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[COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR] RESOLUTION NO. 240497
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Sponsor: Councilmember Melissa Patterson Hazley and Mayor Quinton Lucas
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
RESOLUTION - Expressing the City Council’s support for the City’s grant application for the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and directing the City manager to submit the grant application to the EPA.
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WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has grant funding available through the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Community Change Program); and
WHEREAS, the Community Change Program offers an unprecedented opportunity to transform disadvantaged communities across the United States into healthy, climate resilient, and thriving communities for their current and future residents; and
WHEREAS, the Community Change Program grants will fund community-driven projects that address climate change and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation, focused on multi-faceted applications to meaningfully improve the environmental, climate, and resilience conditions affecting disadvantaged communities; and
WHEREAS, the Community Change Program requires applicants to propose projects that address six specific requirements and that align with at least one of EPA’s Climate Action Strategies and at least one of EPA’s Pollution Reduction Strategies; and
WHEREAS, the Community Change Program intends to award grants ranging from $10 million to $20 million for a period of performance that by statute cannot exceed three years; and
WHEREAS, the Community Change Program requires municipal applicants to enter into a stated partnership between the City and a community-based non-profit organization; and
WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City is committed to equitably investing in projects that address climate change, public health, workforce development, safety, and other community priorities, as outlined in the 2022 Kansas City Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan, Spirit KC Playbook, Vision Zero KC, and other related planning documents, programs, and initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City intends to submit an application seeking up to $20 million in funding for a community building initiative that will complete energy efficient improvements to qualifying homes, engage in efforts to address the built-in environment towards a greener, cleaner and resilient community in the continuously distressed census tracts that include the South Round Top, Forgotten Homes, Key Coalition, and Independence Plaza neighborhoods, and develops and/or enhances workforce development and readiness programming for the green economy; and
WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City intends to leverage existing funding to expand the impact of the federal investment in the target neighborhoods, including funds for minor home repairs, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, e-bike subsidies, digital infrastructure, and small business support; and
WHEREAS, the proposed project aligns with three EPA strategies for the Community Change Program: Strategy 3 - Energy-Efficient, Healthy, and Resilient Housing and Building; Strategy 8 - Workforce Development Programs for Occupations that Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollutants; and Strategy 1 - Indoor Air Quality and Community Health Improvements; and
WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City intends to act as the lead applicant and partner with Bridging the Gap, a community-based non-profit organization focused on creating a green, healthy environment for all, and engage other community-level non-profit organizations in the planning of the application and execution of the project deliverables; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby expresses support for the City’s grant application for the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program through the United State Environmental Protection Agency.
Section 2. That the City Manager is directed to submit the grant application to the EPA.
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