AUSTIN, Texas, March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wondercide, the leader in safe and effective pest protection for pets, people, homes, and yards, announced a new lineup of plant-powered products debuting this spring. The first to launch was the Mosquito & Fly aerosol spray ($12.99 MSRP), and now through April, three new products expand the company’s Flea & Tick offering for dogs and cats. Flea & Tick Shampoo ($19.99 MSRP), Flea & Tick Collar ($19.99 MSRP), and Flea & Tick Spot On ($19.99). These new solutions continue the Wondercide approach to Treat Nature with Nature™.

NEW Mosquito & Fly Product

For indoor and outdoor use, the Mosquito & Fly is a plant-powered aerosol spray designed to quickly kill mosquitoes and flies, with the ability to kill over 20 other bothersome bugs, such as drain flies, fruit flies, gnats, and more.

Powered by geraniol and lemongrass oil, this spray kills by contact and, when used as directed, is safe to use around kids and pets. The aerosol is propelled by carbon dioxide (CO2) and does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or lower indoor air quality. Once empty, the container is recyclable. Available now at Wondercide.com and Amazon.com.

NEW Flea & Tick Products

The entire lineup of the new Flea & Tick products features natural cedarwood and peppermint oil with a fresh peppermint scent. In further innovation, the Flea & Tick Collar and Flea & Tick Spot On offer pet parents added convenience and a safe alternative to conventional spot drops and collars when used as directed. Flea & Tick Spot On, Collar, and Shampoo will be available for purchase online at Wondercide.com, Amazon.com, Chewy.com, and pet specialty retailers in the U.S.

• The Flea & Tick Shampoo is Wondercide’s first liquid shampoo. Made for dogs and cats four months or older, it kills fleas and ticks by contact and repels them, making the shampoo an excellent first step in treating an active infestation or as part of an ongoing flea-and-tick maintenance routine. The shampoo is free of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and helps soothe itchy skin from bug bites.
• Flea & Tick Collar comes in two versions – one for dogs (up to 23″ neck)  and one for cats (up to 13″ neck). The water-resistant collars are designed for pets four months or older and offer up to four months of continuous protection against fleas and ticks, up to one month of protection against mosquitoes. The collars feature a breakaway safety feature that will protect pets if a bit too much tension is applied.
• Flea & Tick Spot On is designed for dogs and cats three months or older. Each box contains three monthly applications. One size is available for cats, while three sizes in small, medium and large are available for dogs. Each water-resistant monthly application repels mosquitoes for up to seven days in addition to repelling fleas and ticks for up to 30 days.

With the new product offerings, Wondercide customers can be worry-free in 1-2-3. 

1. Kill fleas and ticks on your pet with Flea & Tick Shampoo and Flea & Tick Pets + Home spray, the original flea-and-tick solution.
2. Repel and prevent fleas and ticks on your pet with Flea & Tick Collar or Flea & Tick Spot On.
3. Maintain control indoors with Flea & Tick Pets + Home and outdoors with Flea & Tick Yard + Garden spray.

As with all Wondercide products, these new solutions are powered by plants and safe to use around kids when used as directed. Mosquito & Fly Spray, Flea & Tick Shampoo, Flea & Tick Spot Collar, and Flea & Tick Spot On are 25b products (deemed by the EPA to be “minimum risk” to humans and the environment) and cruelty-free, tested only on the bugs they’re designed to eliminate. All packaging is recyclable including the aerosol once empty. 

“When you love someone, you do everything in your power to protect them. I founded Wondercide because I knew there had to be a better way to protect my dog Luna, and help other families keep their loved ones protected,” said Stephanie Boone, Founder and CEO of Wondercide. “These new products add extra layers of plant-derived protection, while the Collar and Spot On deliver convenience to busy pet parents. They are easy to use and will help make life better for Packs of every kind, everywhere.” 

To date, Wondercide has protected over 1.5 million families and counting! For more information visit www.wondercide.com. 

About Wondercide

Founded in 2009 and as seen on Shark Tank in 2016, Wondercide is an Austin, TX company on a mission to protect pets, families, homes, and yards from pests like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes with safe, plant-based, proven-to-work solutions. The signature line of products is powered by steam-distilled, natural essential oils. Wondercide is woman-founded, family-friendly, and USA-made with US and global components. Wondercide is driven by Fierce Love® to help you Protect Your Pack® and is available for purchase on Wondercide.com, Amazon.com, Chewy.com, and at select pet-specialty retail stores nationwide.

For Press Inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Related Images

Image 1: Mosquito & Fly Aerosol Spray, Flea & Tick Collar, Flea & Tick Shampoo and Flea & Tick Spot On

Wondercide expands their line of plant-powered pest protection for pets and home, featuring new solutions that continue the Wondercide approach to Treat Nature with Nature™.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

• Mosquito & Fly Aerosol Spray, Flea & Tick Collar, Flea & Tick Shampoo and Flea & Tick Spot On

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How much does it cost to install hardwood floor? We ask the experts for their price breakdowns, and answer all your questions. 

If you’re planning a home remodel, the cost to install hardwood floors will be a big part of your budget. Whether you’re upgrading existing hardwoods or you’re replacing carpet or tile, you’ll want to understand how your new flooring will affect your bottom line.

Like most home renovation projects, your overall costs will depend on a number of variables. First, is the cost of the actual flooring. This is determined by the flooring ideas you have in mind, like the species wood you choose, as well as the finish and pattern of the flooring. 

There’s also labor and prep costs to consider. ‘In addition (to the cost of the flooring), you’ll also need to consider the potential costs of removing old flooring, and hauling away waste materials, moving furniture, or other prep or clean-up work.’ says Bailey Carson, Home Care Expert at Angi.

Below, we dig into all of the factors that will impact the cost of hardwood floors to help you accurately estimate your budget.

How much does it cost to install hardwood floors?

The three major contributors to your flooring budget are materials, prep work, and installation.

How much does it cost to install hardwood floors: Materials

(Image credit: Future)

Materials make up the largest part of a flooring budget, and include the flooring itself, plus an underlayment, and any trim or transition pieces.

Expect to pay anywhere from $4-$20/square foot for flooring, depending on the type of wood you choose, how you finish it, and any specialty design options. 

Type of wood

‘The biggest factor that affects hardwood installation costs is the type of wood,’ says Goodell David, founder of Woodworking Clarity. ‘Popular, widely available woods will cost less than $5 per square foot, while exotic breeds can set you back as much as $20 or more.’

According to Carson, here’s how much the most common types of wood flooring costs:

• Pine: $4.50 to $10 per square foot
• Maple: $6.50 to $11 per square foot
• Bamboo: $5 to $11 per square foot
• White ash: $9 to $13 per square foot
• Hickory: $6 to $13 per square foot
• Red oak: $8 to $13 per square foot
• White oak: $8 to $15 per square foot
• Brazilian walnut: $11 to $20 per square foot

The finish of the floors

Hardwood floors that are finished with a standard, one-process stain and a few coats of polyurethane are the most common and economical option. But, it’s also possible to get a custom stain, or a multi-step finish for your hardwoods if you’re hoping to achieve a specific look. Custom, of course, costs more. 

If you’re feeling up for a project and looking for a way to save on your hardwood flooring, “install unfinished wood then DIY the finishing,” says David. “This could save hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your home.” 

