Sections

About Us

 
Make a Donation
Local • Independent • Essential News
 

YMCA, St. Edward’s seek EPA funding for climate resilience hub

Thursday, October 24, 2024 by Chad Swiatecki

The Greater Austin YMCA and St. Edward’s University have teamed up to apply for a $20 million Community Change Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. If awarded, the grant will fund the construction of a climate resilience hub at the East Communities YMCA, located at 5315 Ed Bluestein Blvd., as well as community outreach and education programs. St. Edward’s will lead the project’s community engagement efforts, contributing expertise in programming and research. The proposed 30,000-square-foot facility will include spaces for emergency shelter, education and community events, with energy-efficient infrastructure powered by a microgrid system. The initiative, supported by local leaders such as U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and Austin City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, aligns with the city’s broader goals to create a network of resilience hubs in the Eastern Crescent. In the first three months of the grant cycle, the YMCA and St. Edward’s will conduct feasibility studies, energy audits and community engagement to develop a Community Resiliency Action Plan. The partnership will launch sustainability education and social programs focused on energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation and biodiversity, alongside initiatives for disaster preparedness, health, education and social equity.

Join Your Friends and Neighbors

We're a nonprofit news organization, and we put our service to you above all else. That will never change. But public-service journalism requires community support from readers like you. Will you join your friends and neighbors to support our work and mission?

Back to Top