HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-065-E-County Mgr-Trees for the Triangle-Shade for Schools Tree PlantingCOMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION GRANT PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into the fourteenth day of February, 2025, (“Effective Date”) by and
between the County of Orange, a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina, Post Office Box 8181,
Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278, ("County") and Trees for the Triangle a legal entity corporation, located
at 226 Bracken Place, Raleigh, NC 27615(“Provider”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, it is in the interests of the County that said program be assisted by the County and thereby enhance
its availability to residents of the County, and said program addresses an important community human services
need, as identified by the Board of Commissioners.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above and the mutual covenants and conditions hereafter set forth,
the County and Provider agree as follows:
1. Term of the Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall be two years beginning February 14,
2025 to February 14, 2027.
2. Scope of Services.
a. Provider will provide services, as outlined in the attached Community Climate Action Grant
Program Application and any amendments or revision thereto which is attached as Exhibit “A”
and incorporated by reference, to the residents of Orange County. The Scope of Services and
the Program Budget may be different from the original application based on County
appropriation; however, any revisions or amendments to this Agreement must be approved in
writing by the County and attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B.
b. The Provider shall be solely responsible for the means, methods, techniques, sequence, safety
program and procedures necessary to properly and fully complete the work set forth in the
Scope of Services.
3. Funding.
a. The County agrees to appropriate for the provision of services described in Exhibit A, the
Community Climate Action Grant Program Performance Application, Exhibit B, the Revised,
Scope of Services and more particularly described in the Revised Program Budget, the
maximum sum of $50,000.
b. All funds appropriated shall be used for purposes described in Exhibit A. Any funds not used
for the purposes stated shall be returned to the County. Any changes in the use of funds must
be authorized in writing by the County prior to any expenditure of the funds by the Provider.
If the funds are expended not in accordance with the Scope of Services, at the discretion of the
County the Provider may be required to repay the funds to the County.
c. The Provider shall be paid in installments in the amount of See Exhibit C to be paid as follows:
See Exhibit C. The first payment is contingent upon receipt of the agency’s performance
agreement; the remaining payments are contingent upon receipt of the request for
reimbursement and related supporting documentation and performance outlined in the Revised
Scope of Services and Project Budget in Exhibit B. If the project described in Exhibit A requires
funds to be provided on a different or more accelerated schedule, the Provider may request an
alternative payment schedule, which if approved, will be attached to this Agreement as Exhibit
C, Alterative Payment Schedule. Should an Alternative Payment schedule be approved, the
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Provider will still be required to submit quarterly Progress Reports for the duration of the Term
of the Agreement.
d. The County’s obligation to make the quarterly payments is contingent upon receipt of Progress
Reports, which show satisfactory progress toward completion of performance measures and an
accounting of expenditures as detailed in the attached Exhibits B and C.
e. Once Provider has satisfied its obligations as provided in (c) payment will be made 21 days
after receipt of the Progress Report and Request for Reimbursement or 21 days after due date
of Progress Report whichever is later.
f. The County is not obligated to provide any other support to Provider in this or in succeeding
fiscal years.
4. Agency Reporting.
a. Provider will provide Orange County a Progress Report that includes a fiscal report and updates
on performance measures as outlined in Exhibit B, Revised Scope of Services. . Progress
Report dates are: January 1-March 31, April 1-June 30, July 1-September 30, and October
1-December 31. Reports are due on April 15, July 15, October 15, and January 15 of the
program fiscal year.
b. Provider agrees to allow the County to inspect its financial books and records, which document
costs of those services, upon reasonable notice during normal working hours.
5. Termination.
a. Termination for Cause. In the event of any of the circumstances set forth below (hereinafter
referred to as “default”), the County may immediately terminate this Agreement, in whole or in
part, and from time to time. Notice of termination must be in writing, state the reason or reasons
for the termination, and specify the effective date of the termination:
i. In the event that Provider shall cease to exist as an organization or shall enter
bankruptcy proceedings, be declared insolvent, or liquidate all or substantially all of its
assets, or significantly reduce its services or accessibility to Orange County residents
during the term of this Agreement; or
ii. In the event that Provider shall fail to render a satisfactory accounting as provided in
section 4 above, the County may terminate this Agreement and Provider shall return all
payments already made to it by the County for services which have not been provided
or for which no satisfactory accounting has been rendered; or
iii. In the event of any fraudulent representation by the Provider in an invoice or other
verification required to obtain payment under this Agreement or other dishonesty on a
material matter relating to the performance of services under this Agreement.
iv. Nonperformance, incomplete service or performance, or failure to satisfactorily
perform any part of the work identified in the Scope of Services or to comply with any
provision of this Agreement, as determined by the County in its sole discretion.
v. Failure to adhere to the terms of applicable county, state or federal laws, regulations,
or stated public policy.
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b. In the event of default by the Provider, the county may elect to terminate this Agreement, in
whole or in part and/or require the Provider to repay the funds within ten (10) business days
from written notice of default. The County may (but shall not be required to) grant the Provider
an opportunity to cure the default without termination of this Agreement. This clause shall not
be interpreted to limit the County’s remedies in law or in equity.
c. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may terminate the agreement at any time without
penalty; provided that written notice of such termination is furnished to the other party at least
30 days prior to termination. In the event of such termination, any payment due shall be
prorated to the date of termination and any unused funds shall be returned to the County within
10 days of termination.
d. Any termination of this Agreement for default under this section that is later deemed to be
unjustified shall be deemed a termination for convenience.
e. Waiver. The payment of any sums by the County under this Agreement or the failure of the
County to require compliance by the Provider with any provisions of this Agreement or the
waiver by the County of any breach of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any claim
for damages by the County for any breach of this Agreement or a waiver of any other required
compliance with this Agreement.
6. Responsibilities of the County.
Cooperation and Coordination. The County has designated (Amy Eckberg) to act as the
County's representative with respect to the Project who shall have the authority to render
decisions within guidelines established by the County Manager or the County Board of
Commissioners and who shall be available during working hours as often as may be reasonably
required to render decisions and to furnish information.
7. Insurance.
a. General Requirements. The Provider shall purchase and maintain, during the period of
performance of this Agreement, insurance:
i. Worker’s Compensation. For protection from claims under workers' or workmen's
compensation acts;
ii. Comprehensive General Liability Insurance covering claims arising out of or relating
to bodily injury, including bodily injury, sickness, disease or death of any of the
Consultant's employees or any other person and to real and personal property including
loss of use resulting thereof;
iii. Comprehensive Automobile Liability Insurance, including hired and non-owned
vehicles, if any, covering personal injury or death, and property damage; and
iv. Professional Liability Insurance, covering personal injury, bodily injury and property
damage and claims arising out of or related to the performance under this Agreement
by the Consultant or his agents, consultants and employees.
v. Sexual Misconduct. Sexual Abuse/Molestation Insurance is required when Provider
works directly one-on-one with children, elderly or other at-risk populations.
b. Limits of Coverage: Minimum limits of insurance coverage shall be as follows:
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INSURANCE DESCRIPTION MINIMUM REQUIRED COVERAGE
• Worker's Compensation Limits for Coverage A - Statutory State
NC & Coverage B - Employers Liability
$500,000 each accident, disease policy limit and disease
each employee
• Commercial General $1,000,000 Each Occurrence
Liability $2,000,000 Aggregate
• Automobile Liability $500,000 Combined Single Limit
• Professional Liability $1,000,000 Each Occurrence
$2,000,000 Aggregate
• Sexual Misconduct $1,000,000 Each Occurrence
$2,000,000 Aggregate
c. All insurance policies (with the exception of Worker's Compensation and Professional
Liability) required under this Agreement shall name the County as an additional insured party
and as a certificate holder. For more information see the Orange County Risk Transfer
Policy and Orange County Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements, (each
document is incorporated herein by reference and may be viewed at
http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php.)
Evidence of such insurance and all correspondence shall be sent to:
Orange County Risk Manager
Post Office Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
d. Nothing in this section is intended to affect or abrogate the County’s sovereign immunity
defenses.
