Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment Awarded $19.9 Million EPA Grant to Combat Climate Challenges

Gonzaga University’s Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment has been awarded a $19.9 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support projects aimed at reducing pollution, increasing community climate resilience, and building capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges in the Spokane community.

This significant funding, delivered through the EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program and funded via the Inflation Reduction Act, comes at a crucial time as Spokane and the Inland Northwest face historic summer temperature challenges impacting low-income families who lack access to air conditioning and cooling centers.

The Institute applied for funding to create the “Spokane Climate Resilience Project” in partnership with the Carl Maxey Center, Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP), and the City of Spokane. The project seeks to build coordinated responses on behalf of those most impacted by extreme heat and wildfire smoke.

The $19.9 award is the largest federal grant in Gonzaga history, and the largest investment in climate resilience for Spokane.

“The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in climate action in our nation’s history and it could not come at a more important time,” said Brian G. Henning, director of Gonzaga’s Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment. “As deadly heat waves and poisonous wildfire smoke increase in frequency and duration, we are living in a changed climate that affects those who are least responsible first and worst. In collaboration with our partners, this grant will be a much-needed catalyst that will set Spokane on the path to being a more environmentally just and climate-resilient community.”

The funding will allow SNAP to use its $8 million allocation to install electric heat pumps in 300 low-income homes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing a means to cool the homes in the summer. Those houses will also receive improved HVAC systems with high-quality air filtration systems and air-quality monitors. The City of Spokane’s $8 million portion will jumpstart the formation of a network of resilience hubs, funding solar arrays and backup batteries at four community centers so they can function “off-grid” to provide refuge to citizens during extreme weather events. The Carl Maxey Center, a Black-led community center in Spokane, will use its $900,000 allocation to upgrade its building and install a solar array and battery backup, joining the city buildings as a resilience hub.

Dr. Thayne McCulloh, president of Gonzaga University, praised the initiative, stating, “The Institute’s dedication to serving our community is exemplary. This EPA grant will enable and empower the Institute to make a tangible difference in the lives of those most affected by climate change and environmental injustice.”

“Through this grant, we are not only addressing immediate environmental challenges but also building a sustainable, resilient future for our community,” McCulloh remarked. “This is a perfect example of where Gonzaga and higher education excel, making a profound impact on a community’s quality of life with the research, execution and implementation of real solutions for our citizens today while training the next generation of problem-solvers of tomorrow.”

The grant will also allow for the creation of a Community Climate Action Fund, with Gonzaga’s Institute administering $2.7 million to local community organizations doing climate-resilience work. It will also provide scholarships for nine Spokane residents to join Gonzaga’s course for a certificate in climate action planning.

“This award is an important achievement for our city as we work to mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown. “The Spokane Climate Resilience Project will help our most vulnerable families and neighborhoods be more healthy and resilient. I applaud our partners, especially Gonzaga University, for leading in securing this award.”

More information

• Visit the Gonzaga Climate Institute website at gonzaga.edu/ClimateInstitute
• Learn more about this project grant at gonzaga.edu/ClimateResilience
• Read the EPA's national announcement on Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants
• Read the EPA Region 10 press release