When it comes time to seal your floors, you’ll have the option to choose between oil- and water-based polyurethanes. Oil-based polyurethanes are less expensive and tend to last longer, but they take longer to dry, off-gas more, and have a bigger negative impact on indoor air quality. Water-based polyurethanes are more expensive, but a better choice if you’re concerned about VOCs or want a quick-curing product. 

Specialty design options

A non-standard width, shape, or pattern will also impact your flooring budget. According to Carson, these are the typical costs for popular specialty hardwood options: 

• Wide plank: $1.50 to $12 per square foot
• Herringbone pattern: $12 per square foot
• Genuine parquet: $20 to $45 per square foot 

Overall, mid-range materials will cost around $5 to $8 per sq. foot, says Richard Fung, owner of Forever Homes, a home builder in the U.S. and Canada. That means, when it comes to materials only, the cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors is roughly $5,000 – $8,000. 

Then, you’ll need to account for labor. 

How much does it cost to install hardwood floors: Prep work and installation

Herringbone patterns increase the costs of hardwood floor installation

(Image credit: Amtico)

‘Some of the biggest factors that affect costs of hardwood floor installation are subfloor conditions, floor preparation, and customized installation or layout,’ says Amanda Oninski, an interior designer for FLOOR360. ‘Current subfloors can be a mystery until you start removing the existing flooring, only then you can see what kind of costs and changes to the installation might be needed. A lot of times you see subfloors with water damage, incorrect installations, subfloors that are no longer recommended, and other issues that can increase the cost of installation.’

The cost of subfloor repairs can quickly put a dent in the budget. ‘Subfloor repairs can add $400 to $800 to the cost of your project, while joist repairs cost between $40 and $60 per square foot,’ adds Carson.

Finally, the layout of the room(s) you’re remodeling will make a big impact on your budget. If your hardwoods are a kitchen flooring idea, for example, you can expect to pay more for labor, since installers will have to work around cabinetry and islands. For a square room where flooring will be installed in a straight line, i.e. living room flooring, expect installation to be less expensive. 

When accounting for both prep work and installation, a good estimate for labor costs is $4-$5/square foot. 

Overall how much does it cost to install hardwood floors

Factoring in both labor and materials, ‘you can expect to pay around $8 to $12 per sq. foot for installing hardwood flooring,’ says Fung. ‘On average, installing 1000 sq. feet of hardwood flooring will cost you between $8,000-$12,000.’

How long does it take to install hardwood floors?

Besides cost, timeline is often the part of a flooring project that concerns homeowners most. For one, the longer the job takes, the more it generally costs. Plus, installing hardwood floors requires furniture to be moved out of the home (or to another room if the flooring install is confined to only a portion of the home), and some homeowners may even find it easier to move out while the project is underway.

If you’re installing hardwood floors in your entire home, you can expect the entire process to take a week or two.

First, the flooring must acclimate to your home, which requires the flooring materials to sit inside your home for a few days before installation can begin. This helps prevent warping after the floors are installed.

Once the flooring is ready to install, the install time will depends on the type of flooring and the size of your space. Installing pre-finished floors in a single room can be done in as little as a day, while installing unfinished floors throughout an entire home can take a week or more. 

Are hardwood floors a good investment?

Regardless of the upfront costs, installing hardwood floors in your home is generally considered a good investment. Not only is hardwood durable and versatile, it’s desirable, which makes it a boon to resale value.

According to a survey of more than 1,200 people from 50floor.com, when asked about the type of flooring they’d choose for their homes, nearly half of respondents voted for hardwood floors. Laminate floors, the next most-popular choice, got only 17 percent of the vote.

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New offerings add convenience and layers of defense against fleas, ticks, mosquitoes & flies

Mosquito & Fly Aerosol Spray, Flea & Tick Collar, Flea & Tick Shampoo and Flea & Tick Spot On

Mosquito & Fly Aerosol Spray, Flea & Tick Collar, Flea & Tick Shampoo and Flea & Tick Spot On

AUSTIN, Texas, March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wondercide, the leader in safe and effective pest protection for pets, people, homes, and yards, announced a new lineup of plant-powered products debuting this spring. The first to launch was the Mosquito & Fly aerosol spray ($12.99 MSRP), and now through April, three new products expand the company’s Flea & Tick offering for dogs and cats. Flea & Tick Shampoo ($19.99 MSRP), Flea & Tick Collar ($19.99 MSRP), and Flea & Tick Spot On ($19.99). These new solutions continue the Wondercide approach to Treat Nature with Nature™.

NEW Mosquito & Fly Product

For indoor and outdoor use, the Mosquito & Fly is a plant-powered aerosol spray designed to quickly kill mosquitoes and flies, with the ability to kill over 20 other bothersome bugs, such as drain flies, fruit flies, gnats, and more.

Powered by geraniol and lemongrass oil, this spray kills by contact and, when used as directed, is safe to use around kids and pets. The aerosol is propelled by carbon dioxide (CO2) and does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or lower indoor air quality. Once empty, the container is recyclable. Available now at Wondercide.com and Amazon.com.

NEW Flea & Tick Products

The entire lineup of the new Flea & Tick products features natural cedarwood and peppermint oil with a fresh peppermint scent. In further innovation, the Flea & Tick Collar and Flea & Tick Spot On offer pet parents added convenience and a safe alternative to conventional spot drops and collars when used as directed. Flea & Tick Spot On, Collar, and Shampoo will be available for purchase online at Wondercide.com, Amazon.com, Chewy.com, and pet specialty retailers in the U.S.

• The Flea & Tick Shampoo is Wondercide’s first liquid shampoo. Made for dogs and cats four months or older, it kills fleas and ticks by contact and repels them, making the shampoo an excellent first step in treating an active infestation or as part of an ongoing flea-and-tick maintenance routine. The shampoo is free of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and helps soothe itchy skin from bug bites.

• Flea & Tick Collar comes in two versions – one for dogs (up to 23″ neck) and one for cats (up to 13″ neck). The water-resistant collars are designed for pets four months or older and offer up to four months of continuous protection against fleas and ticks, up to one month of protection against mosquitoes. The collars feature a breakaway safety feature that will protect pets if a bit too much tension is applied.

• Flea & Tick Spot On is designed for dogs and cats three months or older. Each box contains three monthly applications. One size is available for cats, while three sizes in small, medium and large are available for dogs. Each water-resistant monthly application repels mosquitoes for up to seven days in addition to repelling fleas and ticks for up to 30 days.

Story continues

With the new product offerings, Wondercide customers can be worry-free in 1-2-3.

1. Kill fleas and ticks on your pet with Flea & Tick Shampoo and Flea & Tick Pets + Home spray, the original flea-and-tick solution.

2. Repel and prevent fleas and ticks on your pet with Flea & Tick Collar or Flea & Tick Spot On.

3. Maintain control indoors with Flea & Tick Pets + Home and outdoors with Flea & Tick Yard + Garden spray.

As with all Wondercide products, these new solutions are powered by plants and safe to use around kids when used as directed. Mosquito & Fly Spray, Flea & Tick Shampoo, Flea & Tick Spot Collar, and Flea & Tick Spot On are 25b products (deemed by the EPA to be “minimum risk” to humans and the environment) and cruelty-free, tested only on the bugs they’re designed to eliminate. All packaging is recyclable including the aerosol once empty.

