HomeMy WebLinkAboutA006 - Resolution approving Climate Smart Communities Initiative Grant application submittalTo:Mayor and City Council
From:Nolan Sagan, Sustainability Coordinator
Date:April 8, 2025
Subject:Climate Smart Communities Initiative Grant Submission
Item No. 11
MEMO
Staff became aware of the recent Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI)
grant opportunity to advance community-based climate resilience efforts. Since this
aligns with the City’s Climate Action Plan, and given the short timeframe to apply,
staff proceeded with submitting a proposal believed to be feasible to accomplish.
This memo is meant to apprise the City Council of the staff's submittal of this grant
opportunity. More information about the opportunity is provided below.
- CSCI grant funds can be used for a range of activities depending on the needs of the
community, including climate vulnerability and risk analyses, planning processes,
community engagement, project prioritization, and/or the implementation of projects.
- Applications needed to be submitted by an “Applicant Team,” composed of a climate
adaptation professional, a community-based organization or university, and a
government partner. Each grant can be used over a 12–month period and includes
approximately $100,000 in funding as well as access to training opportunities, technical
experts, and cohort support.
- In the application submitted, the team is composed of the City of Ames, Iowa State
University, and BSC Group, a climate resilience consulting firm based in Boston, MA.
The City and ISU were matched up with BSC Group through a practitioner registry
process administered by CSCI, considering our needs and their capabilities. If selected,
grant funds would be awarded directly to BSC Group to perform the work outlined in the
grant application:
1. Confirm Understanding of Vulnerability, Top Assets, and Focus Areas with Ames
Community (Months 1-3): Conduct stakeholder engagement to refine and
document updated climate resilience concerns priorities, ensuring alignment with
community-identified risks and assets.
2. Desktop Review (Months 1-4): Conduct a focused review to validate past climate
readiness assessments (e.g., 2020 Climate Vulnerability Assessment) with current
City Clerk's Office 515.239.5105 main
515.239.5142 fax
515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811
Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org
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data on priority climate hazards, vulnerabilities, and essential community assets,
providing an accurate foundation for adaptation planning.
3. Community Engagement (Months 2-10): Design and execute a community
engagement plan featuring community crowdsource maps to gather information
from community members on both their first-hand experiences of climate impacts
and their ideas for climate solutions - ensuring comprehensive community input
and widespread support for resilience strategies.
4. Adaptation Action Generation and Prioritization (Months 5-7): Collaboratively
develop an initial list of approximately 30 adaptation actions that address
community vulnerabilities across the key focus areas, establish clear prioritization
criteria (e.g., equity impacts, cost-effectiveness, implementation feasibility), and
prioritize the action list through feedback and expert analysis.
5. Implementation Guides Development (Months 8-10): Develop detailed and
practical implementation guides for approximately six adaptation actions, clearly
outlining actionable steps, timelines, essential partnerships, anticipated costs (order
of magnitude), and possible funding opportunities to ensure readiness for
implementation.
CSCI plans to notify awardees this summer, with projects beginning in the fall.
Climate resilience is crucial for municipalities to protect residents, infrastructure,
and the economy from a changing climate. Increasingly frequent and severe
extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves, and storms threaten public health,
property, and livelihoods. It is important to adapt to climate change and
incorporate climate resilience strategies into the City's sustainability strategy.
No Council action is required at this time. Should the City and its partners be
selected to receive a grant, staff will bring this issue before Council to make a final
decision on whether or not to proceed with this funding opportunity.
City Clerk's Office 515.239.5105 main
515.239.5142 fax
515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811
Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org
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