NEWS RELEASE
Portland, ORE. — The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) is excited to announce the funding of 40 local nonprofit organizations to help build their capacity to engage in upcoming grant opportunities addressing climate change and social equity.
The PCEF Application Support Grant program is providing up to $5,000 each for these organizations to participate in trainings and grant writing workshops, expand community outreach, and acquire needed technology.
More than 120 organizations applied for Application Support Grant funding, reflecting a clear need and interest in the community for these resources. The PCEF Committee prioritized organizations that serve historically marginalized populations, particularly Black and Indigenous people, as well as very small organizations.
“These funds come at a critical time for these organizations as they continue to address core needs of their communities,” said Sam Baraso, PCEF Program Manager. “Supporting organizations like these that have not historically been engaged in climate action is core to the intent of the grant program. We want to help build their capacity so they can be a part of a just, clean energy economy.”
About the awardees
PCEF allocated $200,000 in Application Support Grants to the following 40 organizations:
- African American Alliance for Home Ownership
- African Family Holistic Health Organization
- African Youth and Community Organization (AYCO)
- Albina Vision Trust
- Beyond Black
- Black American Chamber of Commerce
- Black Futures Farm, in partnership with Know Agenda Foundation
- Black Mental Health Oregon
- Brown Hope
- Council on American-Islamic Relations Oregon
- De Rose Community Bridge and Holistic Wellness, in partnership with Togo Community Organization of Oregon
- Friends of Zenger Farm
- HAKI Community Organization, in partnership with Tryon Creek Watershed Council
- Indigenous Food Sovereignty Project, in partnership with Native Wellness Institute
- June Key Delta Community Center, in partnership with Know Agenda Foundation
- Lao Buddhist Center of Northwest
- Leaders Become Legends, in partnership with Rosewood Initiative
- McKenzie River Gathering (MRG) Foundation
- Mudbone Grown, in partnership with Oregon Food Bank
- NAACP Portland Chapter 1120B
- Northwest Alliance for Alternative Media and Education
- Nutrition Garden Rx, in partnership with East Portland Neighbors
- Oregon Native American Chamber (ONAC)
- PDX Alliance for Self-Care, in partnership with Know Agenda Foundation
- Play Grow Learn, in partnership with Coalition of Black Men
- Portland All Nations Canoe Family
- Roots and Beats Project, in partnership with Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
- Sabin CDC
- Somali American Maay Community of Oregon
- Taking Ownership PDX, in partnership with All Ages Music PDX
- The Black United Fund of Oregon
- The Blueprint Foundation
- The Ebony Collective Community Development Corporation
- Togo Community Organization of Oregon
- Tributaries Network
- Twende Solar
- Vibrant Portland, in partnership with SE Uplift
- Visible Alliance
- Wisdom of the Elders
- Women First Transition Referral Center
Interviews with select awardees can be arranged through PCEF staff.
Next round of funding
The PCEF program will be requesting proposals for an additional $8-9 million of grant funding in September 2020. These larger grants will:
- Create green jobs in the clean energy sector and provide workforce training programs that offer a pathway to family-wage jobs for underserved Portlanders.
- Fund improvements in the community through renewable energy and energy-efficiency investments in homes and other buildings.
- Support regenerative agriculture and other green infrastructure projects that sequester carbon.
- Spur innovative projects that produce climate and community benefits.
Key dates for PCEF grant program
Please note that these dates are approximate and subject to change.
- Grant solicitation release: Sept. 14, 2020
- Application due date: Nov. 13, 2020
- Grant awards announcement: Feb. 2021
About the Clean Energy Fund
The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits initiative was passed by 65% of Portland voters in November 2018. It will provide a consistent, long-term funding source and oversight structure to ensure that the City of Portland’s Climate Action Plan is implemented in a manner that supports social, economic and environmental benefits for all Portlanders, particularly communities of color and low-income residents. The initiative was supported by a broad coalition of groups and individuals and represents the first environmental initiative in Oregon led by communities of color.
PCEF is anticipated to bring $40–60 million annually in new revenue for living wage jobs, sustainable agriculture, green infrastructure, and residential/commercial renewable and efficiency projects in Portland, including the development of a diverse and well-trained workforce and contractor pool in the field of clean energy. A diverse grant committee is tasked with making funding recommendations and overseeing the development of the PCEF program. The first call for grant proposals will be made in September 2020 with the release of a request for proposals for $8-9 million in available grant funding.
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