“When you love someone, you do everything in your power to protect them. I founded Wondercide because I knew there had to be a better way to protect my dog Luna, and help other families keep their loved ones protected,” said Stephanie Boone, Founder and CEO of Wondercide. “These new products add extra layers of plant-derived protection, while the Collar and Spot On deliver convenience to busy pet parents. They are easy to use and will help make life better for Packs of every kind, everywhere.”

To date, Wondercide has protected over 1.5 million families and counting! For more information visit www.wondercide.com.

About Wondercide

Founded in 2009 and as seen on Shark Tank in 2016, Wondercide is an Austin, TX company on a mission to protect pets, families, homes, and yards from pests like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes with safe, plant-based, proven-to-work solutions. The signature line of products is powered by steam-distilled, natural essential oils. Wondercide is woman-founded, family-friendly, and USA-made with US and global components. Wondercide is driven by Fierce Love® to help you Protect Your Pack® and is available for purchase on Wondercide.com, Amazon.com, Chewy.com, and at select pet-specialty retail stores nationwide.

For Press Inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Related Images

Image 1: Mosquito & Fly Aerosol Spray, Flea & Tick Collar, Flea & Tick Shampoo and Flea & Tick Spot On

Wondercide expands their line of plant-powered pest protection for pets and home, featuring new solutions that continue the Wondercide approach to Treat Nature with Nature™.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment

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The Biden administration will announce new building ventilation standards for schools and businesses on Thursday — a welcome step for experts who feel the U.S. has long been behind the curve on using air filtration as a valuable tool to fight COVID-19.

The new guidance, the latest addition to President Joe Biden’s recent COVID-19 plan, is the first time such a standard has been created at the national level, synthesizing expert guidance on how clean air can prevent the spread of illness.

The new recommendations, which will be rolled out by the Environmental Protection Agency, urge all building owners and operators to hit four main steps in the form of a detailed “checklist” to ultimately get more fresh air in.

“It’s a two-page document. It’s written in plain language, very straightforward,” Mary Wall, a senior policy adviser at the White House, told ABC News. “We think this is an action list that really all buildings can draw from.”

The checklist includes tasks that cost money, like hiring an expert in HVAC systems to assess the building or adding extra ventilation to “higher risk areas,” like a school nurses office, but also immediate, low-effort advice like opening windows and doors at opposite sides of a room to allow for “cross ventilation.”

A student raises her hand during a third grade class at Highland Elementary School in Las Cruces, New Mexico, March 4, 2022.

In the next few weeks, the White House will also announce a recognition program, Wall said, which will award buildings for their ventilation systems, similar to LEED certification awards for sustainable buildings.

Experts like Dr. Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, say the new guidance will be a necessary part of the country’s COVID-19 response.

“The thing I think that is most important about this is the White House is using its pulpit to drive home the message that clean air and buildings matter. That sounds simple, but it’s actually long overdue,” said Allen, who advised the White House on the policy and has publicly pushed for greater focus on ventilation since early in the pandemic.

While it could have been helpful over the last two years, this is a particularly good moment to turn attention toward ventilation, Allen said, because it can be “operating all the time, in the background,” even as masking has become a personal choice.

It also comes at a time when Americans are enjoying relaxed coronavirus measures, but cautiously eying a rise in cases in Europe and China from a more transmissible strain of omicron called the BA.2 variant that is expected to soon hit the U.S. to the same effect.

“We should take this reprieve. We’re certainly gonna get another curveball in the future. When, where or what that looks like is undetermined, but we should be ready,” Allen said. “These are improvements we could be making — getting our buildings ready.”

The Biden administration has no way to enforce the recommendations, though some experts sees it as a strong first step.

A sign reminds students of the mask requirement, Aug. 30, 2021, on the first day of school at Kenwood Academy in Chicago.

David Michaels, another adviser on the plan and a former head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, acknowledged that the federal government has no authority over indoor air, but compared this step to how the ban on indoor smoking became widespread in the early 2000s, despite no national laws in place.

“This will push states and cities to issue indoor rules just as they did on tobacco smoke,” said Michaels, who is also a professor at George Washington University.

No new federal funding has been set aside to encourage buildings to upgrade their ventilation.

Wall pointed to existing funding streams, including the $122 billion allocated to schools through the American Rescue Plan for coronavirus relief and money in the infrastructure legislation Biden signed in November, as resources to help pay for improvements.

The White House intends the latest EPA standards to “re-raise this as an important priority,” Wall said, particularly for schools that haven’t yet been able to invest in better ventilation.

“I think that this is something that people haven’t been as focused on, but that it can be very effective in reducing COVID spread,” Wall said.

Proponents of improving the nation’s indoor air quality also point to “decades of benefits that go beyond COVID.”

In schools, better air quality has been shown to impact student test performance in math and reading. It’s also led to reduced asthma attacks and fewer absences, Allen said.

On the business front, studies have shown fewer workers call out sick, higher cognitive function and better productivity. Allen, in his research, estimated the benefit of good air quality to be about $7,000 per person, per year, before COVID.

“We should have been doing this all along. But in terms of why now with COVID, we should be prepared for whatever comes next,” Allen said.

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Sensirion Holding AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
17.03.2022 / 10:18

Media Release
17 March 2022, Sensirion AG, 8712 Stäfa, Schweiz

Sensirion inside: Jya launches state-of-the-art air purifiers

Sensirion is proud to announce that Smartmi Tech’s high-end air purifier brand Jya relies on Sensirion environmental sensors for its Fjord series air purifiers designed to measure VOCs (volatile organic compounds), temperature and humidity. The air purifiers in the Fjord series help to reliably monitor and efficiently clean indoor air, improving people’s health and wellbeing.

Stäfa, Switzerland – There are growing concerns about air pollution levels, both outdoors and indoors. Good air quality is a key component of healthy living, since long-term exposure to polluted air can lead to permanent health issues. Air in enclosed spaces can even be more polluted than outdoor air because indoor air is not circulated as much as outdoor air. Considering that people spent most of their time indoors, it is essential to eliminate air pollutants to improve indoor air quality and thus well-being.

And that’s where Jya’s Fjord series comes in. Jya now is now offering the Fjord and Fjord Pro air purifiers that impress with their sophisticated design and efficiently remove concentrations of air pollutants to provide clean air indoors. Both devices are packed with innovative features and smart technologies designed to detect not only temperature and humidity but also other important air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10 – like bacteria, smoke, dust, pet dander, pollen, etc.) and VOCs (gases, odors, etc.). The Jya Fjord has a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 450 m3/h, cleaning air in up to 54 m2 (581 sq. ft.) every hour, while the Pro version has a CADR of 550 m3/h, cleaning air in up to 62 m2 (667 sq. ft.). They protect against 99.95% of all kinds of invisible harmful substances, giving the device compelling performance, outstanding purification capabilities and excellent efficiency. The key air quality data is shown on an HD OLED touchscreen display with touch controls that toggle through different stats, making it easy to identify the indoor air quality conditions or switch to different operating modes. The devices can also work as standalone solutions and automatically with the built-in air quality sensors that auto-adjust the running speed. Thanks to the Smartmi Link app, the Jya air purifiers are compatible with all major smart home systems such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.

