In a groundbreaking move towards greener, more equitable urban spaces, an
11-member coalition, spearheaded by Friends of Trees, has secured
a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This
monumental allocation is part of the Inflation Reduction Act grants, set to
revitalize communities across the County. Specifically, the grant will fund the
engagement of low-canopy neighborhoods included in the Biden-Harris
Administration’s Justice40 initiative, which will bring resources to
communities most impacted by climate change, pollution, and environmental
hazards.
“This is an incredible win for the City of Gresham,” said Joe Walsh, City of
Gresham’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships. “With this grant,
we’ll be able to plant thousands of trees and shrubs that we believe over time
will help to not only lower the heat index but make the parts of our City that
are disproportionately impacted by severe weather more resilient.”
The partner coalition includes APANO, Black
Parent Initiative, City of Gresham, City of Portland, Columbia
Slough Watershed Council, Connecting
Canopies, Depave, POIC, Verde, and Wisdom of the Elders. The $12 million award will direct funds to these partners
and Friends of Trees across five years.
The coalition’s proposal includes funding for
community forestry work including tree planting, natural area restoration,
post-planting care, community education, opportunities for direct community
input and participation, and workforce training.
The
project includes:
- Community tree planting (training and
engaging volunteers) to plant up to 2,300 street and yard trees as well as
21,000 native shrubs in neighborhoods and natural areas, specifically in
identified equity areas: East Multnomah County, West Eugene, and Springfield.
- Robust post-planting care, including
watering, mulching, and natural area maintenance.
- Community education.
- Opportunities for direct community input
and participation.
- Workforce training.
In addition to community tree planting and tree
care, thousands of additional trees and native shrubs will be planted and cared
for by coalition partners through other methods.
“I’m proud of how hard Gresham’s staff work to
continuously develop innovative ways of leveraging collaboration to not just
secure additional funding resources, but ultimately better our community,” said
Gresham City Manager Nina Vetter.
City staff are in the process of developing
Gresham’s first Climate Action Plan to reduce pollution and improve community
health. This grant and the work it will allow the City to do is a substantial
step forward towards those goals.
To learn more about the
City’s forestry efforts, the community is welcome to attend the upcoming All Things Trees Workshop on Sept. 28,
from 6 - 8 pm at Gresham City Hall Council Chambers