.Number.
250761
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
221233, 231603
Sponsor
ALD. MOORE AND JACKSON
Title
Resolution relating to acceptance and funding of a subaward of the Midwest Frontline Fund’s Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program through the Sherman Park Community Association in support of the Environmental Collaboration Office’s Healthy Homes & ECO Neighborhoods Project.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes the Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO) to accept a subaward of the Midwest Frontline Fund’s Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program through the Sherman Park Community Association in the amount of $34,420. The purpose of this grant is to support ECO’s Healthy Homes & ECO Neighborhoods Project to expand awareness of and access to local and statewide housing improvement programs and federal funding sources through collaborative outreach and marketing efforts and by funding home energy and healthy home assessments for residents living in historically disinvested neighborhoods on the north and south sides of Milwaukee, where lack of access to affordable, healthy, climate-resilient housing is most pervasive.
Body
Whereas, in Milwaukee environmental and public health threats stem from old, deteriorated housing and historical neighborhood disinvestment; and
Whereas, issues like high energy burdens, lead paint, mold, and outdated electrical wiring are commonly found in housing stock built before 1978, which is prevalent in the northwest and far south sides of the city; and
Whereas, for a number of reasons, homeowners are often challenged to secure the financing and obtain adequate assistance to make improvements to common home health issues and energy efficiency; and
Whereas, the City of Milwaukee adopted a Climate and Equity Plan in June 2023 with goals of reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while creating good-paying green jobs that pay at least $40,000 per year with a focus on recruiting underrepresented workers into these green jobs; and
Whereas, Healthy Home Energy Upgrades and Resilience Ambassadors are Big Ideas included in the Climate and Equity Plan to develop a holistic approach to creating healthier homes for Milwaukee residents by integrating energy efficiency, lead abatement, asthma trigger mitigation, and home electrification, as well as better connect residents with available resources and programs by working with and through trusted community-based organizations; and
Whereas, diverse partners from environmental and health nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and local government can coordinate grassroots efforts to distribute resources; and
Whereas, the Healthy Homes & ECO Neighborhoods Project began in July 2024 when ECO was awarded $1,000,000 from the EPA’s Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program for project oversight, and to train two Resilience Ambassadors hired by our community-based partners for outreach and participant recruitment for energy and healthy home assessments on the northwest and far south side of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, the EPA Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Assistance Agreement was terminated along with many other environmental justice grants nationally in March 2025 resulting in the loss of the Resilience Ambassadors and a pause on the project.
Whereas, the Midwest Frontline Fund’s Great Lakes Thriving Communities Grant provides funding for the project to resume and allows Sherman Park Community Association to hire a new Resilience Ambassador which ECO will train.
Whereas, the operation of this grant from April 15th, 2025-April 14th, 2026 would cost $150,000 of which $34,420 will be granted to the City; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Environmental Collaboration Office shall accept this subaward without further approval, unless the terms change as indicated in Section 304-81 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances; and, be it
Further Resolved that the City Comptroller is authorized to:
1. Commit funds within the Project/Grant Parent of the 2025 Special Revenue-Grant and Aid Projects the following amount for the project titled: Healthy Homes & ECO Neighborhoods Project 2:
Project/Grant GR0002500000
Fund 0150
Org 9990
Program 0001
Budget Year 0000
Sub Class R999
Account 000600
Project Grantor Share
Amount $34,420
2. Create the necessary Grant and Aid Project/Grant and Project/Grant levels; budget against these Project/Grant values the amount required under the grant agreement;
3. Establish the necessary City Share Project Values; and, be it
Further Resolved, that these funds are budgeted for the Department of Administration- Environmental Collaboration Office which is authorized to:
1. Expend from the amount budgeted for specified purposes as indicated in the grant budget and incur costs consistent with the award date, including accepting a subaward fund from Sherman Park Community Association.
Requestor
Department of Administration - Environmental Collaboration Office
08/18/2025