8. General Provisions.
a. Governing Law. This Agreement and the duties, responsibilities, obligations and rights of
respective parties hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina. By
executing this Agreement Provider affirms that Provider and any subcontractors of Provider are
and shall remain in compliance with Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General
Statutes. By executing this Agreement Provider certifies that Provider has not been identified,
and has not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by
the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.58. By executing this Agreement Provider certifies
that Provider has not been identified, and has not utilized the services of any agent or
subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.81.
b. Non-Discrimination. Provider agrees as part of consideration of the granting of funds by
Orange County the parties hereto for themselves, their agents, officials, employees and servants
agree not to discriminate in any manner of these basis of race, color, gender, national origin,
age, handicap, religion, sexual orientation, familial status or veterans status with reference to
any activities carried out by the grantee, no matter how remote. The parties hereto further agree
in all respects to conform to the provision and intent of Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance,
as amended and the Orange County Non-discrimination Policy, which is incorporated herein
by reference and can be viewed at
http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php. The County
may enforce this provision by an action for specific performance, injunctive relief, or other
remedy as by law provided; this provision shall be binding on the grantees, the successors and
assigns of the parties hereto with reference to the above subject manner.
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c. Dispute Resolution. Any and all suits or actions to enforce, interpret or seek damages with
respect to any provision of, or the performance or non-performance of, this Agreement shall be
brought in the General Court of Justice of North Carolina sitting in Orange County, North
Carolina. It is agreed by the parties that no other court shall have jurisdiction or venue with
respect to such suits or actions. Binding arbitration may not be initiated by either Party,
however, the Parties may agree to nonbinding mediation of any dispute prior to the bringing of
such suit or action.
d. Living Wage. Orange County is committed to providing its employees with a living wage and
encourages agencies if funds to pursue the same goal. The Orange County Living Wage Policy,
which is incorporated herein by reference, can be viewed at:
http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php. The
County’s living wage is $16.60 per hour. To the extent possible, Orange County recommends
that Provider provide a living wage to its employees.
e. Relationship of the Parties. Provider is an independent contractor of the County. Provider
represents that they have or will secure, at his own expense, all personnel required in performing
the services under this Agreement. Such personnel shall not be employees or have any
contractual relationship with the County. All personnel engaged in work under this Agreement
shall be fully qualified and shall be authorized and permitted under federal, state and local law
to perform such services.
f. Compliance with all Laws. The Provider, at its sole expense, shall comply with all laws,
ordinances, orders and regulations of the federal, state or local governments, as well as their
respective departments, commissions, boards, and officers, which are in effect at the time of
execution of this Agreement or are adopted at any time following execution of this agreement.
g. Subcontract. The County and Provider deem the services provided under this Agreement to
be personal in nature and Provider may not subcontract any rights or duties under this
Agreement to any other party without prior written consent from the County.
h. Assignment. The Provider shall not assign this Agreement, including the rights to payment, to
any other party without the prior written consent of the County.
i. Indemnification. Provider agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the County, for all
loss, liability, claims or expense (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising from bodily
injury, including death or property damage, to any person or persons caused in whole or in part
by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Provider, except to the extent same are caused
by the negligence or willful misconduct of the County. It is the intent of this section to require
Provider to indemnify the County to the extent permitted under North Carolina law. Nothing
in this section is intended to affect or abrogate the County’s sovereign immunity defenses.
j. Non-Appropriation. This Agreement is subject to the availability of funds to purchase the
specified services and may be terminated at any time if such funds become unavailable.
k. Severability. All clauses found herein shall act independently of each other. If a clause is
found to be illegal or unenforceable, it shall have no effect on the other provisions of this
Agreement. It is understood by the parties hereto that if any part, term or provision of this
Agreement is by the Courts held to be illegal or in conflict with any laws of the State of North
Carolina or the United States, the validity of the remaining portions or provisions shall not be
affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the
Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be invalid.
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l. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire and integrated agreement between the
County and the Provider and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations or agreements,
either written or oral. This Agreement may be amended only by written instrument signed by
both parties. Modifications may be evidenced by facsimile signatures.
m. Notices. Any notice required by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by certified
or registered mail, return receipt requested to the following:
Orange County Provider’s Name: Trees for the Triangle
Attention: Amy Eckberg Attention: David Klemp
P.O. Box 8181 Address: 226 Bracken Place
Hillsborough, NC 27278 Raleigh, NC 27615
Email:aeckberg@orangecountync.gov Email: dave@treesforthetriangle.org
n. Signatures. This Agreement together with any amendments or modifications may be executed
electronically. All electronic signatures affixed hereto evidence the intent of the Parties to
comply with Article 11A and Article 40 of North Carolina General Statute Chapter 66.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Orange County and the Provider have signed this Agreement, effective on
the last date this Agreement is signed by both parties as indicated by the dates set forth under signatures
below.
For and on behalf of the Provider
_____________________________ _______________________
, Date
For and on behalf of Orange County Government
_______________________________ ________________________
Travis Myren, County Manager Date
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2/17/2025
2/18/2025
ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY
______________________________________________________________________________
Finance Information
Vendor Name: Trees for the Triangle Vendor Contact Person: Dave Klemp Phone: 919-818-1100 Address: 226
Bracken Place City Raleigh State: NC Zip: 27615 Department: County Manager Amount: $50,000 Purpose: Shade
for Schools Tree Planting Budget Code(s): 61210335-803094-30052 Vendor # 68831 Vendor Status with NCSOS:
Vendor is a BOCC consultant: Yes X No
Contract Details
Contract Type: New Amendment (Original Contract: ) (Most Recent Amendment )
Effective Date 2/14/25 End Date 2/14/27 Notice Date (Notice Purpose )
Award
X Approved by Board (Agenda Date: 12/10/24); Made or Administered by
Signature Authority
- BOCC Express Delegation (Agenda Date: )
- Policy 9.4: Under $5,000; Service Under $90,000; Construction Under $250,000
- Budget Policy Section XV (Capital Improvement Project: )
Bidding
Informal Bidding ($30k-$90k); Formal RFP ($90k+); Other (<$30k); Exception(# )
Department Affirmation
X This agreement is approved as to technical form and content and I as Department Director affirmatively state work on
this project has not been initiated prior to execution of the agreement.
Services related to this agreement have already begun or been completed. Description of the nature of the emergency
condition that was addressed:
Department Director’s Signature ________________________________________ Date: ________
Information Technologies
This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications:
Office of the Chief Information Officer___________________________________ Date: ________
Inapplicable because no hardware/software purchases or related service
Risk Management
This agreement is approved for sufficiency of insurance standards, specifications, and requirements:
Office of the Risk Management Officer___________________________________ Date: _________
Financial Services
This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act:
Office of the Chief Financial Officer ____________________________________ Date: _________
Legal Services
This agreement is approved as to legal form and sufficiency:
Office of the County Attorney __________________________________________Date: ________
Clerk to the Board
All Docusign contracts must be copied to the Clerk upon completion: occlerkdocs@orangecountync.gov
The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for Docusign contracts:
Received for record retention:
Office of the Clerk to the Board __________________________________________Date:_________
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2/17/2025
2/17/2025
2/17/2025
2/18/2025
Exhibit A
Community Climate Action Grant Program Application FY24-25
Board of County Commissioners Agenda 12-10-24
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Exhibit B
Community Climate Action Grant Program’s
Revised Scope of Services and Program Budget
No Revisions
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Climate Action Grant Program
Revised 1/25 Page 10 of 10
Exhibit C
Community Climate Action Grant Program’s
Alternative Payment Schedule
Quarter 1 - $12,000
Quarter 2 - $10,000
Quarter 3 - $8,000
Quarter 4 - $6,000
Quarter 5 - $4,000
Quarter 6- $4,000
Quarter 7 - $4,000
Quarter 8 - $2,000
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Trees for the Triangle
Orange County Community Climate Action Grant Program Performance Agreement Page 11 of 11
Rev.1/25
ATTACHMENT “A”
Orange County Certifications – FY 2024-2025
Community Climate Action Grant Performance Agreement
Chief Contact, Administrators, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
I certify that I have provided a list of the chief contact, administrators, chief executive officer and chief
financial officer for my agency with this Agreement and that I will keep it current to the County of Orange.
