Congratulations to these six Thrive Partner organizations who have been awarded funding as part of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, Community Responsive Grants, RFP Cycle 3. Projects will be implemented beginning in 2025 with several awards that will support multi year projects.
Energy Efficiency Grants:
3082 Serendipity Center, Energy Efficient HVAC Improvement Project, $374,783
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to enhance Serendipity Center’s facility energy efficiency by upgrading its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Key milestones include completing the installation and commissioning of the new systems. The project is designed to significantly reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and improve essential heating and cooling for students and staff. By implementing these upgrades, Serendipity Center expects to improve energy efficiency by 60%, contributing to its broader sustainability goals and ensuring a comfortable environment for its users.
Transportation Decarbonization Grants
3042 Friends of Trees, Green Vehicles for Community Tree Planting, $185,031
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to replace aging, unreliable vehicles with two electric trucks. This initiative addresses the urgent need for reliable transportation for tree planting and maintenance, especially amid climate change-induced heatwaves. Key milestones include acquiring the vehicles, equipping them with 200-gallon water tanks, and utilizing them in community programs. The project will reduce carbon emissions, enhance tree watering capacity, and support educational programs, contributing to environmental sustainability and community health. Leveraging funds from PGE’s Drive Change grant program, the project aligns with broader goals of transitioning to an all-electric fleet, advancing equity, and ensuring safer, more reliable transportation for staff, volunteers, and program participants.
3206 Portland Fruit Tree Project, Future Focused Fruit Fleet, $260,820
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to enhance sustainable transportation for Portland Fruit Tree Project by replacing fossil fuel-dependent vehicles with electric alternatives. Key milestones include securing charging stations, acquiring an electric truck, an electric van, a maintenance plan, and training staff on the new vehicles. Major goals are to reduce carbon emissions, improve transportation reliability, and support environmental conservation. By attaining more climate-friendly transportation, the project will increase access and reliability to deliver programming such as free tree care, community harvesting, and training of the workforce. This initiative benefits Indigenous and BIPOC communities by providing eco-friendly transportation and supporting workforce development in environmental restoration.
Workforce Development and Contractor Support Grants:
3330 Growing Gardens, Regenerative Agriculture Workforce Development in Correctional Facilities, $1,362,037
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to enhance Serendipity Center’s facility energy efficiency by upgrading its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Key milestones include completing the installation and commissioning of the new systems. The project is designed to significantly reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and improve essential heating and cooling for students and staff. By implementing these upgrades, Serendipity Center expects to improve energy efficiency by 60%, contributing to its broader sustainability goals and ensuring a comfortable environment for its users.
Regenerative Agriculture & Green Infrastructure Grants:
3225 Growing Gardens, Regenerative Agriculture General Operating Support- Growing Gardens, $299,999
PROJECT SUMMARY
Funding will provide general operating support to Growing Gardens (see Types of grants for details). Funding will support farming practices and community involvement in urban agriculture. Types of work include expanding educational programs, increasing the production capacity of community gardens, and developing partnerships with local organizations. Major goals of the project are to improve food security, foster environmental stewardship, and empower residents through hands-on agricultural experiences.
2858 Growing Gardens, Regenerative Agriculture for BIPOC Communities, $999,064
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to empower BIPOC communities through sustainable agricultural practices. The project will recruit 160 program participants, host 200 volunteers, and establish 4 garden partnerships. Key milestones include the annual creation of 80 garden beds at backyard and partner garden sites, and the training and support of 12 Garden Advisors. The major goals are to increase food sovereignty, enhance community resilience, and promote environmental stewardship among BIPOC individuals. This initiative will provide resources and training to foster a thriving, self-sustaining agricultural community, ultimately contributing to broader social equity and environmental sustainability
3203 Portland Fruit Tree Project, General Operations, $311,955
PROJECT SUMMARY
Funding will provide general operating support to Portland Fruit Tree Project (see Types of grants for details). The organization’s central goals are to increase access to fresh fruit for underserved communities, enhance community engagement through volunteer opportunities, and improve urban tree canopy health. With this funding, Portland Fruit Tree Project will invest in the development of strategic partnerships, the implementation of advanced training programs for volunteers, and the expansion of harvest and distribution operations. The funded work will focus on operational efficiency, leveraging community resources, and fostering sustainability in urban agriculture.
2892 Friends of Trees, Community-led tree care and establishment, $349,019
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to support low-income, low-canopy, and high-diversity neighborhoods in Portland by providing comprehensive tree care services. Key milestones include mulching 300-450 newly planted trees at least twice by Summer 2026 and providing establishment watering for 300-450 newly planted trees over three years. The project will also involve training volunteers and interns, pruning young street trees, conducting tree inspections, developing and sharing tree care resources, and hosting community education activities. The project’s major goals are to reduce future tree care costs, promote successful tree establishment, and enhance community engagement and education regarding tree care.
2963 Nutrition Garden Rx, Healthy Homes, $198,000
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project will establish a series of therapeutic gardens specifically designed to serve as a proactive approach to mental health care, recognizing the therapeutic benefits of gardening combined with an understanding of local climate impacts. The project will implement these gardens through a six-level impact strategy that focuses on individual, communal, and environmental health. Key milestones include the establishment of the gardens, the integration of climate-resilient plant species, and the development of targeted workshops that educate participants on the mental and physical health benefits of horticulture and how gardening can contribute to climate resilience. This initiative aims to foster a greater sense of community, provide direct health benefits to participants, and contribute positively to the local environment by promoting biodiversity and sustainable practices.
3389 Outgrowing Hunger, Germinations for Generations, $603,215
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project aims to establish a seed-to-fork Urban Agriculture Production and Training Hub in East Portland, focusing on low-income Black families. Key milestones include the development of the Food Resilience Hub, which will provide year-round Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) distributions for at least 75 families. The first year focuses on system establishment and documentation, the second year on program optimization, and the third year on achieving sustainability and integration with other community initiatives. The major goals are to increase food access, enhance urban agriculture skills, prepare for climate resilience, and strengthen community bonds through regenerative agriculture practices.
