City of Waco Receives $3.2 Million, Part of a $17.9 Million EPA Grant

City of Waco Receives $3.2 Million, Part of a $17.9 Million EPA Grant

Created on January 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM

The City of Waco has been awarded a $3,228,009 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Community Change Grant Program (CCGP), which is funded by the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act. The funding is part of a larger $17.9 million grant awarded to local Waco organizations, spearheaded by Mission Waco Mission World.

This significant funding over the next three years will empower the City of Waco to implement transformative initiatives aimed at enhancing food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and bolstering climate resilience within underserved communities. Leading this work will be several City departments, including Housing & Community Development and the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District.

The collaborative effort also includes Baylor University, Mission Waco's Urban REAP, World Hunger Relief Institute, and Family of Faith Worship Center. These organizations will work together on community-driven projects to create healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities.

Waco Tackles Lead in Homes with Combined Funding Effort

Lead is a serious health hazard, especially for children. Exposure to lead can cause developmental delays, learning disabilities, and even damage to the brain and nervous system. Lead is more likely to be found in older home before lead-based paint and pipe materials were discontinued.

Home Rehabilitation Program

City of Waco's Housing & Community Development already helps low-income homeowners with home repairs through a no-interest loan program funded by the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development. Now, the department will use $2.2 million of the EPA's Community Change Grant to continue funding the program and specifically address lead hazards in low-income homes. Repairs could include:

• Lead-based paint removal
• Interior and exterior painting
• New flooring installation
• Replacement of windows
• Water line replacement within the home

To learn more and find out if you are eligible for the home rehabilitation program, contact Housing & Community Development at (254) 750-5656.

Housing Rehab Program

Food Security and Climate Resilience

The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District will leverage $992,606 of the Community Change Grant to support county-wide initiatives aimed at improving community health and environmental sustainability.

To do this, the Health District will dedicate a staff person to coordinate the SCRAP Collective's efforts. The SCRAP Collective is Waco's Sustainable Community and Regenerative Agricultural Project dedicated to fostering a healthy, equitable food system in Central Texas. The Collective is made up of a partnership among various organizations.

The Health District through the SCRAP Collective will focus on several key areas:

• Community Education: The grant will fund programs to educate residents, including children, seniors, and apartment-dwellers, on sustainable practices, such as gardening, cooking, and composting.
• Community Gardens: The grant will support the establishment and maintenance of community gardens and edible landscapes throughout the county. These spaces will incorporate sustainable features like drip irrigation systems and rainwater collection.
• Tree Planting: The program will distribute native trees to community members and provide education on proper urban tree maintenance.
• Composting: The grant will support efforts to increase access to and usage of compostable containers, reducing the amount of food waste sent to landfills.

SCRAP Collective

Resilience Hubs

A portion of the funding will also create three resilience hubs at existing community facilities. These hubs will serve as vital centers for community support during emergencies and everyday life.

A resilience hub is a community-based facility designed to enhance a community's ability to withstand and recover from disasters, such as extreme weather events, power outages, and other emergencies. They can also provide temporary shelter for unhoused populations.

Even during everyday life, these hubs also serve as community centers, providing education and workforce development, access to essential services, and spaces for community gatherings.

Through partnerships with Mission Waco and Family of Faith Worship Center, resilience hubs will be established at Creekside Community Village, Meyer Center, and Family of Faith Worship Center. These facilities will be equipped with solar and battery storage, HVAC and energy efficiency upgrades, and resilience programming.

Partner Programs & Initiatives

The remaining $14.7 million in funding from the Community Change Grant will be distributed to other partner organizations that support underserved communities with food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.

Mission Waco Mission World ($7.1 million)

• Solar and battery storage and resilience programming at Creekside Community Village and the Meyer Center.
• Permeable parking and driving surfaces, bioswales, trees, pocket prairies, constructed wetlands, rain gardens and a walking trail at Creekside Community Village.
• Updating HVAC, accessibility, and energy efficiency at the Lighthouse recovery house and the Meyer Center.
• EV transit van and solar EV charging.
• Scholarships for TSTC Solar Energy Technology program.
• Community food waste collection, composting and gardening.
• Paid internships and certifications in environmental fields, such as composting.

Family of Faith Worship Center ($3.4 million)

• Solar and battery storage and resilience programming at Family of Faith resilience hub and food pantry.
• Composting and community gardens.
• Education and outreach programs about healthy eating in coordination with the worship center's food distribution program.
• Flood mitigation and walking paths to provide safe and accessible routes for recreation and exercise on Family of Faith property.

World Hunger Relief Institute ($1.3 million)

• Blackland Prairie restoration and education.
• Paid residential climate-smart internships.
• Expanded residential and commercial compost collection services.
• Education program on how to use a new solar energy system.

Baylor University ($900,000)

• Professional development program through workshops for area K-12 teachers, interns, and faith leaders about gardening and composting.
• Classes and student projects across disciplines advancing food justice and climate resilience with community partners.
• Exhibition at the Mayborn Museum to raise awareness about local food justice initiatives and centering the voices of residents.

Houston Advance Research Center ($1.9 million)

• Program and funding administration

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