The list should be in writing with the name, title, residential address; phone and email address and if possible,
fax number.
Officers and Board of Directors
I certify that I have provided a current list of the Officers and Board of Directors with this Agreement and
that we will continue to update the list as changes occur. The list should be in writing, with the name, physical
address, mailing address and if possible, phone, fax and email address.
Budget Submission
I certify that I have provided a budget for the period to be covered by funding Orange County, and that any
substantive changes made to this budget have been in advance authorized in writing by Orange County.
Annual Financial Review
I certify that I have provided a copy of the latest annual Financial Review for our agency and the budget
adopted by the agency for the fiscal years encompassing this Agreement. If not, please explain on a separate
sheet of paper.
Alignment with Organization’s Mission
I certify that the programs and services for which this funding is requested align with the mission of the
organization.
Intended Purpose
I certify that the funds provided to the agency under the terms of this Agreement will be used for a public
purpose and shall only be used for the purposes intended and any money not used for those purposes will be
promptly returned to Orange County.
Certified by: _______________________ Title: __________________________ Date: ___________
(Provider’s Signature)
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2/17/2025Executive Director
Page 1 of 24
Orange County Community Climate Action Grant - Application 2024-25
SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
Primary Applicant Organization: Trees for the Triangle
Project Name: Shade for Schools – Orange County
Section Subsection
Cover Page
☒ Applicant and Collaborator/Partner Contact Information
☒ Funding Request Summary
☒ Signed Application Cover Page
Disclosure ☒ Signed Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest and Clause
Applicant Organization and
Collaborator Information
☒ Applicant organization’s Date of Incorporation (if applicable)
☒ Applicant organization’s Purpose/Mission (if applicable)
☒ Living Wage
☒ Schedule of Positions (if applicable)
Project Information
☒ Project Name
☒ Project Description and Climate Action Plan Alignment
☒ Collaborator Information (if applicable)
☒ Criteria-Specific Sections 1-7
Attachments
(A description of these items is
available on page 13:
“Description of Required
Attachments.” Please contact
us if it will not be possible to
provide any of these required
attachments at the time of
application:
sustainability@orangecountync
.gov
☒ Applicant Organization’s Annual Budget and Proposed Project Budget (Use
template provided)
☒ Applicable Financial Records to prove eligibility: IRS Federal Form 990 or
Applicant Organization’s Tax Returns from 2023
☐ Applicable Financial Records to prove eligibility of collaborator/partner (if
they are receiving project funds): IRS Federal Form 990 or Tax Returns from 2023
☒ List of members of organization’s Governing Board (if Board exists)
☐ Certificate of Insurance (not required at the time of application submission)
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Page 2 of 24
COVER PAGE
Applicant Organization’s Contact Information
Organization’s Legal Name: Trees for the Triangle
Physical Address: David Klemp, Executive Director, Trees for the Triangle
226 Bracken Place, Raleigh, North Carolina
Mailing Address: Same as Physical Address
Web Address: www.treesforthetriangle.org
Telephone Number: 919-818-1100
E-Mail: dave@treesforthetriangle.org
Tax ID Number: EIN 82-2343798
Funding Request Summary
Please list all proposed projects (please list project name only) for which you are requesting Community Climate Action
Grant funding for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Make sure to include a brief description of the proposed use of funds. Applicants
will be asked to provide more details on their proposed project budget in the Budget Worksheets attachment.
Project Equipment Operations Personnel Total
Example: Youth Climate Leadership Project $10,000 $15,000 $5,000 $30,000
Shade for Schools - Orange County $20,000 $5,000 $25,000 $50,000
Briefly describe your proposed use of funds (2-4 sentences):
To the best of my knowledge and belief, all information and data in this application is true and current.
August 16, 2024
Signature:
Applicant’s Authorized Signatory Date
Trees for the Triangle will use the funds to plant 260 native trees and distribute 2,600 seedlings across 13 schools in
Orange County, promoting tree equity and environmental enhancement. The funds will support tree planting, data-
driven site selection, and community engagement, prioritizing schools in rural, underserved areas. Additionally, the
funds will facilitate educational initiatives to integrate these efforts into the broader goals of the Orange County
Climate Action Plan. This investment will create cooler, healthier, and more resilient communities for current and
future generations.
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Page 3 of 24
DISCLOSURE OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND NON-
DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE
Are any of the Board Members or employees of the organization which will be carrying out this project or their named
project collaborators/partners or members of their immediate families, or their business associates:
YES NO
☐ ☒ a) Employees of or closely related to employees of Orange County?
☐ ☒ b) Members of or closely related to members of the governing bodies of Orange County?
☐ ☒ c) Current beneficiaries of the program for which funds are being requested?
☐ ☒ d) Paid providers of goods or services to the program or have other financial interests in the program?
If you have answered YES to any question or know of any other potential conflict of interest regarding your application,
please provide a full explanation here:
NON-DISCRIMINATION
Provider agrees as part of consideration of the granting of funds by funding agencies to the parties hereto for
themselves, their agents, officials, employees and servants agree not to discriminate in any manner on the basis of
race, color, gender, national origin, age, handicap, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, familial
status or veterans status with reference to any activities carried out by the grantee, no matter how remote. The
parties hereto further agree in all respects to conform to the provision and intent of Orange County Civil Rights
Ordinance, as amended and the Orange County Anti-discrimination Policy. This provision is enforced by action
for specific performance, injunctive relief, or other remedy as by law provided; this provision shall be binding on
the grantees, the successors and assigns of the parties hereto with reference to the above subject manner.
To the best of my knowledge and belief all of the above information is true and current. I
acknowledge and understand that the existence of a potential conflict of interest does not
necessarily make the program ineligible for funding, but the existence of an undisclosed
conflict may result in the termination of any grant awarded.
August 16, 2024
Signature:
Applicant’s Authorized Signatory Date
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P.O. Box 8181 * Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
Telephone: 919 245-2626
Applicant Organization Information
Please provide the following information about the primary applicant organization:
Contact Information for Primary Contact, Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director, and Chief Financial
Officer
Primary Contact
Name Megan Pendell
Title Board Chair, Trees for the Triangle
Preferred phone number 919-931-1000
Email address pendell.megan@gmail.com
Fax number (if applicable) N/A
Chief Executive Officer / Executive
Director
Name David Klemp
Title Executive Director, Trees for the Triangle
Preferred phone number 919-818-1100
Email address dave@treesforthetriangle.org
Fax number (if applicable) N/A
Chief Financial Officer
Name George McDowell
Title Treasurer, Trees for the Triangle
Preferred phone number 919-376-7822
Email address george@beautifycary.org
Fax number (if applicable) N/A
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Page 5 of 24
1. Date of Incorporation
(Month/Year): 08/2017
2. Applicant organization’s
Purpose/Mission (2-4 sentences):
The mission of Trees for the Triangle is to improve the ecological
and social resilience of the Triangle area through the planting of
trees. We envision a future in which the Triangle area is home to a
strong interconnected network of native trees, biodiverse urban
forests, and prosperous ecosystems that sustain thriving human
communities. In turn, these communities are instilled with a spirit
of caretaking culture for the planet and inspired to pursue the
highest quality of life for current and future generations through
the abundant preservation of local natural resources. Additionally,
Trees for the Triangle is dedicated to promoting tree equity and
environmental justice by equitably planting native trees and
inclusively engaging diverse communities, with social justice and
racial equity at the core of our operations to ensure all
communities benefit from green spaces and have resilient,
meaningful involvement in our initiatives.
3. Living Wage: Does this
organization pay employees a
minimum living wage ($17.65/hr
or $16.15/hr with employer
provided health insurance)?
☒ Yes
☐ No
Is this organization
an Orange County
Living Wage
Certified Employer?
(Yes / No)
If no, please briefly
explain.
☐ Yes
☒ No - currently no
employees from
Orange County
4. Schedule of Positions:
a. Number of Full-Time Paid
Positions: 1
b. Number of Part-Time Paid
Positions: 2
c. Number of Volunteers: 25+
Collaborators and Partners
In some projects, collaborators and partners provide essential capacity and connections. If collaborators or
partners are an essential part of your project, whether or not they are receiving grant funds, please use this
section to provide more details. If you are not working with collaborators or partners, please feel free to write
N/A in this section and move to the Project Information section.
