02F78401

Description: This agreement provides funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to Big Bend Conservation Alliance.

Specifically, the project will revitalize and provide green spaces, monitor, and decrease air pollution, and increase climate resilience of disadvantaged communities in the project area of Presidio, Texas.

Activities: The activities to be performed include the creation of a 'greenbelt' along an extant 4-mile bike and walking path, by planting 1,056 native and mature trees; the development of three detention ponds to capture water runoff during seasonal monsoons and recharge the aquifer; the development of a community native garden in the 'greenbelt'; planting 1,664 native and mature trees on private properties to green the entire community; planting 1,500 native and mature trees in existing recreational areas; using simple technologies to teach and remind the community residents about caring for their trees with text reminders to water their trees and installing irrigation components.

The project will also establish a solar-powered community resilience hub which will serve as a cooling center and develop an emergency cooling plan which will direct the community's most vulnerable residents to get to the cooling center in times of power outages.

The project will create a bi-national air quality monitoring program to understand how Presidio and its sister city across the border (Ojinaga, Mexico) contribute to the quality of the air.

Subrecipient: City of Presidio, TX ($253,987) is the statutory partner and will oversee all work done in relation to city-owned part of the project including municipal planting, greenbelt, detention ponds, and the solar installation of the community resilience hub.

Rio Grande Joint Venture ($67,890) is the collaborating entity and will oversee all conservation work related to native planting, detention pond habitat, and water flow.

Outcomes: The anticipated deliverables include 1,056 trees planted along an existing bike/pedestrian path to create 'greenbelt'; 1,500 trees planted in city parks, recreational spaces, and city-owned open spaces; 1,664 trees planted on private properties; 3 detention ponds created; a neighborhood plant garden created; a community resilience hub equipped with solar power with battery backups; a community emergency plan for resilience hub use; 50 air quality monitors installed; and an environmental model to send traffic and air quality notifications.

The project will also deliver all progress and final reports.

The expected outcomes include increased green space; increased resilience to extreme weather and climate conditions; increased community resilience; enhanced physical safety during natural disasters; increased community awareness of emergency preparedness; increased public and environmental health and literacy; reduced exposure to particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone, nitrogen dioxides, and air toxics; increased skill development and improvements in community capacity to independently assess air pollution reduction options.

The intended beneficiaries are disadvantaged communities.

BIG Bend Conservation Alliance

2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 1 - CORE MISSION 1.3 - REVITALIZE LAND AND PREVENT CONTAMINATION 3 - RULE OF LAW AND PROCESS 3.3 - PRIORITIZE ROBUST SCIENCE 3 - GREATER CERTAINTY, COMPLIANCE, AND EFFECTIVENESS 3.3 - PRIORITIZE ROBUST SCIENCE 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS S - C

66.616 - Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program

EPA Region 6: Dallas [EPA - RO]

Presidio, Texas United States

City-Wide

Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-04)

Termination This project grant was reported as terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in July 2025. See All
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been shortened from 12/31/27 to 05/01/25.