“As the importance of good air quality and the use of air purifiers is increasing, sensor technologies are playing a crucial role in emerging scenarios. Thanks to Sensirion’s high-quality and exceptionally accurate environmental sensors, our air treatment devices can constantly and reliably monitor various indoor air pollutants and efficiently improve indoor air quality,” says Dai Xin, Head of R&D at Jya.

The air purifiers in Jya’s Fjord series rely on Sensirion’s innovative environmental sensors, such as the VOC sensor and the humidity and temperature sensor. Sensirion’s environmental sensor solutions provide detailed and highly reliable information about relevant environmental parameters, all while enabling easy integration into applications for customers. Thanks to Sensirion’s smart sensor solutions, air purifiers can monitor air quality reliably and accurately, while operating automatically to increase energy efficiency and minimize power consumption.

“We are proud of the strong relationship we have formed with Jya and that we can count on them among our customers. Jya’s state-of-the-art air purifiers are the perfect application for our environmental sensors, offering highly reliable and accurate environmental monitoring. As two innovative companies, our goal is to enable smart and reliable applications that improve health and quality of life,” says Kang Wang, Area Sales Manager at Sensirion China Co. Ltd.

Jya’s Fjord series air purifiers are available now. Learn more about Jya at https://eu.jyalife.com/

For more information about Sensirion’s environmental sensors, please visit www.sensirion.com

About Sensirion – Experts for Environmental and Flow Sensor Solutions

Sensirion is one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of sensors and sensor solutions that improve efficiency, health, safety, and comfort. Founded in 1998, Sensirion now employs around 1’000 people at its headquarters in Stäfa, Switzerland and in numerous international subsidiaries. Sensirion sensors can be used to measure a wide range of environmental parameters and liquid flow rates precisely and reliably. The company’s aim is to make the world smarter with pioneering sensor technology. As a pioneer in innovation, Sensirion develops solutions for the specific needs of customers and partners from the automotive, industrial, medical technology and consumer electronics markets, as well as high-quality products for cost-efficient mass production. More information and current key figures at www.sensirion.com.

About Smartmi Tech – A Global Pioneer of Home Appliance Consumption Upgrade

Since the establishment of 2014, Smartmi has been committed to making heart-moving home appliances. By merging smart tech with home appliances, Smartmi focuses on creating high-quality products that help improve the quality of life for users. Smartmi has achieved No.1 shipment in the industry of air purifier in China throughout the years, while also has won G-mark Award, iF Design Award, Reddot Award and China’s Red Star Award multiple times. Through the products, Smartmi reshapes people’s lifestyle continuously. Here at Smartmi we take pride in releasing dozens of products with designs that exceeds the industry, quality that exceeds the standard, and user experience that exceeds expectation and chasing our vision of becoming a global pioneer in home appliance consumption upgrade.

About Jya

Jya, a professional purifier brand under Smartmi Tech, provide differentiated air purification solutions for families and businesses that pay attention to air health upon the technology accumulation and supply chain advantages of Smartmi Technology in this field. The brand gene of “Jya” originates from the in-depth understanding of air purification products by Smartmi Technology. Jya brings the ultimate experience of air purification to users through continuous leading technology application, innovative function design and consumption scenario development. It is a brand innovator promoting the upgrading of the industry. In the future, Jya will proactively explore innovative technologies and application scenarios in other frontier innovation fields of professional purification, to guard people’s home health environment and continuously meet people’s diversified needs for quality life.

Additional features:

File: Jya_Air_Purifiers_Fjord_Series

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From extreme heat and humidity to freezing temperatures to mold that makes children and teachers sick, Connecticut schools are in dire need of improved indoor air quality, and a bill before the legislature would address that.

During a public hearing before the legislature’s Labor Committee yesterday, CEA President Kate Dias spoke up on behalf of not just CEA members, but an entire coalition of organizations who have come together to advocate for improving air quality in schools.

“It’s exciting to see so many people get on board—parents, educators, labor unions, contractors, trade workers, public employees, environmental groups, healthcare workers,” Dias said. “We’re all coming together around what we recognize to be an imperative need to address indoor air quality in schools.”

S.B. 423, An Act Improving Indoor Air Quality in Public School Classrooms, seeks to establish school temperature and humidity limits and provide bond funding for remediation and installation of modern HVAC systems. By June 30, 2026, schools would be required to maintain indoor temperatures between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit (the same temperature range that OSHA recommends for office buildings) and relative humidity levels between 20 to 60 percent.

“The bill also provides an equitable way to fund the air handling upgrades—in the same way we reimburse cities and towns for fixing a leaky school roof—through school construction bond funds,” said CEA Executive Director Donald Williams. “The idea that fixing a leaky roof is eligible for reimbursement but fixing an air handling system is not, does not make sense. This change is long overdue and would allow all towns to fix their air quality problems.”

How extreme temperatures and mold affect teaching and learning 

A number of teachers submitted testimony, sharing with legislators how extreme temperatures and poor air quality negatively impact their students.

“In the very warm days of May and June as well as late August into October my classroom becomes unbearable,” wrote Shelton teacher Kristen Cannon, explaining that temperatures in her classroom often exceed 90 degrees. “I often have to stop teaching to catch my breath and regain my train of thought since I am so distracted by the heat. If it is difficult for me to focus on teaching and ignore the heat, imagine what it does for my 20 plus students. The students are exhausted and distracted and often complain of headaches and not feeling well due to the lack of airflow.”

Stamford teacher Tara Karlson shared with legislators that conditions in her classroom are wildly variable.

“We have come into class to a 40 degree room and a 110 degree room,” she wrote. “On those days, we must relocate. The room is not safe. The humidity, once the heat is on, varies between 12 and 17 percent. With personally purchased and maintained humidifiers and five large fish tanks, I can sometimes keep humidity around 15 percent. Once the heat is turned off, the humidity levels change. The humidity increases rapidly and tends to be between 60 and 75 percent. I have even come into the classroom to a condensation flood. The walls were dripping and there was standing water on all surfaces, including desks and chairs.”

“There are laws against leaving kids and pets in hot cars… why is there no law on how hot we can be within a classroom setting?” asked Southington teacher Michelle Daigle. Explaining that her classroom regularly exceeds 80 degrees, while the rooms on her school’s second floor can climb above 90, she added, “No one can teach in those elements and students cannot learn. Have you ever been in a classroom at 2:30 in the afternoon on a 90 degree day? Kids and teachers alike feel sick in those conditions, and it needs to be fixed! I have kids with asthma, coughs, congestion, allergies, and other health impairments. The fact that we are sweltering all day without AC increases these issues.”

Matthew Tiscia is one of many Stamford teachers to have been sickened due to a serious mold problem in school buildings. “I had to miss a whole school year because of a mold issue. Mold has been an issue at our school, but I never thought anything of it until I got sick. I started having anxiety attacks, low mood and digestive disorders, and couldn’t figure out why. It took lots of money from tests and different doctors to finally figure out that I had mold toxicity.”

“My allergies start the moment I walk into the building and end the moment I walk out,” wrote Thompson educator Louise Morrison. “Over the years, my room has flooded several times from roof issues. Mold grows behind the ceiling tiles, there are huge brown spots on the ceiling. Instead of addressing the mold, new ceiling tiles are put up, so no one can see where the issues are.”

Dias knows firsthand what teaching in inhospitable conditions is like.

