Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

True Pigments rests on 25 years of collaboration between Rural Action and our partners. The initial goal was to treat acid mine drainage, bringing streams back to life, but in the process we found a way to make the iron oxide industry more sustainable and combat climate change. Our technology can curb emissions by creating a renewable source of iron oxide, decreasing the amount of iron mined or created synthetically. After operating a successful pilot scale system, we‚ re ready to scale up. We‚ re currently providing pigment to Gamblin Artists Colors, with a boxed set of our colors ready for release.

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Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

A primary goal of True Pigments is to provide economic benefit to lower income areas in Appalachian Ohio that have traditionally been impacted by extraction-based industries that took valuable resources away from the region and left economic depression and pollution in their wake. With focus on economic diversity, the full scale True Pigments facility will benefit the local economy by increasing employment with good wages (average salary in year 1 is $51,300), benefits, and expanding the tax base in Athens County and the state of Ohio. In the first decade of operation, as the True Pigments project grows and refines its processes, it will produce: 
1. At least $2,052,000 in wages paid to local employees 
2. A total economic impact of more than $21.7 million 
3. State and local tax impacts of $723,870 
4. Federal tax impacts of $851,990 
Since any net profits from the business will be retained by the business or passed through to Rural Action (a non-profit organization) as opposed to outside investor ownership, the money will stay in the region to be allocated toward additional watershed treatment infrastructure, staff, monitoring, and environmental education using the healthier watershed created by this process. This impact is additionally meaningful because the business would be located in the Millfield zip code of 45761, which has only 8 other registered businesses with a total annual payroll of $194,000. In comparison, the median Ohio zip code has 52 businesses with an annual payroll of $24.2 million (2016 Zip Code Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau). This project alone will double the annual payroll of the Millfield zip code, creating a noticeable positive impact on the local economy. 
In addition to the direct economic impact of job creation, restoring seven miles of a perennial stream (Sunday Creek) in the Hocking River watershed to a fishable condition has economic impacts as well. According to the 2006 United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) economic impact study on fishing and hunting, in Ohio the net economic value per trip per angler is worth $65.95. An Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife (ODNR-DOW) survey of anglers in the Hocking River in 1996 determined that the annual value per river mile of the Hocking River was $4,922. Sunday Creek is a direct tributary (139 square mile watershed) to the Hocking River. Using an estimate that Sunday Creek would have even 50% of the value of the Hocking River for anglers, it would generate $2,461 per river mile annually. For seven river miles that is equal to $17,227 annually. Over a 20-year period it would generate a net economic value of $344,540. 
True Pigments is also committed to gender diversity. The business is wholly owned by Rural Action, which strives for gender equality as part of its commitment to non-discrimination. Rural Action has a long history of promoting and supporting gender equality through its leadership. The organization‚ current Chief Executive Officer, Debbie Phillips, continues to emphasize this important organizational legacy. Michelle Shively serves as the Director of Project Development for True Pigments, further aligning with our values for gender diversity. Additionally, Paul Patton, True Pigments Director of Operations, serves on the Central Appalachian Network‚ Equity Committee that focuses on ensuring diversity and inclusion for all member organizations throughout the network. Some key manifestations of this legacy include six weeks paid maternity and paternity leave for full-time staff members; a peer mentoring program for our leadership team; and prioritizing healthy work-life balance for all staff members. 
True Pigments has fully adopted and is subject to the following policy as implemented by the Rural Action Board of Directors: 
In consonance with Title VI (Service Rendered) and Title VII (Employment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 amended in 1972) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1972 and Age Discrimination Act of 1967, Rural Action, Inc. is totally committed to implementing policies and procedures which protect and promote the human rights of its employees and to provide equal opportunity in employment and access to services. 
No individual will, because of race, color, creed, religion, political affiliation, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, physical or mental handicap, age, developmental disability, lifestyle or ability to pay, be excluded from participation in nor be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination by any program, activity or service provided by this agency. 
Rural Action, Inc. maintains a policy to take affirmative action to correct under-utilization of the protected classes of individuals with respect to employment opportunities. Personnel related actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, transfer, work force reduction, discipline measures, termination, working conditions, training, pay, awards and benefits shall not be administered to act against any qualified applicant or employee due to her/his race, color, creed, religion, political affiliation, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, physical or mental handicap, developmental disability, age or lifestyle. 
All employees of Rural Action, Inc. are expected to cooperate with and be committed to full implementation of equal employment opportunity policy. Any deliberate or willful violation of this policy by any employee of Rural Action will be cause for appropriate disciplinary action.

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