Deschutes County commissioners approve nearly $20 million EPA grant request for south county projects
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Deschutes County commissioners gave the green light Wednesday to go after nearly $20 million in federal money.
"This is a grant opportunity that was made available through the inflationary reduction act that the Biden administration signed into law in 2022," Peter Gutowsky, Community Development Director said.
The Deschutes County community development department asked county commissioners for permission to seek an almost $20 million federal grant.
Commissioner Patti Adair said, "A lot of really necessary things to keep our county, the very best it can be."
All three commissioners voted to proceed with the grant application to a program within the environmental protection agency.
Gutowsky said, "There's $2 billion that are being made available to eligible local governments and partners."
The money is earmarked for communities with challenges like a large area in La Pine with air and water quality issues.
The grant could help property owners upgrade septic systems.
Gutowsky said, "Southern Deschutes county has a vulnerability to nitrates, just given the density of the rural development and the fact that so many residents, rural residents, are relying on domestic wells."
Adair said, "I'm hoping that if we're going to put in another, what, 275 systems that are updated that we put in the systems that are really the best."
The county is working with NeighborImpact, The Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and State Department of Environmental Quality to determine programs in need of some of the potential 20 million in funding.
Home energy assistance and cleaner burning of wood waste are some options.
Gutowsky added," We can leverage relationships that are in place today to try to make further investments and improvements for tomorrow."
The goal is to submit the application for the grant by late May, or early June at the latest. The deadline for grant applications is November.