“I work as a high school math teacher in a building that was built in the 50s. My classroom is on the second floor of an unairconditioned building overlooking a black tar roof that radiates heat directly into my classroom,” she told legislators. Teaching during the pandemic, she was required to keep windows open, even on the coldest days when snow would blow in on her students.

“The absence of standards in statute means we are allowing these things to happen,” Dias said. “We are allowing windows to be kept open in winter. We are allowing kids to sit in 95 degree classrooms. If we don’t come out of this session with standards, we will not have changed a single thing. The additional $90 million from the governor, the bond allowances, those are all really important, but the last two years have proven to us that money doesn’t solve this problem. We have had money in abundance, but we have not spent it on this issue because we don’t have to—it hasn’t been a priority. It’s not that districts don’t care, but absent standards, it doesn’t make the list. It’s not a priority.”

Labor Committee Co-Chair Representative Robyn Porter told Dias, “This bill says you matter, the faculty matter, the children matter, education matters. How do you learn when you’re freezing cold? How do you learn when you’re overheating?”

Dias agreed. “This is more than just an indoor air quality bill. It’s a bill that says we as a state care, it’s a bill that says we’re invested, and it’s a bill that says our public schools are great places to grow and to work.”

Speak up for better conditions in schools and share your stories with legislators about what they don’t see in schools today.

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Originally Appeared Here

Spring is arriving soon, which means warmer temperatures and more opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities.

But if you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from allergies, going outside when pollen is in the air may not be a good idea.

Here’s how to keep your seasonal allergies in check during the warmer months.

What causes spring allergies?

The biggest cause of spring allergies is pollen, according to WebMD.

In spring, trees, grasses and weeds release tiny grains of pollen into the air to fertilize other plants. When they enter your nose, your immune system can mistake the pollen for a danger and release antibodies that attack the allergens.

Symptoms

This often leads to the release of histamines into your blood, which can trigger allergy symptoms like:

n Runny nose

n Watery eyes

n Sneezing

n Coughing

n Itchy eyes and nose

n Dark circles under the eyes

How to reduce your exposure to allergy triggers

There are steps you can take to reduce your exposure to things that trigger your allergy symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic:

n Stay inside on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after it rains, when pollen is cleared from the air.

n Shower after spending time outside to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.

n Wear a pollen mask if you decide to do chores outside.

n Avoid outdoor activities in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.

n Close your doors and windows at night or when pollen counts are high.

n Start taking allergy medications before your symptoms appear.

Over-the-counter remedies for allergies

According to Mayo Clinic, many types of nonprescription medications can help ease allergy symptoms. They include:

n Oral antihistamines to relieve sneezing, itching, runny nose and watery eyes like Claritin, Alavert, Zyrtec Allergy and Allegra Allergy

n Decongestants to provide relief from nasal stuffiness like Sudafed and Afrinol

n Nasal spray to ease allergy symptoms

n Some OTC medications like Claritin-D and Allegra-D that combine an antihistamine with a decongestant

How to keep the air inside your house allergen-free

It’s impossible to eliminate all the allergens from the air in your home, Mayo Clinic says, but these methods can help reduce them:

n Use high-efficiency filters in your air conditioning unit and follow regular maintenance schedules.

n Keep indoor air dry with a dehumidifier.

n Use a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom.

n Use a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA air filter.

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Originally Appeared Here

Asthma is a condition in which a person’s airways narrow and swell making breathing difficult.

For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. But for others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening situation.

Steven Reifman, 73, was being examined by Dr. Kathleen Dass — and the grandfather of 2 has battled with asthma since he was 8 years old.

“When you can’t breathe and you are thinking about your next breath, it takes a tremendous psychological effort, it really does… like, ‘oh God, I got to breathe again,'” said Steven.

Carrying a rescue inhaler all the time and on bad days, visiting the emergency room would be the norm for Steven, and even though all that has changed since he started treatment with Dr. Dass, Steven hopes that his journey can motivate others.

“You really do worry about the ability to take your next breath and it’s extremely distressing that something so fundamental, it would be like worrying about if your heart was going to beat next,” said Steven.

Dr. Dass says asthma is incredibly common, “it’s every other patient I’m seeing right now.” Dr. Dass says studies also show that asthma, in general, tends to affect more females than males.

“People are not able to go to school, they are not able to do their basic activities of daily living, they’re not able to go to work, it affects every aspect, it also affects their sleep,” said Dr. Dass.

Dr. Steve McGraw from Ascension Providence Hospital says viruses, fluctuations in temperature — all those combined with air pollution can make it challenging.

“We have really big industrial sites, that make a lot of the material that makes our air quality worse. How close are they to where people live? Can we do things to mitigate what comes out of their smokestacks?” said Dr. McGraw.

The American Lung Association’s recent State of the Air report reveals that Detroit’s particle pollution, which directly impacts air quality, recorded more unhealthy days with daily spikes in 2021 and slightly worsened compared to the years prior.

The Michigan Department of Health said, “they are working to improve indoor air quality in Detroit childcare facilities, provide in-home asthma education in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, and develop policies to reduce bus and car idling on school property as well as promoting electrification of school buses.”

On a personal level, both doctors recommend not smoking around asthmatic patients, keeping homes free of insects like cockroaches, and getting an allergy test whenever possible as most allergies could trigger an asthmatic event.

This story was originally published by WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan.

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Originally Appeared Here

Oceano and the area designated as CDF/Mesa 2 zone in Nipomo, which includes Highway 1 between Callender Road and Calle Bendita, are places with a long history of air pollution concerns.

“[They] regularly see more particulate matter in their air, so we wanted to target those areas so they can clean their indoor air pollution when air pollution outside is typically higher,” explained Meghan Field, San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District Public Information Officer.

These are high-priority zones that will have access to 600 free air purifiers that will be distributed in April and May by the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District.

“We wanted to pick an area that was impacted by the blowing dust, wildfire smoke, and is typically an area underserved in our county,” Field added.

Focusing on Oceano, U.S. Census data shows that 45% of the population is Hispanic and 45% white, which is why spreading the word about these purifiers will be done in both English and Spanish.

“We’ve partnered with Center for Family Strengthening, their Promotores Collaborative [also known as community trusted messengers] to try to get the message out about this program to our Spanish-speaking community,” Field said.

It is common for residents to have to stay indoors when conditions are unhealthy.

“We hear reports of people that have allergies or have exacerbating preexisting lung conditions, but asthma seems to be a regular complaint,” Field said.

To receive a purifier, the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District has some requirements.

“One purifier per home. People will need to qualify for that,” Field explained. “We won’t be retaining any information, but people will need to prove that they live in one of those areas and they’ll need to show income eligibility.”

A couple of examples are income taxes or participation in low-income programs such as WIC, SNAP or Section 8 housing.

“Latinos have to be informed and educated that these are there provided free of cost because sometimes they can’t afford it,” said Allene Villa, Oceano Community Services District Director.

At the distribution events, there will be workshops at which people can learn how to use an air purifier, where it should be placed and general tips on how to keep clean air inside your home.

The first of two pop-up events will take place on April 30, 2022, at 9 a.m., and the second on May 3, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. Both will be at the Oceano Community Services District located at 1655 Front Street in Oceano.

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Originally Appeared Here

03.16.22

Includes Congressionally Directed Spending Allocations for Alaska, Investments for Providing Economic Opportunities & Reauthorization of VAWA

President Biden signed the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act into law yesterday. The bill includes Congressionally Directed Spending allocations U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) secured for over 65 local projects in Alaska, through a new process which restores Alaskans’ ability to have a voice in federal budget decisions by helping to identify and address needs in the state.