Feel free to copy and paste Questions “1” through ”5” as needed if you have more than one significant
collaborator/partner:
1. Collaborator Organization’s
Legal Name: Dedicated to Our Community of North Carolina (DOC NC)
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2. Date of Incorporation
(Month/Year): 09/2019
3. Collaborator organization’s
Purpose/Mission (2-4
sentences):
DOC NC is a community of students who aim to make a difference
in the lives of their community. We are a team of students with
excellent leadership, collaborating each annual year with a
different organization and new goals of fundraising. Working
toward that goal, DOC NC plans events, meetings, fundraisers, and
communicates with local town leaders and gains leadership skills
on how we can participate in making our community a better
place. We learn about the effects of these organizations and how
their mission impacts the lives of people taking part in it and
aspire to work toward similar goals.
4. Living Wage: Does this
organization pay employees a
minimum living wage
($17.65/hr or $16.15/hr with
employer provided health
insurance)?
☒ Yes
☐ No
Is this organization
an Orange County
Living Wage
Certified Employer?
(Yes / No)
If no, please briefly
explain.
☐ Yes
☒ No - currently no
employees from
Orange County
5. Schedule of Positions:
a. Number of Full-Time Paid
Positions: 0
b. Number of Part-Time Paid
Positions: 0
c. Number of Volunteers: 25+
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Project Information
*Please submit for each project if applying for funding for more than one project.
1. Project Name: Shade for Schools - Orange County
2. Please briefly describe
the proposed project.
(100-300 words)
The Trees for the Triangle (TftT) Shade for Schools - Orange County pilot
project will plant 20 native, locally-sourced trees at 13 schools in Orange
County, totaling 260 trees, and distribute 200 native tree seedlings per school,
totaling 2,600 seedlings—exceeding 25% of the County’s annual seedling
giveaway goal. This project is centered on tree equity, environmental
enhancement, and community resilience, directly aligning with the 2023
Orange County Climate Action Plan and key state and local policies, such as
EO246 and HB95. Prioritizing social justice and racial equity, this project
pursues both data-driven methods and community engagement to target
specific schools, particularly within Orange County Schools (OCS), where
higher populations reside in rural, less resourced areas.
The initiative delivers significant co-benefits: The trees create cooler spaces,
mitigate urban heat island effects, and reduce building energy costs through
increased shade. They also play a critical role in intercepting pollutants,
absorbing particulate matter, and sequestering carbon dioxide, the primary
greenhouse gas. Additionally, trees manage stormwater runoff, reduce
waterway pollutants, create wildlife habitats, and improve mental and physical
health - students thrive in environments with more trees! This project is a
strategic investment in future generations, ensuring young people benefit
from greener, healthier, and more resilient communities.
Our evidence-based approach to addressing climate change integrates nature-
based solutions and educational initiatives, promoting both environmental
sustainability and community resilience. This pilot program lays the foundation
for broader, long-term impacts across Orange County, fostering a legacy of
ecological stewardship and community well-being.
3. Please choose the best
description for the type
of project*:
*The Background and
Information document
provides examples.
☐ Clean Energy Infrastructure - New
☐ Clean Energy Infrastructure - Repair
☐ Clean Energy Infrastructure - Replacement
☒ Communication/Education
☒ Nature Based Solutions
☐ Waste Reduction/Circular Economy
☐ Analysis/Plan
☒ Other (Please describe): Native tree plantings and seedling giveaways at
local schools
4. Please choose the
primary climate change
mitigation focus for this
project (select all that
apply):
☐ Energy Efficiency
☐ Renewable Energy
☐ Beneficial Electrification
☒ Carbon Sequestration
☒ Other (Please describe): Climate equity, increased energy efficiency for
school facilities, urban heat island mitigation, air quality improvement,
stormwater management, soil stabilization, biodiversity conservation, public
health improvement, and environmental education
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5. Please select the
jurisdiction(s) where
your project is focused
and briefly state how
your project aligns with
the relevant Climate
Action Plans (2-4
sentences):
Please name the action
items from each
relevant plan that best
align with your proposed
project.
☒ Carrboro: https://townofcarrboro.org/928/Community-Climate-Action-Plan
☒ Chapel Hill:
https://www.sustainchapelhill.org/featured/2020/2/18/climate-action-and-
response-plan
☒ Orange County: https://www.orangecountync.gov/3096/Climate-Action-
Plan
This proposed project aligns with the above plan(s) in the following ways:
The Shade for Schools - Orange County proposal aligns with the Climate Action
Plans of Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro by leveraging Nature-Based
Solutions, with a focus on the strategic and equitable planting of trees to
enhance carbon sequestration and create a positive community impact. Trees
for the Triangle applauds Orange County’s ordinances that preserve 33% of
acreage from new development and aims to further these tree protection
efforts. Inspired by the success of Chapel Hill’s 2020 tree plantings in
historically underserved neighborhoods - funded by the Orange County
Community Climate Action grant - we plan to expand these benefits to schools
across the County region supported by this grant funding. Our project directly
and indirectly aligns with numerous key actions and recommendations from
the three Climate Action Plans, as detailed below:
Orange County’s 2023 Climate Action Plan
• Equity Goals (Social Justice Goals Resolution):
o Foster a community culture that rejects oppression and
inequity.
o Ensure economic self-sufficiency.
o Create a safe community.
o Establish sustainable and equitable land-use and
environmental policies.
o Enable full civic participation.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Advance equity and
environmental justice by planting trees at schools in
underserved areas, fostering a safer, healthier, and more
sustainable environment. Promote community involvement,
economic self-sufficiency, and civic engagement, ensuring that
all students benefit from enhanced green spaces and climate
resilience, and in turn, benefits their teachers, families,
neighborhoods, and communities.
• Green Community Goal (GC 2): Increase the tree canopy community
wide.
o Target: Give away 10,000 tree seedlings in 10 years (1,000 a
year).
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Plant 260 trees, increasing
the tree canopy community-wide, and distribute 2,600 tree
seedlings, over 25% of Orange County’s target within just two
years.
• GC 2.1.2: Utilize “community scientists,” residents that support tree
inventory efforts; partner with Trees for the Triangle.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Fulfill partnership as
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stated in the CAP. Promote students as community scientists
through educational initiatives.
• GC 2.1.3: Organize a bi-annual tree giveaway program and a native
plant sale/seed giveaway. Maintain and make available a list of local
native plant growers.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Contribute to tree
giveaway program by distributing native, locally sourced tree
seedlings and educational materials to students at all 13
schools.
• GC 2.1.4: Research planting strategies and resources such as SilvaCell
systems.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Share expertise and
successful tree planting strategies with school facility and
maintenance staff, Orange County staff, and community
members.
• Resilient Community Goal (CR 1): Integrate climate risk solutions in all
County planning efforts.
o Target: Implement measures to reduce heat and drought
impact.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Plant trees at schools to
mitigate extreme heat and drought impact.
• CR 1.1.1: Once heat island mapping study is complete, implement the
usage of reflective paint and plant trees in areas that the study
identifies as needing relief from urban heat island effects.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: For schools that land in
the areas identified as needing relief in the heat island
mapping study, prioritize tree plantings.
• CR 1.1.2: Identify populations most vulnerable to the effects of extreme
heat; prioritize tree plantings in these areas (in support of GC 2.1).
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Where vulnerable
populations are identified, prioritize tree plantings for schools
in these areas.
• CR 2.2.2: Partner with at least four community leaders, nonprofits and
schools annually to disseminate the communication.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Partner with Orange
County and Orange County Schools as a local nonprofit to
support communication and engagement efforts, particularly
related to climate threats and underserved communities.
• CR 3.1.2: Establish partnerships with at least two schools or
community organizations like Urban Sustainability Solutions to install
rain garden installations and provide green infrastructure education in
the community.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Partner and liaise with
schools, providing education on green infrastructure and
nature-based solutions for students and associated
communities.
