Coachella to receive $3.19 million state grant
Coachella is set to receive quite a bit of green, for the sake of making the city a bit more green.
On Thursday, it was announced that the City of Coachella is being awarded a $3,190,000 grant from the State of California’s Urban Greening Program. The Program is providing funding to 20 infrastructure projects across the state.
“We are thrilled that the Natural Resources Agency is supporting our efforts in creating an innovative green space along Grapefruit Boulevard that not only helps revitalize the community, but provides environmental benefits while creating social connectivity,” said Steve Brown, City Councilmember of the City of Coachella.
The project will address “community-identified barriers, issues and opportunities in the Pueblo Viejo Downtown District,” by enacting “urban street improvements will use elements that mimic natural systems by planting trees along Grapefruit Boulevard,” according to the city release.
The award, allotted by California’s Natural Resources Agency for the Urban Greening Grant Program, is the largest granted in the state. All-told, $24.7 million is being awarded for the program that projects “that aim to reduce greenhouse gases by sequestering carbon, decreasing energy consumption and reducing vehicles miles traveled,” according to the release.
“This is more than just a win-win; it’s a quadruple win scenario,” continued Brown in the release.
“Not only will this grant assist the City to reduce greenhouse gases but the project will also assist a flood-prone area by adding Bioswales with a 220,000-gallon stormwater retention, beautifying the space with approximately 288 trees and creating pedestrian connectivity, all done with State grant funding.”
On Friday, Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez and California Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia will hold a news conference providing more details on the grant at Coachella City Hall at 9 a.m.