In addition to funding priorities for Alaskan communities and emergency aid for Ukraine, the bill includes policy provisions authored by Senator Murkowski such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization Act of 2022 and the Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services (Rural MOMS) Act.

“Today is a big victory for every Alaskan who will benefit as a result of this bill package being signed into law. Through consultation with Alaskans, I was able to secure important investments that will spur economic development, improve Alaskans’ quality of life, and make our communities safer—and that’s just scratching the surface. Through the reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending process, Alaskan taxpayer dollars are returning back to the state in the ways in which communities have prioritized—giving them a greater say in the targeted projects that need our most immediate support,” said Senator Murkowski. “There were also broader initiatives included that will make a significant impact across the state. The Rural MOMS Act will help ensure that new and expecting moms living in rural communities receive the care they need. And with reauthorization of VAWA, we are empowering survivors to have access to the support they need, while also creating a safer future for all women. I look forward to seeing firsthand the positive, tangible impacts this bill package will have on all Alaskans.”

Materials:

• Click here for a list of bill highlights and funding priorities.
• Click here for Interior-Environment specific highlights, of which Senator Murkowski is Ranking Member.
• Click here for VAWA reauthorization provisions.   
• Click here for the full list of Congressionally Directed Spending allocations.

ICYMI: What They Are Saying about Congressionally Directed Spending to Alaska

Click here to view a map of Alaska’s FY22 Congressionally Directed Spending allocations and ‘What They’re Saying.’

 

• Fairbanks: $10 million to assess known contamination, remediate, and demolish the Polaris Building, which poses significant health and safety risks to the Fairbanks community.

“Once bids are reviewed, a contract awarded, the building eventually demolished and debris cleared, the next goal will be to fill in the vacant lot. The options are boundless. It will be a cornerstone for redevelopment of downtown Fairbanks and the goal is to put something there to help bring a vibrant economy to the downtown. Without Senator Murkowski’s support, it would not have been possible. Senator Murkowski and her staff did the heavy lifting and Fairbanks will be the better for it. This funding, to the city of Fairbanks, will remove an eyesore in the downtown that has not been occupied or operated in over 20 years. I knew Senator Murkowski was the only one whom could achieve this for the city of Fairbanks. And the senator achieved it.  Period.”

– David Pruhs, Chairman of the Polaris Building Working Group

• Statewide: $100,000 to the Alaska Division of Agriculture for statewide surveys of invasive pests. 

“The threat of invasive species is a serious concern for Alaska and it’s pristine environment. The costs of eradication after an infestation is established increase exponentially, as shown by the millions of dollars being spent on Elodea eradication. Funding to survey and find problem invasive(s) before they become established is crucial to keeping Alaska clean. We appreciate Senator Murkowski and Alaska’s Congressional Delegation providing this direct funding provided through the Animal and Plant Health Service (APHIS) to the Alaska Division of Agriculture.”

– David W. Schade, Director of the Alaska Division of Agriculture

• Metlakatla: $540,000 to provide the Metlakatla Indian Community with an emergency backup generator.

“We are thrilled to hear the news that two of Metlakatla’s capital requests have been funded! We thank Senator Murkowski for hearing us and working hard to deliver on these appropriations which are critical to Metlakatla’s economic development, environmental stewardship, and energy security. Senator Murkowski has always been a good, faithful friend and strong ally of ours, like family, like Uncle Ted who we know would be very proud, today, because your victories are Alaska’s victories. So, thank you, Aunty Lisa, for keeping our people close to your heart. We won’t forget it.”

– Albert Smith, Mayor, Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Islands Reserve

• Kenai: $385,000 to implement the community’s wildfire hazard mitigation plan, which includes addressing spruce bark beetle infestation that can lead to catastrophic wildfire. 

“This funding is critical to the City of Kenai as we look to address the devastating impacts of the spruce bark beetle infestation in our community and mitigate the increasing danger of wildfires created by the vast number of spruce trees killed by the spruce bark beetle. With this funding we will be able to remove thousands of hazardous trees in the City to protect homes and public facilities.”

– Brian Gabriel, Mayor of the City of Kenai

• Anchorage (Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium): $27.6 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to expand the Alaska Native Medical Center Emergency Department.

“We are extremely grateful to Senator Murkowski for securing the funding to expand and renovate the emergency department at the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC). This funding will address longstanding limitations in space and appropriate environment of care challenges in the emergency department and for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Quyana (thank you) to Senator Murkowski for your tireless work on behalf of Alaska Native people.”

– Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson, President/CEO, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

• Wasilla: $1.5 million to the Mat-Su Food Bank for warehouse renovations and equipment to improve the ability to collect and distribute food to those in need.

“The MatSu Food Bank is extremely grateful to Senator Murkowski for her recognition of our mission to fight food insecurity for the Alaskan people and the Matanuska Susitna Borough community. The $1,500,000 Congressionally Directed Spending award that she obtained for the Food Bank will allow us to build infrastructure we so desperately need to provide for local emergency food needs. On behalf of the staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers of the MatSu Food Bank, I express our sincerest gratitude to Senator Murkowski for helping us to help our community to fight food insecurity.” 

– Eddie Ezelle, Executive Director, MatSu Food Bank

• Juneau: $420,000 for Alaska Heat Smart to support the installation of air-source heat pumps in lower-income households.

“The Board of Alaska Heat Smart, a Juneau-based nonprofit, thanks Senator Murkowski for her Congressionally Directed grant. This funding will reduce heating costs by about $1,000 annually for more than 50 lower-income Juneau households by replacing inefficient heating systems with heat pumps. This is particularly timely given the recent surge in heating oil costs. Operating on clean hydroelectricity these heat pumps will also improve indoor air quality and contribute to Juneau’s climate goals by reducing carbon emissions.”

– Steve Behnke, President of the Board, Alaska Heat Smart

• Kotzebue: $27.7 million to the City of Kotzebue to support the construction of an access road from Kotzebue to Cape Blossom.

“The funding for the Cape Blossom Road is the next step towards building a deep water port that will help us reduce the cost of goods coming into our community. It will provide much needed economic relief and stimulate economic growth as well. We are grateful for the efforts of Senator Murkowski in supporting Rural Alaskans in this area through this bill.”

– Sandra Shroyer-Beaver, Mayor, City of Kotzebue

• Nome: $1.5 million to the Nome Community Center to provide housing and public health services for chronically homeless individuals through the Housing First Project of Nome.

“The Housing First project in Nome will provide permanent supported housing for chronic homeless.  The federal funding for the project helped us to secure the additional funding needed for construction.  If the federal government believed in the project, then state and local funders felt it was viable.  The project was launched by Nome Community Center after years of working on solutions for ending homelessness in Nome.”

– Rhonda Schneider, Executive Director, Nome Community Center

• Skagway: $10.2 million to expand capacity at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, which has recently experienced capacity difficulties due to increased use.

“On behalf of the Municipality of Skagway, I want to sincerely thank our federal delegation for once again working hard to support our community. We are thrilled that $10.2 million has been included in the FY22 appropriations bill for our Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade; the funding will ensure that we can continue to operate safely for the health and safety of residents and visitors alike.”

