Community Benefits Planning
Community Benefits Plans (CBPs)
With our deep expertise in strategic engagement and project management, Mana Group Consulting is dedicated to facilitating the transition towards a sustainable clean energy economy.
The recent enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022 marked a significant milestone by injecting historic investments into climate and energy sectors, accelerating the shift towards clean energy.
Policymakers have unveiled new and expanded funding programs, along with incentives, to foster inclusive participation in the clean energy economy, particularly benefiting rural areas and energy communities that have long relied on fossil fuel industries.
Notably, federal agencies now mandate the inclusion of Community Benefits Plans (CBPs) in funding applications, ensuring that communities and local stakeholders have a meaningful say in project development and can reap the positive impacts of these initiatives.
At Mana Group Consulting, we stand as the trusted bridge between national and rural stakeholders, fostering trust and facilitating a smooth transition towards a sustainable future for all.
As a trusted partner, we offer comprehensive Community Benefits Plans (CBPs) and end-to-end solutions, including concept paper and CBP development, plan implementation, and tracking of complex benefits.
The Department of Energy (DOE) requires Community Benefits Plans (CBPs) as part of all Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) and loan applications.
Community Benefits Plans are based on a set of four core policy priorities, and the following Mana Group recommendations align with the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Good Jobs Principles and the DOE's requirement for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely milestones to be defined for achieving project progress:
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At Mana Group Consulting, we understand the critical role of community and labor in the transition towards a sustainable clean energy economy. We facilitate collaboration and engagement with impacted communities by identifying key stakeholders, including relevant labor unions, and establishing partnerships with high-road workforce development partners. Through our strategic guidance, we work closely with all parties to define the impacted community and negotiate legally binding agreements that promote a fair and equitable transition. By fostering trust and open communication, we empower communities and labor to have an active voice in the development process, ensuring a sustainable clean energy economy that benefits all.
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At Mana Group Consulting, we are dedicated to investing in the U.S. workforce by prioritizing skills training and creating quality job opportunities with competitive wages and comprehensive benefits. We strongly advocate for the avoidance of worker misclassification and are committed to fostering healthy, safe, and secure working conditions for all employees. Additionally, our approach emphasizes worker empowerment and representation through organizing and collective bargaining, ensuring that the workforce has a strong voice in shaping their working environments and future opportunities.
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At Mana Group Consulting, we are committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) through strategic recruitment and comprehensive training initiatives. By establishing inclusive recruitment, hiring, contracting, and workplace practices, we aim to distribute prosperity equitably throughout communities. Our approach ensures that our legally binding agreements proactively address DEIA concerns, promoting a culture of empowerment and inclusivity in all aspects of our work.
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At Mana Group Consulting, we are committed to implementing Justice40 as a foundational strategy to assess how our projects contribute to the improvement of environmental and public health conditions in disadvantaged communities (DACs). Acknowledging the White House's depiction of DACs as overburdened and underserved based on extensive census tract data, including income, education, health, environmental threats, and other economic and environmental factors, we take a strategic approach to ensure that at least 40% of the benefits from federal investments are directed to these communities. This aligns with our core mission of facilitating a transition to a sustainable clean energy economy that prioritizes equity and inclusion for all communities.
At Mana Group Consulting
We are dedicated to offering comprehensive guidance and resources on translating these recommendations into effective strategies for developing successful grant and loan applications.
Our expertise ensures that these applications result in highly successful projects that not only benefit the company and its workers but also enrich the surrounding community and environment.
For your convenience, the DOE’s CBP template, designed to accompany funding opportunity announcements (FOAs), can be downloaded here.
