Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Federal termination of Rockwood environmental justice grant cuts county programs and eliminates one FTE
Summary
A federal termination of a Rockwood environmental justice grant will cost Multnomah County about $455,075 and reduce program capacity including community health worker training and weatherization work; the board approved a budget modification acknowledging the loss and related staffing changes.
Multnomah County public health leaders told the board that a federal grant supporting environmental justice work in East County’s Rockwood neighborhood was terminated by the federal government, resulting in the loss of roughly $455,075 and the elimination of one expected FTE.
"It is a very meaningful grant that will have significant health outcomes and delay the work we've been doing around climate resiliency," Public Health Director Kirsten Eyre said. Eyre said program offer 437 funded weatherization work, community health worker training and youth job training; the termination reduced the ability to build the intended workforce and training pipeline and affected community‑level resilience efforts.
Budget director Trista Zugel presented financial effects: an estimated $455,000 federal revenue loss, personnel expense reductions of about $203,000, indirect expense and revenue reductions and a decline in direct client assistance and professional services. Eyre said the department had appealed but the appeal was unsuccessful and that the division had spent roughly $220,000 of grant funds before termination.
Commissioners expressed disappointment and discussed opportunities to pursue future appeals or leverage other regional resources; the board approved the budget modification reflecting the termination and associated adjustments.
