There’s Still Time! DOEE Offering No-Cost Benchmarking Data Verification
The Department of Energy and Environment is still accepting applications for its no-cost benchmarking data verification initiative! If you have a building over 50,000 square feet that is currently covered by the District’s benchmarking law, then you are eligible for free data verification. Data verification is a new benchmarking requirement established in the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018 and will need to be conducted by a third-party licensed professional in future reporting years. However, DOEE is offering a one-time no-cost data verification for your 2019 benchmarking data. With the upcoming Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS),having accurate and verified benchmarking data is especially crucial, as this data will be used to set the performance standards for the first BEPS cycle starting in 2021, as well as determine which properties fall above or below those standards.
If you are interested in receiving free data verification of your 2019 benchmarking data, you can access the application portal here. In order to receive data verification, you must completely fill out the application, answer all required questions, and provide all requested documents. If you would like to have more than one property verified, you will need to fill out an application for each unique property within the portal.
Is a Public Ally in Your Organization’s Future?
Public Allies is a social justice organization committed to changing the face and practice of leadership by recruiting and training talented young leaders, with a passion for social impact, to create meaningful change in our community. Allies are diverse, equity-centered, innovative problem solvers, dedicated to mobilizing community assets to develop solutions to local challenges. In partnership with nonprofit partners, the organization delivers its nationally recognized, values-driven, results-led apprenticeship to advance our mission to create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it. Public Allies Washington, D.C. is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network.
What do Allies Do?
Allies work on capacity-building projects that are likely to have an impact beyond their terms. This can include but is not limited to: recruiting volunteers, building partnerships, expanding outreach, and launching new programs.
What do Allies Learn?
The leadership development program challenges and supports Allies to become leaders who connect across social boundaries, facilitate collaborative action, recognize and mobilize community assets, commit to continuous learning and self development, and are accountable for creating impact. Allies gain a deep knowledge of their community and important skills from local community leaders, practitioners, educators, and residents. They also learn from the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of their fellow Allies.
For more details, check out these FAQs or visit the website.
DOEE to Offer No-Cost Data Verification to Property Owners & Managers
Calling all DC Property Owners & Managers! Under the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018, your property will be required to obtain third-party verification every 3 years for benchmarking data submitted to the District Department of Energy Environment (DOEE). Given this is a new requirement, DOEE is partnering with the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) to offer a one-time no-cost data verification for your 2019 benchmarking data.
With the upcoming Building Energy Performance Standards, having accurate and verified benchmarking data is crucial, as this data will be used to set the performance standard that this property will be required to meet starting in 2021. In future years, data verification will need to be conducted by a third-party licensed professional, so we highly recommend taking advantage of this no-cost offering.
If you are interested in having your 2019 benchmarking data verified by DOEE or the DCSEU for free, please fill out this interest form. In the interim, you can start gathering information that you will need in order to have your benchmarking data verified (i.e. 2019 utility bills and property use details) and start submitting an application here.
If you have any additional questions about this new requirement or this no-cost offering, please email DOEE directly at info.benchmark@dc.gov.
Todd A. Lee Scholarship Honors Commitment to Affordable Housing and Education
The Todd A. Lee Scholarship commemorates an outstanding District of Columbia legend. Todd A. Lee was the Executive Director and CEO of the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency from 2016 to 2020.
During his lifetime his career focus was on innovation, infrastructure/process, and financing in real estate. He came to DCHFA because he wanted to have an impact in the city through the preservation and construction of affordable and workforce housing in the District of Columbia.
Graduate students that aspire to be future leaders in the field of affordable housing are encouraged to apply by July 31st to be considered for the awarding of the first Todd A. Lee Scholarship.
View eligibility requirements and the application on DCHFA’s website.
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Assistance
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is intended to offer businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic economic assistance with completely forgivable principal. But to get that full loan forgiveness, recipients must navigate a process with complex rules and calculations, and any forgiveness application errors, documentation missteps, and other lapses mean exposure: A risk of leaving some PPP loan forgiveness on the table.
If you or your business received a PPP loan, CohnReznick is here to assist you with navigating the forgiveness process and calculation. The organization offers customized assistance with PPP loan forgiveness consulting and support, as well as agreed-upon procedures (AUP) engagements.
It can provide the following services to help ensure proper governance through the PPP loan forgiveness process based on your businesses’ individual needs:
PPP loan forgiveness consulting
Gain confidence that the complex PPP forgiveness calculations have been done correctly, with the right methods. Customized to your needs, the consulting services help support your application and optimize your forgiveness, taking into consideration such items as eligible payroll and non-payroll costs, optimization and calculation of full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), salary computations, rehire exemptions, required documentation, and other items relating to the forgiveness calculation.
Agreed-upon procedures (AUP) engagements
Acting in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) guidelines, the Assurance team members will conduct procedures relating to your documentation of expenses supporting your PPP loan forgiveness application. These procedures help ensure proper governance and can offer your boards, audit committees, and investors a sense of security.
If you’re interested in learning more and reaching out to the CohnReznick team, visit the website here.
New Members
Fernando Miranda Jr.March 22, 2023 - 3:12 pm
Regions Affordable HousingFebruary 10, 2023 - 11:45 am
Compass Inc.January 23, 2023 - 11:38 am
New World DevelopersAugust 17, 2022 - 3:41 pm- BHI- Construction and Real Estate DevelopmentAugust 17, 2022 - 3:39 pm
Paragon Construction Group, Inc.August 17, 2022 - 3:38 pm