• CR 3.2.5: Partner with the Triangle Climate Resilience Partnership to
promote alternative cooling strategies like shade trees, green roofs,
and building awnings. Determine and enact standards for new
buildings.
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o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Leverage the Board Chair’s
professional role as the Sustainability Specialist for Durham
County, a member of the Triangle Climate Resilience
Partnership, to support promotions of shade trees as an
alternative cooling strategy.
Chapel Hill’s 2021 Climate Action & Response Plan
• Enhance Green Infrastructure: Plant an average of 200 or more canopy
trees every year and enact a new green infrastructure ordinance by
2022.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Add to Chapel Hill’s annual
tree planting goal at participating CHCPS schools.
• Expand Climate Action Education, Outreach, and Awareness:
Education, outreach and awareness can help equip our community to
understand why climate action and response are important and how it
can take action. Our community has expressed the importance of
sustainability literacy for children, adults, and businesses. The Town,
schools, neighborhoods, places of worship and civic organizations can
work together to deliver constructive and collaborative educational
programs and outreach to increase participation in climate actions.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Work together with
schools to deliver climate education programs and outreach
through the lens of tree plantings.
Carrboro’s 2020 Community Climate Action Plan
• Ecosystem Recommendation #4: Tree Preservation, Protection, and
Conservation.
o Increase public awareness of the intrinsic value and beauty of
trees.
o Educate citizens about proper tree selection, planting, and
care.
o Educate citizens about the health of the larger community
forest, its importance for both human and environmental
health, and ways in which they can support it.
o Partner with local government and civic groups to improve and
expand the Town’s tree canopy.
o Shade for Schools - Orange County: Support Carrboro’s
community education and engagement goals on tree planting
and care, public health, beautification that results from a
larger tree canopy. Add to Carrboro’s tree canopy at
participating CHCPS schools.
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Criterion 1 - Social Justice and Racial Equity
This criterion has a maximum score of 6 pts (out of a total of 26 pts).
6. Who will directly or
indirectly benefit from your
project? Please be as specific
as possible on the
characteristics of those who
will benefit including,
gender, race, age, income
level and geographic
location.
Also, what are the
demographics of the area
where your project takes
place?
Does your project help to
address any racial disparities
in the location it is proposed
for?
Please list any data sources
used and show the steps of
any calculations.
Beneficiary Characteristics & Demographics
Shade for Schools - Orange County is designed to benefit a diverse student
population, particularly those in schools serving predominantly minority and
low-income communities in Orange County, NC. The project focuses on Title
I and Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools, where students aged 5-
18 years old face significant racial and economic disparities. According to the
latest census data, these areas exhibit higher concentrations of minority
populations and lower median household incomes compared to the county
average. The Trees for the Triangle (TftT) team has compiled a list of Orange
County Schools (OCS) and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public Schools (CHCPS), and
their respective location*, ESEA designation*, ADM*, percent EDS*, percent
POC*, percent people in poverty*, percent heat disparity*, percent children
and seniors*, tree equity score*, and canopy coverage. Existing data for
urban heat island and tree cover collected in Chapel Hill have been captured,
as well. Please refer to Attachment F: Shade for Schools - Orange County
School Demographics & Equity Data for this data set.
*All Data Sources
• NC Dept. of Public Instruction, SN Data & Reports, CEP Annual
Notification of Schools Eligibility Report, 2024 Annual Notification of
Schools Eligibility Report - https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-
schools/district-operations/school-nutrition/sn-data-
reports#CEPAnnualNotificationofSchoolsEligibilityReport-3177
o List of schools
• NC Dept. of Public Instruction, SN Data & Reports, Economically
Disadvantaged Student (EDS) Data, SY 2019-2020 (final) -
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/district-operations/school-
nutrition/sn-data-
reports#EconomicallyDisadvantagedStudentDataEDS-3178
o Average Daily Membership (ADM)
o % Economically Disadvantaged Student (EDS)
• American Forests, Tree Equity Score, National Explorer Map -
https://www.treeequityscore.org/map#10.2/35.9407/-79.0787
o Census block group
o Percent people of color (POC)
o Percent people in poverty
o Percent heat disparity
o Percent children and seniors
o Tree equity score
o Current canopy coverage
o Canopy coverage goal
• Representative from CHCPS
o Informed us of which schools were Title 1 and which weren’t
considered Title 1 but serviced Title 1 students
• Representative from OCS Public Relations
o Our team is awaiting reply from the OCS Public Relations
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team to gain clarity on which schools are considered Title 1
vs. CEP, along with any additional available demographic
information
• GARE Advancing Racial Equity and Transforming Government
Resource Guide
o Incorporating racial equity into project planning and
implementation
• Additional urban heat island data
o We will monitor the results of UNC’s Data-Driven EnviroLab
NASA grant project, funded to evaluate heat stress in the
region.
Addressing Racial Disparities
This project directly tackles racial disparities by improving environmental
conditions and expanding educational opportunities, prioritizing OCS and
CHCPS schools with higher populations of students who are designated
economically disadvantaged, people of color, and in areas with high heat
disparity and low tree equity scores. The TftT team is prepared to work with
school administration staff and community leaders to gain an even deeper
understanding of the racial and environmental justice climates of these
schools and communities. By strategically planting trees, we enhance green
spaces, mitigate urban heat islands, and improve air quality—benefits that
are especially critical in communities disproportionately affected by
environmental inequities.
Our approach includes targeted tree plantings in areas most susceptible to
climate impacts, such as extreme heat, and integrates equal access to
environmental education. We will actively involve students, faculty, staff,
PTAs, and community volunteers in the project through school assemblies
and events, take-home materials, library resources, and weekend volunteer
workdays. This hands-on involvement not only teaches valuable skills but
also fosters a sense of ownership and stewardship among participants. To
ensure equal access, we will provide a diversity of communication methods,
including materials in Spanish and scheduling events at various times to
accommodate different schedules and availability within the community.
Additionally, TftT recognizes Orange County’s implementation of GARE
models and methods to ensure racial equity in projects and initiatives. Our
team will continue referencing GARE's Advancing Racial Equity and
Transforming Government Resource Guide and other GARE tools throughout
project planning and implementation. For instance, we will strive to
incorporate elements of the Racial Equity Scorecard in the school selection
process when applicable, the Racial Equity Toolkit to guide decision-making
processes, and the Results-Based Accountability framework to define
success metrics such as the percentage increase in tree canopy cover in
schools serving predominantly communities of color.
7. Please describe any ways
in which low-income or
marginalized
communities/households
While the direct engagement with low-income and marginalized
communities during the proposal creation stage was limited, the TftT team
made significant efforts to consult with key stakeholders who have deep ties
to these communities and a thorough understanding of their needs. We
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were engaged in the
creation of this project
proposal.
engaged with individuals, including:
• Patrick Florence, OCS Director of Facilities & Construction
• Amy Eckberg, Orange County Sustainability Manager
• Lisa Pope, Orange County Soil & Water Education Specialist
• John Richardson, Chapel Hill Community Sustainability Manager
• Brennan Bouma, Chapel Hill Sustainability Program Analyst
• Elizabeth Houghton, Chapel Hill Sustainability Outreach Coordinator
• Shauna Farmer, Community volunteer at Orange County schools &
Extension Master Gardener for Orange County
• Anita Punj, DOC NC Program Director
These consultations informed our understanding of the environmental and
social challenges faced by marginalized populations and schools in Orange
County. Moving forward, we are committed to actively engaging students,
faculty, staff, PTAs, school club leaders, and community members as
participating schools are selected. This engagement will include
collaborative decision-making on tree species selection, maintenance
considerations, and project implementation to ensure that the voices of
those most affected are heard and respected.
8. Please describe any
potential negative side
effects of the project and
describe the steps you are
taking/will take to
eliminate or minimize
these impacts to any low-
income or marginalized
communities/households.
There are no known negative effects of this project.
9. Are the impacted
residents already aware of
the potential positive and
negative impacts of your
project and the steps you
are taking? If not, please
describe your plan to
engage with them and
how you will act based on
their input.
