory is something that Island Green has long envisioned and the prospect of bringing it to fruition is truly an honor. We are grateful for the EPA’s consideration as well as the exceptional partnership of our collaborators and advisors and look forward to next steps.”

Island Green Living, along with their statutory and collaborative partners, Virgin Islands Environmental Association (VIEA); Virgin Islands Conservation Society (VICS); Rotary Club of St. Thomas; Compost Connection VI; and Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), cooperated on the project plan that, if funded, will expand and extend the highly successful recycling program established on St. John to St. Thomas with a new Resource Recovery Center and add cardboard, glass and other materials to aluminum and ocean-bound plastics collections; launch community composting on St. Croix and St. Thomas, which will not only significantly reduce the organic material going into the landfills but also support farmers and improve soil nutrition, addressing food security; and install water filling stations, improve green education and launch expansive community engagement programming on all three islands.

It is important to note that the EPA funds are designated for NEW projects and expansions, not work that Island Green has already established on St. John, such as aluminum and plastics recycling and the ReSource Depot, St. John’s only secondhand store that operates like a Habitat for Humanity “reuse store,” etc.

Island Green Living is proud to collaborate with dedicated community organizations and an extraordinary team of professionals, including Dawn Henry, former Commissioner of DPNR and current Vice President of Island Green Living; Dr. Greg Guannel, Caribbean Green Technology Center, UVI; Carlos Robles, former Commissioner of Agriculture and Chair of VICD (Virgin Islands Conservation District); Tiffany Muse and Dr. Laura Martin on behalf of Compost Connections VI; Benita Martin from We Grow Food; Nate Olive, President of the Virgin Islands Farmers Alliance and owner, Ridge to Reef Farm; Doug White, Founder of Island Green Living, on behalf of Rotary Club of East; Executive Director Anne Marie Hoffman of VICS, along with Executive Director Tabitha Stadler of EPIC.

“We also received immense support during the application process from several government agencies, including Dr. Peterson from Agriculture, DPNR, the Energy Office, Property and Procurement, and Senator Donna Frett-Gregory,” said Wickrema.

Island Green Living, a nonprofit organization celebrating 20 years of dedicated community service, is now laying the foundation for sustainable development with infrastructure that will belong to the people of the USVI. This grant will also create more than 30 new jobs, supporting economic development across the region.

Celebrating 20 years in operation this year, Island Green Living Association is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization on St. John dedicated to sustainability throughout the USVI and beyond. www.islandgreenliving.org.