Title
Funders’ Network Partners for Places Grant
Action
Action:
A. Authorize the City Manager to accept grants from the following organizations for the Partners in Places Project:
§ The Funders’ Network ($75,000)
§ The Knight Foundation ($50,000)
§ OrthoCarolina ($25,000)
B. Adopt a budget ordinance appropriating $50,000 from the Knight Foundation for the Partners in Places Project. The remaining grants have already been appropriated.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Kim Eagle, City Manager’s Office
Rob Phocas, City Manager’s Office
Pat Mumford, Economic Development
Explanation
§ In May 2017, The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities awarded the City of Charlotte $75,000 through its Partners for Places Matching Grant Program to help fund sustainability work in the North End Smart District. The grant’s match was provided by the Knight Foundation and OrthoCarolina with contributions of $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.
§ The Partners for Places program creates opportunities for cities in the United States and Canada to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability programs and philanthropic organizations.
§ The city applied for the one-year grant, which will allow residents to collaborate with government, nonprofit and private sector partners on projects including:
- Healthy communities: Focuses on reducing the amount of household waste by concentrating on helping residents to develop healthier eating habits.
- Neighborhood transportation: Creation of better connectivity between the residents and employees in the North End Smart District and the Blue Line Extension.
- Technology training programs: Collaboration among the City, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Microsoft and other partners to create a workforce development pipeline for technical education on topics such as computer science, cybersecurity and financial services technology.
- Smart homes and neighborhoods: Collaboration among the City, Duke Energy, Lowe’s and other partners to help residents understand their utility usage and to reduce their energy consumption through the use of technology.
§ The Funders’ Network developed the initiative to support its commitment to equity and inclusion, while supporting local efforts to advance sustainability and climate action.
§ The projects mostly benefit low-income neighborhoods.
§ The list of selected cities also included Berkeley, California, Cleveland, Ohio, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
§ No City matching funds are required for this grant and it was anticipated in FY 2017.
Fiscal Note
Funding: Funders’ Network’s $75,000 grant with matching funds from the Knight Foundation ($50,000) and OrthoCarolina ($25,000)
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Budget Ordinance