Currently, the impacted residents are not yet fully aware of the Shade for
Schools - Orange County project, though we plan to engage with the schools
and surrounding communities to ensure transparency, inclusion, and
responsiveness. Our engagement strategy includes hosting informational
sessions at selected schools to introduce the project, explain its benefits,
and discuss any potential concerns residents may have. We will provide
materials in multiple languages and schedule events at various times to
accommodate different schedules and ensure broad participation.
We will also establish a feedback mechanism, such as surveys and focus
groups, to gather input from student groups. We are committed to acting on
the input received, making adjustments to address concerns and enhance
positive outcomes. By fostering an open dialogue and prioritizing community
involvement, we aim to create a project that genuinely benefits and reflects
the values of the communities we will serve.
10. During and after the
project, what will your
continued engagement
with the impacted
community be?
During the project, TftT will maintain close collaboration with the impacted
community throughout every stage, from site and species selection to
planting and ongoing maintenance. We are committed to ensuring that
these activities are not only conducted with the community but are also
guided by their input and needs. TftT will partner with DOC NC to actively
engage with students and educators both in the classroom and in the field,
providing educational activities and materials that reinforce the importance
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of environmental stewardship.
Our commitment to the community extends well beyond the planting phase.
We will conduct regular visits to each school over a three-year period to
monitor tree health, offer guidance on proper care, and address any
challenges that arise. These visits will include hands-on workshops and
training sessions for students, staff, and volunteers to ensure that the newly
planted trees thrive and continue to provide long-term benefits. By
maintaining an ongoing presence and fostering a strong partnership with the
community, TftT aims to empower residents to take ownership of the
project and ensure its success for years to come.
11. Please describe any other
aspect of your project
that is relevant to Social
Justice, Environmental
Justice and Racial Equity.
All people deserve a healthy environment, and our project is deeply rooted
in the principles of social justice, environmental justice, and racial equity,
with a strong focus on benefiting schools and students. By targeting
underserved communities, we address social justice by ensuring that
students in these areas, who often face disparities in access to green spaces,
receive the benefits of trees that provide shade, improve air quality, and
offer a healthier learning environment. This focus on environmental justice
directly enhances the well-being of students, who are particularly vulnerable
to the effects of urban heat islands and poor air quality.
Planting trees on school grounds goes beyond improving the physical
environment by also creating opportunities for environmental education,
fostering a generation of students who are more connected to nature and
empowered to advocate for sustainability in their communities. The trees
we plant will serve as living classrooms, offering hands-on learning
experiences that enrich teachers’ curriculums and inspire students to take
an active role in caring for their environment.
TftT is committed to upholding and continuously improving a culture of
equity, diversity, and inclusion within our operations and Board culture,
which directly informs the work we do in schools. By involving students,
teachers, and parents in the decision-making process, we ensure that the
project reflects the unique needs and values of each school community,
promoting a sense of ownership and pride in the transformed spaces.
For more detailed information, please refer to TftT’s Justice, Equity,
Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) statements available on our website:
https://www.treesforthetriangle.org/our-core-beliefs--treethos.html
Criterion 2 - Emissions Reduced
This criterion has a maximum score of 4 pts (out of a total of 26 pts).
Please see the Grant Project website for estimation tools and the Background and Information document for
information about technical assistance. Applicants are encouraged to ask for clarification and technical
assistance as early as possible and no later than the posted deadline for questions.
12. How many tons of
greenhouse gas emissions
will your project
reduce/avoid each year?
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Calculation
Using the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, the Shade for
Schools - Orange County program will have the following impact:
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Please list any data sources
used and show the steps of
any calculations. Feel free
to submit in a separate
document if clearly
labeled.
1. Tree Planting:
o Number of Trees: 20 trees per school x 13 schools = 260
trees
o Carbon dioxide (CO2) Sequestration per Tree: 0.060 metric
tons CO2
o Total CO2 Sequestered by Trees: 260 trees x 0.060 metric
tons CO2 = 15.6 metric tons CO2
2. Seedling Distribution:
o Number of Seedlings Distributed: 200 seedlings per school
x 13 schools = 2600 seedlings
o CO2 Sequestration per Seedling: 0.060 metric tons CO2
o Total CO2 Sequestered by Seedlings: 2600 seedlings x
0.060 metric tons CO2 = 156 metric tons CO2
Total CO2 Sequestration:
• From Trees: 15.6 metric tons CO2
• From Seedlings: 156 metric tons CO2
• Combined Total: 171.6 metric tons CO2
Direct and Indirect GHG Emission Reduction:
• The program will directly reduce carbon emissions through carbon
sequestration by both the planted trees and distributed seedlings.
• Indirectly, the program will reduce energy consumption for cooling
school buildings, further contributing to greenhouse gas reduction.
Data Source: EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator
https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator
13. Over how many years will
this emissions reduction
take place as a result of
your project? Please
consider the expected
lifetime of the technology/
program/ impact, etc.
The emissions reduction calculated is based on a 10-year growth period for
the trees and seedlings. This timeframe considers the typical growth and
sequestration rates for native urban trees. Key aspects of the program's
longevity and impact include:
• Growth Period: The 10-year period accounts for the time it takes
for the trees to reach full sequestration potential, including
adjustments for average tree mortality.
• Educational Programs: Trees for the Triangle, along with partners,
will conduct comprehensive educational programs for students,
teachers, school staff, and PTA members on proper tree planting,
care, and maintenance. These programs will ensure that the trees
planted at schools are well-maintained.
• Monitoring and Maintenance: Trees for the Triangle will monitor
the planted trees for three years. This includes ensuring proper
maintenance, watering, and addressing any tree mortality that
may occur.
• Sustainability: The trees will be native species, sourced locally in
Orange County, and selected for their suitability to the local
environment. With proper care and establishment within the first
three years, these trees are expected to become self-sustaining
and continue to sequester CO2 well beyond the initial 10-year
calculation period.
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14. Please describe the
location of the emissions
reduction. Where would
fossil fuels have been
burned if not for your
project? For projects that
reduce electricity usage or
that generate solar energy,
feel free to state “grid-tied
electricity reduction” if you
cannot determine the
location of emissions
produced from electric
power generation.
The emissions reduction and carbon sequestration benefits of the Shade
for Schools - Orange County program will occur in the following locations:
• Schools: The trees will be planted on the grounds of 13
participating schools throughout Orange County, including urban
and rural areas. These trees will be strategically placed to provide
optimal shade to playgrounds, gathering areas, and around school
buildings.
• Distribution Locations: The native tree seedlings will be distributed
to students, who will plant them in their yards or other local areas
throughout Orange County.
By reducing the urban heat island effect through strategic tree planting,
the program will decrease the need for air conditioning in the school
buildings. This reduction in cooling demand translates to lower electricity
consumption and, consequently, a decrease in fossil fuel use associated
with electricity generation. The emissions reductions primarily impact local
and regional air quality by mitigating the need for additional electricity
production, which would otherwise rely on fossil fuels.
15. Please describe any other
aspect of your project that
is relevant to the amount
of emissions that it will
reduce or avoid.
In addition to their primary roles in providing shade and sequestering CO2,
the trees planted through the Shade for Schools - Orange County program
offer several systemic environmental and public health benefits that
contribute to overall emissions reduction:
• Temperature Regulation: By providing shade and cooling, trees
help mitigate the urban heat island effect. This cooling effect
reduces the need for air conditioning, which in turn lowers energy
consumption and fossil fuel use for electricity generation.
• Air Quality Improvement: Trees play a crucial role in improving air
quality by filtering particulate matter and other pollutants from
the air. This purification of the air can help reduce respiratory
problems among children and other community members, leading
to better public health outcomes.
• Stormwater Management: The tree roots and the soft, non-
compacted soil around them absorb and manage stormwater
runoff. This absorption helps reduce the risk of flooding and
erosion, and the water is then transpired back into the
atmosphere, contributing to local and regional hydrological
balance.
• Educational Impact: The program includes an educational
component where students learn about the environmental
benefits of trees, air quality, and energy efficiency. This knowledge
encourages students to adopt energy-efficient practices at home
and in their communities. As they share what they've learned, they
can influence their families and peers to also engage in sustainable
practices, amplifying the program's impact beyond the schools.
