TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the City of North Port’s Participation in the Countywide Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program and Submit a Letter of Partnership
Recommended Action
Approve the City of North Port’s participation in the Countywide Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program and submit a Letter of Partnership.
Background Information
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program, administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provides grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act provides an investment of $5 billion to support efforts by states, municipalities, air pollution control agencies, tribes, and groups thereof to develop strong, local greenhouse gas reduction strategies. This two-staged grant program provides funding of $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants. The planning funds can be used to create or update climate, energy, or sustainability plans. The implementation grants will be available to apply for investment-ready projects, programs, and policies identified in those plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term.
The lead organization for each Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) must submit a NOIP by April 28, 2023. Sarasota County is taking the lead on behalf of the jurisdictions in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton MSA. Sarasota County’s UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability department staff will work with identified City staff, and partners throughout the region to complete the comprehensive regional climate action plan.
In our local region, Phase I’s planning grant funding is expected to provide up to $1 million for our metropolitan area to create a regional plan. This is a noncompetitive grant. It does not have any match requirements. The plan to be developed under this grant will identify projects that will then be eligible to submit for Phase II implementation grant funding. Phase II will award $4.6 billion nationally in competitive grants to implement the plans developed in Phase I.
This is a unique and unprecedented opportunity to take advantage of significant noncompetitive funding. It will also allow our region to apply for project funding in the future through this grant program and others to advance our environmental and public health goals. The planning effort will allow us to be strategic about what impactful and economical projects are prioritized and funded to reduce climate and air pollution. This is an opportunity to secure grant funds to invest in a cleaner economy that can spur innovation and economic growth while building more equitable, resilient communities in our region.
Strategic Plan
Environmental Resiliency & Sustainability
Financial Impact
Not applicable.
Procurement
Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Letter of Partnership with Sarasota County
Prepared by: Valerie Malingowski, Grant Division Manager
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager