Skip to main content
File #: 24-0041R    Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 1/11/2024 In control: Planning and Economic Development
On agenda: 1/22/2024 Final action: 1/22/2024
Enactment date: Enactment #:
Title: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,000 FROM THE URBAN SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTORS NETWORK FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DULUTH WORKSHOP SERIES.

Title

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,000 FROM THE URBAN SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTORS NETWORK FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DULUTH WORKSHOP SERIES.

 

Body

CITY PROPOSAL:

                     WHEREAS, the city council has passed a Climate Emergency Declaration (21-0256R).

                     WHEREAS, the city of Duluth has an approved Climate Action Work Plan with objectives to strengthen community resilience, and eliminate institutional barriers and better enable climate actions.

                     WHEREAS, the city applied to Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) Q4 Emergent Learning Fund to establish the Sustainable Duluth workshop series that was submitted on October 10, 2023, and the city was awarded said funding for the project in the amount of $6,000 on November 16, 2023.

                     RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to accept the USDN Emergent Learning program grant in the amount of $6,000 to implement the program development and event supplies for monthly community climate learning sessions over a 9-month project term, December 2023 through August 2024, said grant funds will be deposited in Fund 257-025-3003 USDN2023.

 

Statement of Purpose

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the proper city officials to accept a grant in the amount of $6,000 from Urban Sustainability Directors Network to implement the program development and event supplies for monthly community climate learning sessions. No city match is required for this grant.

The city, in partnership with the Duluth Folk School, aim to increase Duluth residents’ awareness of and capacity for implementing clean energy and climate actions through a monthly series of learning events and outreach materials. The Duluth Folk School is a place in the community for hands-on learning for community members to work on projects together. With hands-on sessions, residents will better familiarize themselves with climate actions, policy, technology and funding mechanisms.

This grant will be just the beginning to the city’s sustainability office’s community engagement. The Love Your Block grant showed how limited city capacity was for true and effective community engagement. These funded workshops will develop and strengthen relationships with community based organization’s to build future capacity. They will also provide valuable lessons to inform energy transition work through the Energy Futures grant which the city applied for Relationships with CBO’s will add capacity to the small team and allow for the city to learn alongside the community.

The Sustainable Duluth workshops will create a space for the city to listen to the community and inform future grants. Results from these efforts support the implementation of the city’s Climate Action Work Plan, specifically objective 2 and 3 which aim to strengthen community resilience, and eliminate institutional barriers and better enable climate actions. Additionally, these events will strengthen existing and build new relationships with community organizations and the city. These partnerships will be crucial moving forward when implementing policy.