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Criterion 3 - Efficient Use of Funds
This criterion has a maximum score of 4 pts (out of a total of 26 pts).
Please estimate the impact of your project per grant dollar requested. The cost per unit of impact must reflect
the total program budget divided by the total impact of the project described in this application. If the proposed
project is new, please write N/A in the Actual Annual Project Costs column of the table below, and just fill out
the last column. Please see the Grant Project website for further guidance and the Background and Information
document for information about technical assistance. Applicants are encouraged to ask for clarification and
technical assistance as early as possible and no later than the posted deadline for questions.
Example
Actual Annual
Project Costs
(If your proposed
project expands
or accelerates an
ongoing effort)
Projected Project Costs
Total Cost of Project $3,765 N/A $50,000
Unit of Impact:
Total # of metric tons of
greenhouse gases reduced
44 metric tons
CO2e/year N/A 171.6 metric tons CO2e
sequestered
Cost Per Metric Ton of GHG’s
Reduced
$3,765/44 =
$86/metric ton N/A $50,000/171.6 = $291.38/metric
ton
Unit of Impact:
Total # of individuals
served/benefitted
8,840
individuals/year N/A 8,100 students & staff/year for 20+
years = >162,000 individuals
Cost Per Individual
Served/Benefitted
$3,765/8,840 =
$0.43/individual N/A $50,000/162,000 = $0.31/individual
Other Unit of Impact: Please
describe here
N/A N/A 10 gallons/year x 260 trees =
52,000 gallons over 20 years
Cost Per Unit of Impact N/A N/A $50,000/52,000 gallons =
$0.96/gallon diverted
Other Unit of Impact: Please
describe here
N/A N/A N/A
Cost Per Unit of Impact N/A N/A N/A
(Please feel free to add rows if necessary to show any additional units of impact.)
16. Please describe any
avoided financial costs or
savings related to the
project and over what
period of time those costs
will be avoided/reduced.
Cost Efficiency in Planting: By leveraging Trees for the Triangle (TftT)’s
expertise, the cost of planting trees is significantly lower compared to
hiring professional landscapers. The program benefits from supervision by
a certified arborist, ensuring proper planting and maintenance while
reducing overall costs. For $50,000, we can plant 20 trees at each of the 13
schools in the Orange County School District, equating to $192.31 per tree.
This cost is comparable to or lower than typical landscaping expenses and
embeds additional services such as outreach and education.
Energy Savings: Trees contribute to reducing heating and cooling costs for
school buildings. By providing shade and reducing the urban heat island
effect, trees lower the need for air conditioning and heating, resulting in
reduced energy bills for the school system over time. Additionally, tree
seedlings planted at homes and community spaces will have equivalent
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effects for nearby houses and buildings over time.
Stormwater Management Savings: The presence of trees helps absorb
stormwater runoff, alleviating pressure on the stormwater management
system. This reduction in runoff helps mitigate flooding risks and decreases
the costs associated with stormwater management and flood damage
during significant storms.
Health-Related Savings: Increased tree coverage improves air quality,
which can lead to reduced medical costs related to respiratory issues and
heat-related health problems among children. Cleaner air and a more
temperate environment contribute to overall public health savings.
Ecological Value: The long-term ecological benefits of each tree far exceed
the initial planting costs. The value of these benefits is documented by the
Arbor Day Foundation’s tree value calculator
(https://www.arborday.org/calculator/treeinfo.cfm?zip=27278&city=HILLS
BOROUGH&state=NC&climatezone=South), which demonstrates that the
ecological benefits provided by each tree greatly outweigh its cost.
17. Does your project
accelerate or expand on
existing programs that
already show positive
impact?
The Shade for Schools - Orange County program expands on the recently
proposed Shade for Schools - Wake County program by establishing it as a
growing initiative across the Triangle region. This grant will facilitate the
development of comprehensive educational materials and presentations
that may then be adapted and used in participating schools in other
regions, enhancing the program’s effectiveness and reach. Additionally,
the success of this expanded program will increase the likelihood of
securing future funding for similar projects throughout the Triangle,
demonstrating its positive impact and ensuring long-term sustainability.
18. Does your project take
advantage of other funding
sources?
TftT actively seeks additional funding sources to enhance future projects
with support from its Board of Director’s Grants Coordinator and Grants &
Fundraising Committee. At this time, we do not have any additional
funding sources to launch Shade for Schools - Orange County. As TftT is a
nonprofit organization and schools often face limited funding, this grant is
crucial for the successful implementation of the program. The funding will
enable us to realize the full range of benefits associated with the program,
maximizing the environmental and educational impact. The grant will serve
as a catalyst for achieving these goals and will also help attract further
support and investment for ongoing and future initiatives.
19. Would your proposed
project help you to take
advantage of funding from
other sources besides this
grant in the future?
Yes, the proposed project is designed to leverage this grant as a foundation
for securing additional funding from other sources in the future. While this
grant is currently the sole source of funding for the program, it will provide
a strong basis for demonstrating the program’s success and impact. We
will actively seek complementary funding opportunities and use the
outcomes of this grant to appeal to potential donors and grantmaking
organizations. By showcasing the program's achievements through our
website, social media, and in-person events, we aim to attract both large
and small donors. TftT is also a member of several local nonprofit
networking groups, from which diverse funding opportunities are
promoted. This approach will help us expand the Shade for Schools
program to include more schools across the Triangle and fully realize its
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potential. Additionally, our team plans to reapply for the Orange County
Community Climate Action grant in future years to further expand the
Shade for Schools - Orange County program. This will enable us to include
more schools and enhance the work at schools that participated in the
initial round.
20. Please describe any other
aspect of your project that
is relevant to the efficient
use of grant funds.
The efficient use of grant funds is a core value of the Shade for Schools -
Orange County program. We maximize cost-effectiveness through the
extensive involvement of volunteers, which allows TftT to reach all 13
schools effectively and economically. Our Board Members include highly
skilled environmental, sustainability, and community engagement experts,
including two Certified Arborists, who contribute their expertise pro bono.
Our experienced program partner, DOC NC, will provide voluntary support
for environmental education initiatives from students’ perspectives.
Additionally, by purchasing trees in bulk, we achieve significant cost
savings, and we further reduce expenses through donations of compost
and wood chips. This strategic approach ensures that grant funds are used
efficiently and that the program delivers maximum impact. Our team is
fully prepared to submit quarterly written progress reports, including
detailed expenses and financial and administrative management.
Criterion 4 - Capacity of Applicant
This criterion has a maximum score of 3 pts (out of a total of 26 pts).
21. a. Has your organization
completed projects of this
type in the past?
b. If so, what funds were
used?
☒ Yes ☐ No
☒ Funding used (Please describe): Yes, Trees for the Triangle
(TftT) has successfully completed similar projects in the past,
focusing on enhancing green spaces and promoting environmental
education through tree planting initiatives. Funding for these
projects primarily came from donations from school parents and
the general public in the communities where the plantings took
place. This grassroots support demonstrated strong community
engagement and commitment to our environmental goals.
Additionally, we have utilized funds from local grants and
partnerships to support these efforts and expand our impact.
22. Please provide a brief
description of similar past
achievements or projects
and evidence of
successfully meeting
proposed budgets and
timetables (2-4 sentences).
TftT has successfully executed similar projects, such as planting a total of
50 trees at Heritage High School, Wake Forest High School, Youngsville
Academy, and Endeavor Charter School. Each project was completed
within a year, typically starting with an assessment in the summer and
planting by the following spring. We maintained a cost per tree of under
$200, demonstrating our ability to manage budgets effectively. Our track
record includes collaborating with student groups, parents, teachers, and
school administration to plan and implement these plantings, ensuring
successful and timely completion of projects.
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23. If you are proposing to
collaborate with other
organizations on this
project, please briefly
describe their relevant
experience to the project
and/or the target
population.
TftT is collaborating with DOC NC, a youth-led organization representing
students across K-12 with a strong theme of environmental and
sustainability initiatives working across the region over the past four years.