– Brad A. Ryan, Skagway Manager, Municipality of Skagway

• Fairbanks: $2 million for the University of Alaska Fairbanks to support the research, testing, and evaluation of counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) in law enforcement operations.

“The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks thanks Senator Murkowski for securing $2M for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) research in support of our law enforcement colleagues. We look forward to working with our Alaskan colleagues to identify and test C-UAS technologies that will work in Alaska’s challenging environment to protect law enforcement personnel, assets, and infrastructure from careless, clueless, and criminal UAS activities.”

– Dr. Cathy Cahill, Director, Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks

• Anchorage (University of Alaska Anchorage): $295,000 to update and expand medical skills workforce labs at UA.

“The shortage of health care professionals is particularly detrimental to Alaska. We face an aging population, health inequities, as well as high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault. This funding helps UAA grow our health workforce through technology and cutting-edge training for our graduates. We are grateful for Senator Murkowski’s support to strengthen Alaska’s health care workforce.”

– Andre Rosay, Dean of the College of Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage

• Sitka: $840,000 to the Sitka Sound Science Center for renovation of educational facilities used for aquaculture training programs.

“Sitka Sound Science Center is thrilled about this news. We are grateful that Congress is investing in aquaculture education in Alaska through our organization. This facility will support salmon, be a place of learning for generations to come and be a symbol of community spirit in coastal Alaska.” 

– Lisa Busch, Executive Director, Sitka Sound Science Center

• Statewide (Sealaska Heritage Institute): $250,000 to increase early literacy among Alaska Native children.

“I have to thank Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young for their hard work to fund our award-winning early literacy program Baby Raven Reads. This appropriation means we can continue the Baby Raven Reads program, which has been a boon to Native children across Southeast Alaska since it began in 2015. Studies have shown significant progress in early literacy skills among Baby Raven Reads participants, and the family activities and books developed through the program have proven to be a model for early-literacy programs. This program has succeeded because we teach children through the Native world view. They see themselves and their culture in our activities and books, and that makes learning and reading fun for them.” 

– Dr. Rosita Worl, President, Sealaska Heritage Institute

• Girdwood: $800,000 toward the construction of a new Community Health Clinic.

“We are very excited and grateful to Senator Murkowski for her many years of support for healthcare services in Girdwood. This funding will allow us to complete the final phases of our new clinic building so that we will have space to provide fully integrated behavioral health care in addition to primary care. This could include group therapy, support groups and health education seminars and other specialty care for the community. This is a wonderful boost!”

– Tawny Buck, Executive Director, Girdwood Health Clinic

• Petersburg Borough: $8 million for the construction of a new hospital. 

“Alaska’s population consists of 32 percent living in isolated rural communities off the road system, which results in unique challenges in providing timely and comprehensive quality healthcare to its residents. Over the past two years, rural community healthcare facilities were critical in maintaining routine operations of preventative, chronic and emergency care while quickly and efficiently mitigating the ever-changing risks of Covid-19. Petersburg Medical Center is a community based critical access hospital, long term care facility, primary care clinic and home health agency. Through its efforts to educate, vaccinate, treat, and care for patients, PMC helped lead the community in keeping its citizens, workers, schools, and economy safe from the disastrous results of Covid. PMC is one of the largest employers on Mitkof Island and is housed in a building that is at the very end of its useful life. This project is critical to the health and economic viability of the Borough of Petersburg and the people who call it home.”

– Phil Hofstetter, Petersburg Medical Center CEO

• Juneau: $2 million to Southeast Conference to help establish a pilot program for electric ferries.

“Since 1958, Southeast Conference has helped guide community, regional, state and national maritime priorities into a ferry system that has historically met the transportation needs of coastal Alaska. This investment is timely and will inform and facilitate strategic implementation of the next generation of a modernized fleet that meets Alaska’s community transportation needs!”

– Robert Venables, Executive Director, Southeast Conference

• Wrangell: $2.08 million to the City & Borough of Wrangell to fund a connection pipe between the Upper Reservoir and the Water Treatment Plant as a means of accessing the upper reservoir’s water.

“We greatly appreciate the work to help get the funding approved.  This project will greatly improve the safety of our upper dam reservoir and assist with the quality of our drinking water.”

– Jeff Good, Borough Manager, City & Borough of Wrangell

• Kodiak: $3.25 million to replace a failing wastewater lift station.

“The City of Kodiak is pleased to receive this funding appropriation spearheaded by Senator Murkowski and supported by our Alaskan Delegation. The residents of Kodiak can be assured infrastructure as important as safe water and sewer are maintained and functioning, allowing our community residents this basic amenity. This $3.25 million will be used to replace our largest wastewater lift station after a catastrophic failure occurred in May 2019. Thank you Senator for your steadfast support of residents of Alaska.”

– Mike Tvenge, Kodiak City Manager

• Old Harbor: $1.5 million to provide Emergency Operations Center Grant Program funding to the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor to construct a new tsunami shelter community center.

“On behalf of the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor, we would like to say Quyanaa ‘Thank you’.  This funding opportunity will help provide a tsunami shelter above the tsunami inundation zone for our community. Most of our main infrastructures are located within the threat zone. During evacuations most of our families are all huddled in their cars and trucks on the landfill road, gas is very expensive so when tsunami warnings go for hours on end, families would turn their vehicles off and sit in the cold to preserve fuel.  The funding for this shelter would be able to provide safe gathering and harboring during a time of crisis and keep our families safe from the elements.”

– Loyd Ashouwak Sr., Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor Tribal President 

• Fairbanks: $5 million for the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys to support efforts to map coastal and nearshore Alaska.

“We very much appreciate Senator Murkowski’s strong support for mapping Alaska, including mapping our coastlines and nearshore areas. Many of Alaska’s coastal communities face serious challenges from flooding and erosion, and the basic data needed to help those communities is lacking. These funds will fund the basic mapping and data collection needed to assess and mitigate flooding and erosion impacts, and improve community resilience. The State of Alaska views this as an opportunity to expand our coastal mapping collaborations with NOAA and collectively prioritize the use of these funds to address some of our many overlapping community-focused mapping objectives.”

– Steve Masterman, Outgoing State Geologist & Director of the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys

• Juneau: $2.5 million to United Human Services of Southeast Alaska to build a facility that will host multiple organizations providing public health and social services for vulnerable populations, to be known as the Teal Street Center.

“We’re delighted Teal Street Center will receive this essential support.  Teal Street Center will be the social services hub that serves thousands of Southeast Alaskans every year, bringing together programs for seniors, low-income households, veterans, youth and people with disabilities on one convenient campus.  This funding will help us complete construction and open the doors for our nine tenant agencies by the end of this year. Senator Murkowski has been a longtime champion of Teal Street Center, and we’re grateful for the time and effort she and her staff have dedicated to supporting social services in Juneau.” 

– Joan O’Keefe, Executive Director, United Human Service of SE Alaska

• Anchorage: $2 million to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) to support the development of housing units for essential professionals in rural Alaska.

“All Alaskans seek access to safe, quality, affordable housing. In rural communities, too often critical jobs that support community health and wellbeing go unfilled because there’s no place for families to live. We’ve heard stories of teachers who accept jobs in remote Alaska, land and visit their classroom and find out that the school building itself will also serve as their bedroom. The State of Alaska has long committed funds to our Teacher, Health and Public Safety Housing and we’re proud of the 500 units that have been constructed to meet community needs. Senator Murkowski’s announcement of $2 million she secured along with her colleagues for teacher/health professional and public safety housing will support AHFC and the State’s investment, improving health, safety and the lives of Alaska’s youth and elders.”

