GRESHAM, Ore. — Gresham has been awarded $4.5 million in federal and state grants to tackle the issue of climate change in the city.
The funding, announced on Thursday, will be used for several projects in the works now that are aimed at addressing heat island mitigation, tree planting and clean water.
The largest grant, a $4 million Inflation Reduction Act Urban Forestry grant, will be used towards a collaboration with the city and Friends of Trees. The project includes urban forestry equitable planning projects including installing and caring for new trees in "underserved neighborhoods" and outreach.
"We have just such a high need in Gresham with a low canopy cover," said Tina Nunez-Osterink, who serves as the City of Gresham's natural resources and parks planner. "So, any kind of funding for our West Gresham, Rockwood area is something that the city has needed for a long, long time."
Another grant will go towards addressing heat island mitigation, specifically in the Rockwood neighborhood. The project includes removing pavement, structural soil and tree planting. That funding comes from a Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Urban Heat Mitigation grant worth $380,000.
“We have what are called urban heat islands in Gresham where we have a lot of pavement," said Nunez-Osterink. "A lot of structures that just retain and absorb the heat from the sun, and then, it just remits back into the environment.”
Funding has also been designated for designing about 30-40 tree wells along Powell Boulevard, which the city says contributes to clean water. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan from the Oregon DEQ amounts to $121,575.
"These grants will go a long way in not only creating a safer and more resilient Gresham but a healthier and more vibrant community as well," said Assistant City Manager Steve Fancher in a news release. "I’m proud of how hard our staff works to continually find alternative funding sources to better our community."