Opportunity Bistro

To find out more aobut these ongoing opportunities contact GDG

Public opportunities are listed below.

	Ongoing Opportunities
Opportunity 17	Teak Investment
	Teak is one of the most beautiful and valuable hardwoods in the world. Teak is a species that is optimally suitable for large-scale plantations because of its fast growth rate. Teak contains natural oils that makes it water resistant and repels insects. Teak is considered one of the most durable woods in the world. Teak has been used in marine and outdoor applications for centuries on boats, decks, exterior floors and outdoor furniture. Teak is considered one of the most stable woods in the world, too. In fact, it is twice as stable as American oak when used as interior flooring. Teak is used in an endless variety of interior applications such as flooring, furniture, wall paneling, kitchen cabinets and other decorative applications. On top of this, demand for wood continuously increases. The world population has more than doubled in the last five decades, a tendency that substantially influences the need for more wood every year. Leading manufacturing companies from all over the world are already requiring that the wood they purchase must be from sustainable sources. In the near future, only quality hardwoods from certified, sustainable plantations will be accepted in the market. Our plantation site is currently pasture land. When we begin planting, we will certify our plantations. Certification assures investors and consumers that the proper practices for forestry, manufacturing and distribution have been 3rd-party audited. We are proud to be an active participant in the process that links the consumer’s purchased product back to the source of supply in Ecuador. Many timber operations claim to be sustainable but that is by their own unverified claim. We call that “Green Washing”. It implies sustainable is the same as certified. Certified is always sustainable. Sustainable is not always certified. There is a REAL difference! Given the enormous demand and the insufficient supply, international market prices for wood continue to rise every year. Investing in Teak allows your assets to safely grow in value each year, regardless of international financial markets or currencies.

Opportunity 18

Live in the Paradise of South America

A 663-acre ranch, is located in the beautiful Mountains of Ecuador. The setting, within one of the world's most spectacular regions, is extraordinary, magical, private, tranquil and soothing. There is a special feeling on this ranch noticed and commented on by visitors. A limited number of unique riverfront and hillside home sites, each of various sizes and amenities, are offered for purchase. The vast majority of the property will be preserved in its natural habitat, ideal for hiking and horseback riding. In addition to the stunning setting in the Andes Mountains, another remarkable aspect of the area is the year-around spring weather. The days are warm and the nights are cool. There is a dry and a rainy season. During the rainy season, which runs from approximately October to April, it rains mostly at night, and the hills turn emerald green. We are looking for a small number of high-quality people who seek a peaceful and healthy lifestyle and are kind to their neighbors and respect the environment.

Opportunity 19	Carbon Credits
	Now private investors and corporations the opportunity to become a direct part of an environmental project yielding high financial returns, or low priced offset credits. This is a unique chance to “grow your own credits” whether you prefer to use them to offset your carbon footprint or to sell them for a high return on investment. Either way, your input will help save the Ecuadorian rainforest and the animals that live in it, as well as contributing to the fight against climate change: The perfect green investment is finally here. The project is based in the Ecuadorian rainforest, a location of great biodiversity and political stability. The main activities of the project are: prevention of deforestation through the purchase and conservation of rainforest land, as well as reforestation by planting trees in adjacent farmland. These two activities are independently monitored by quantification and verification companies, and carbon offset credits are allocated to the project at the rate of approximately 200 credits per unit of land. These credits are sold to the voluntary carbon market which is growing steadily every year

 

Deadlines
Opportunity 16	National Science Foundation- Renewable Energy
	The Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks (PCAN) program invests in the design and analysis of intelligent and adaptive engineering networks, including sensing, imaging, controls, and computational technologies for a variety of application domains. The program supports distributed control of multi-agent systems with embedded computation for sensor and adaptive networks. PCAN invests in adaptive dynamic programming, brain-like networked architectures performing real-time learning, neuromorphic engineering, telerobotics, and systems theory. PCAN places emphasis on electric power networks and grids, including generation, transmission and integration of renewable, sustainable and distributed energy systems, such as fuel cells and micro-turbines in large power networks; high power electronics and drives; and understanding of associated regulatory and economic structures. The program also places emphasis on energy scavenging and alternative energy technologies, including solar cells, ocean waves, wind, geothermal, low-head hydro, and the hydrogen economy. In addition, the program supports innovative test beds, and laboratory and curriculum development to integrate research and education.
Opportunity 20	Pollution Prevention
	EPA created the Pollution Prevention (P2) Grant Program (formerly Pollution Prevention Incentives for States) under the authority of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. The grant program provides matching funds to State and Tribal programs to support P2 activities across all environmental media and to develop State-based programs. EPA believes these environmental programs have the best opportunity to promote P2 because States have closer, more direct contact with industry and are more aware of local needs. The purpose of the P2 Grant Program is to give States and Tribes the capability to assist businesses and industries in identifying better environmental strategies and solutions for complying with Federal and State environmental regulations. It also aims to improve business competitiveness without increasing environmental impacts. The majority of P2 Grants fund State-based projects for technical assistance, training, outreach, education, regulatory integration, data collection, research, demonstration projects, and recognition programs.