Bryan Butcher, CEO/Executive Director of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.

• Statewide (CDVSA): $5 million for the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to provide programmatic support for victim service organizations statewide

“Thank you Senator Murkowski! Your commitment to meeting the needs of victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence is unsurpassed. CDVSA is grateful for the $5.0 million set aside included in the FFY2022 federal budget, to meet the needs of Alaska programs serving victims, survivors and their families of domestic, sexual and other violent crimes. Due to the significant drop in federal 2021 VOCA funding, CDVSA has struggled to fully fund our 35 community-based grant programs; these one-time funds provide CDVSA with needed time to build a stable budget to support critical programs across Alaska.

– L. Diane Casto, Executive Director of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

• Statewide (Fish and Wildlife Service): $750,000 for an Invasive Species Early Detection Rapid Response Strike Team in southcentral Alaska

“The Service works closely with our partners to protect Alaska’s environment, economies, and ways of life from invasive species. Thanks to a strong statewide partnership, including the state of Alaska, we have been able to keep the number of invasive species in Alaska low. The funding for a new early detection and rapid response team in Southcentral Alaska invests in that successful partnership and will expand capacity in an area at high risk for invasive species introduction and spread.”

– Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Ketchikan: $236,000 to Women in Safe Homes (WISH) to support the final stages of construction of the WISH Shelter in Ketchikan.

“Women In Safe Homes (WISH) has seen an over 20% increase in the number of individuals seeking our service in the past 2 years. The federal funding was critical for the completion of the renovation of the new WISH domestic violence shelter. Our new shelter allows us to provide an ADA accessible, family supportive shelter for victims and their families as they work to move forward with their lives. WISH would not have been able to meet the growing demand for our services in our former location.”

– Agnes Moran, Executive Director, WISH

• Bethel: $500,000 to the University of Alaska Anchorage to launch an Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) Acceleration Academy at the Bethel campus.

“This is another step towards ANSEP’s goal to provide a quality education and a life of unlimited possibilities for every Alaskan. Together we are making a profound and positive impact on the lives of the students, their families, their communities, the state and within our strategic partner organizations that will endure for generations. I’d like to thank Senator Murkowski for her steadfast support of ANSEP and for providing high-quality educational opportunities in the State of Alaska.”

– Dr. Herb Schroeder, Vice Provost for ANSEP and Founder

• Anchorage (Covenant House Alaska): $500,000 to implement a statewide training program to address youth, child, and family homelessness in Alaska.

“The support from this funding will be transformational for young people who are experiencing homelessness and human trafficking in Alaska. It is our goal to help our statewide partners implement the highly successful, mobile case management program, known as the Permanency Navigator model. Young people in communities all across Alaska will benefit from having individualized navigation services to help them complete their education, land jobs and find permanent housing. This funding will also ensure statewide partners have the data framework to track their outcomes in order to lift the voices of our future generation of leaders. Senator Murkowski has been a tireless advocate for vulnerable young people and we thank her for ensuring all Alaska youth will get access to the support they need.”

– Alison E. Kear, Chief Executive Officer of Covenant House Alaska

“We are thrilled to receive this much needed support to bring increased coordination and training to agencies serving youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Alaska is a national leader in innovative service delivery given our unique geographic, transportation, and cost of development challenges. This funding will help agencies across the state have better access to training resources as well as provide unprecedented opportunities for youth with lived experience to continue to be the drivers of our work to prevent and end homelessness.”

– Brian Wilson, Executive Director of the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness.

• Anchorage: $2 million for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to support Alaska fisheries and the adoption of 21st century technology.

“The North Pacific Fisheries Association (NPFA) continues to advocate for the use of electronic monitoring (EM) as a tool to provide informative data to fisheries managers.  NPFA welcomes the news that Senator Lisa Murkowski’s Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request for $2 million to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission for the implementation of EM was included in the FY22 Omnibus Appropriations Legislation. Senator Murkowski and her staff continue to demonstrate a commitment to EM and robust fisheries management data. Thank you.”

– Malcolm Milne, Board President of North Pacific Fisheries Association 

“On behalf of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, I would like to thank Sen. Murkowski for her continued support of electronic monitoring technologies that meet the needs of Alaska’s community based commercial fishermen. Her recent Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request of $2 million to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to support the purchase of EM systems for use in Alaska’s fisheries will provide at-sea monitoring data that is critical for sustainable fisheries management for years to come.” 

– Linda Behnken Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association

• Kodiak: $987,000 for the Alaska Research Consortium to develop a refrigeration certificate training program for Alaska seafood processors.

“Participants from this program will be highly employable and meet the ongoing demand by the seafood industry for skilled ammonia refrigeration technicians in Alaska. Individuals will receive an industry certificate for each level, clearly stating the skill levels acquired during the training. This will give seafood processing managers a clear understanding of the skill-level of an employee applying to work in ammonia refrigeration.  The program will provide a career path for Alaskans in the seafood industry and ensure that processors have the personnel needed to sustain Alaska’s reputation for the highest quality seafood.”

– Jay Stinson, president of the Alaska Research Consortium.

• Wasilla: $23 million to the MyHouse Mat-Su Homeless Youth Center to fund the construction of a commercial building to support programs that offer services to homeless youth, which will be known as the Carson Cottle Center. This project would expand MyHouse’s successful job training programs statewide and offer additional space for the programs offered.

• Wasilla: $1 million for MyHouse Mat-Su to support additional programmatic services for clients, including job training, sex trafficking recovery support services, as well as transitional housing wrap-around services.

“MY House will use this funding to fulfill the needs of the homeless youth population we serve by offering a facility to bring together community-based partnerships with local businesses on the ground floor, offering job training and experience to clients and open to the public. This project will also provide office space for additional community partners, needed services for clients, a variety of housing options that are currently not available and will serve difficult-to-house youth and young adults in an effort to prevent adult homelessness in our community and across Alaska. 

This building is designed to be a sustainable green build by an architect that graduated from local Colony High School, who has a degree from Harvard University in Architecture and won a Time Magazine Award for a building design on Skid Row in Los Angeles. This will be a landmark facility for Alaska being built for our community by MY House, an organization that has received recognition both locally and nationally for effective services and very positive outcomes for homeless youth.”

– Michelle Overstreet, Founder and Executive Director of MY House

• Anchorage (United Way of Anchorage): $1 million to make improvements to the 2-1-1 system.

“Through earthquakes, pandemic, and countless everyday challenges, 2-1-1 has been a crucial lifeline to every Alaskan for 15 years. Today, whether they live in the heart of the city or far off the road system, 2-1-1 has risen to meet the challenge of the pandemic and connect Alaskans with badly needed testing, vaccine appointments, rent and utility help, and so much more. The federal funding that Senator Murkowski secured will allow United Way of Anchorage to expand and improve the 2-1-1 system to meet increasing demand. I thank Senator Murkowski for always putting Alaska first and working to fund Alaskan priorities like 2-1-1 that build more resilient communities.”

– Clark Halvorson, President and CEO of United Way of Anchorage

Related Issues:

Budget, Spending, and the National Debt

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