DOC NC’s youth members have spearheaded various environmental
projects, including litter sweeps and outdoor events at Jordan Lake, as well
as educational programs aimed at raising awareness about environmental
and climate issues. Under the guidance of Duke University mentors, DOC
NC’s youth have successfully conducted environmental awareness
programs for elementary and middle school students in the RTP area,
demonstrating their capability and dedication to engaging and educating
the target population. DOC NC members are enthusiastic about supporting
the Shade for Schools - Orange County program and are eager to engage in
volunteering and internship opportunities.
24. a. Have your
collaborators/partners
completed projects of this
type in the past?
b. If so, what funds were
used?
☒ Yes ☐ No
☒ Funding used (Please describe): Yes, Duke University provided
mentorship and support for these initiatives, while DOC NC funded
their educational programs through contributions from parents
and proceeds from fundraising events. This combination of
institutional support and grassroots fundraising has enabled DOC
NC to effectively carry out their projects.
25. Please describe any other
relevant expertise or
capacity to carry out the
project in your application.
Our team boasts significant expertise and capacity to execute the project
effectively. Our Executive Director is a Certified Arborist accredited by the
International Society of Arboriculture, ensuring that site assessments and
tree planting are conducted with the highest level of professionalism and
care. We excel in training volunteers for site assessments and planting,
which are core competencies of our organization. Additionally, the TftT
Board of Directors has extensive experience, and they will be actively
involved in the program. High-level roles, showcasing expertise from TftT
Board members and advisors, are outlined below:
• Megan Pendell, Board Chair: Sustainability Specialist at Durham
County
• Jean-Luc Duvall, Vice Chair & Volunteer Coordinator: Community
Grassroots Organizer & Campaign Specialist
• Richard Carroll, Grants Coordinator: World Wildlife Fund
Conservationist
• Ellie Kinsey, Education Coordinator: Stormwater Education
Specialist at Durham County
• George McDowell, Treasurer, Board Advisor: Director of the Cary
Tree Archive
• Jacqlyn Holeman, Secretary: Program Associate at Central Pines
Regional Council
• Archana Lamichhane, PhD, Board Member: Health Scientist at US
Environmental Protection Agency
• Latha Kanchi, Board Member: Bioinformatics Scientist at UNC
Chapel Hill
• Jeff Benavides, Board Member: Director of Portfolios Performance
at Scale at US Green Building Council
• Jordyne Krumroy, Board Member: Director of Partnerships at
Welcoming America
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• Katie Rose Levin, Board Advisor: Owner at ArborVerde & Founder
of Trees Durham
• Dan Ault, Board Advisor: Assistant Town Manager at Town of Cary
• Zach Czajkowski, Board Advisor: Founder & President at Brackish
Solutions
• Cameron Green, Board Advisor: Lead Litigation Attorney at
Whitaker & Hamer
26. Please describe any prior
challenges you have
encountered in past grants
and how you have worked
through them. How may
this impact this proposed
project?
In previous grant projects with organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation
and One Tree Planted, we encountered challenges related to tree mortality
caused by environmental factors beyond the control of our tree planting
experts. To address these issues, we implemented comprehensive
strategies including training volunteers on proper tree planting techniques,
utilizing tree guards for protection, and replacing any trees that did not
survive. For this project, we’ll continue using these successful practices,
focusing on strict adherence to our planting guidelines, regular monitoring,
and ongoing maintenance. Our aim is to ensure that every tree we plant
grows into a thriving canopy, providing long-lasting sustainability and
maximizing the environmental benefits of our work.
27. Please describe one to
three key partnerships/
collaborations that add the
most value to the success
of the proposed project.
1. DOC NC (Youth Organization): DOC NC will play a crucial role in
the educational component of our project. Youths and teens from
DOC NC will collaborate with TftT experts to create engaging
presentations that highlight the environmental and health benefits
of trees, as well as teach proper tree care. By involving peers in the
education process, we aim to make the content more relatable and
memorable for students, fostering a deeper understanding and
commitment to environmental justice and stewardship.
2. Orange County School District Administrators: We are working
closely with Patrick Florence, the OCS Director of Facilities and
Construction, and plan to engage other key school district
administrators. This partnership is vital for maximizing benefits and
addressing concerns such as maintenance issues, leaf litter
management, and ensuring that tree placement does not interfere
with drainage or building structures. We plan to collaborate with
staff directly and provide comprehensive information on
maintenance strategies and solutions, along with tree benefits, in a
detailed pamphlet. The TftT team will be available for
communications and site visits with staff to support maintenance
efforts. We are also eager to engage with teachers associated with
Agricultural buildings and gardening departments to enlist their
support and integrate tree planting into their programs.
3. Community Stakeholders: We are actively engaging with various
community stakeholders, including sustainability staff from both
Orange County and Chapel Hill, various local volunteers, and
members of the Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County.
These collaborations are essential for aligning our project with
broader community sustainability goals and ensuring its success,
and our team is looking forward to significantly growing our
outreach efforts and connections with school community
stakeholders.
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28. If this project is not
selected for funding in this
round, what other funding
might be used to support it
within the next 5 years?
☐ Other capital or operational funds ☒ None. This is a unique opportunity. ☒ Unknown (please describe): If this project is not selected for funding in
this round, TftT will actively seek alternative funding sources to support its
completion within the next 5 years. While we cannot guarantee a specific
timeline for project completion without this funding, we will explore
various avenues including grants from other environmental organizations,
corporate sponsorships, and community fundraising efforts. Our
commitment to the project remains steadfast, and we will persist in our
efforts to secure the necessary resources to realize our goals.
Criterion 5 - Local Economic Development
This criterion has a maximum score of 3 pts (out of a total of 26 pts).
29. How many Orange County
residents are employed by
your organization?
Trees for the Triangle (TftT) currently employs one staff member, and they
are not a resident of Orange County.
30. What project materials will
be purchased from sources
within Orange County or
North Carolina? What
percent of the total
materials do these
represent?
TftT is committed to sourcing as many project materials as possible from
Orange County. Most, if not all, of the trees will be purchased from local
nurseries within Orange County. For any additional materials, tools, mulch,
and related items that we cannot obtain locally, we will ensure they are
sourced from within North Carolina. Our goal is to maximize local
procurement and support the Triangle region's economy, aiming for 100%
of materials to be sourced within North Carolina.
31. Please describe any other
aspect of your project that
is relevant to local
economic development.
Shade for Schools - Orange County supports local economic development
by providing training in topic areas related to natural resources and
environmental science, showcasing career options for students. TftT will
also engage the school community in skill-building activities and offer
volunteer and internship opportunities. Additionally, we prioritize sourcing
materials from local nurseries and businesses in Orange County, which
helps boost the local economy and strengthen community connections.
Criterion 6 - Amount and Duration of Engagement
This criterion has a maximum score of 3 pts (out of a total of 26 pts).
32. Please briefly describe the
target population to
benefit from the project.
Shade for Schools - Orange County is designed to benefit a broad range of
individuals within Orange County, with a primary focus on public school
communities. This includes students, their families, teachers, staff, and
volunteers. Trees for the Triangle (TftT) aim to particularly support low-
income populations and schools that have historically lacked access to
environmental resources. By providing tree planting and environmental
education, we address equity concerns and target schools with ESEA
designations, higher percentages of EDS, POC, people in poverty, and heat
disparity, and lower tree equity scores, which highlight disparities in
environmental benefits. The program’s impact will be most direct for those
within the schools, but its benefits will extend throughout the community,
promoting greater access to green spaces and educational opportunities
for future generations.
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33. How many people will
benefit from your project?
The program is expected to benefit approximately 55,000 students and
school staff over the lifespan of the trees, which will provide enduring
environmental and educational benefits. In addition, an estimated 6,300
people will benefit from the 2,600 seedlings distributed during educational
presentations, based on an average household size of 2.42 (Census.gov).
This estimate includes the students' families who receive seedlings, as well
as school faculty and staff who frequently visit the schools. By sending
seedlings and educational materials home with students, we aim to create
a lasting and widespread impact on the community, extending the benefits
far beyond the school environment.
34. Please describe how you
will engage with and/or
educate project participants
and/or the community.
The program focuses on both environmental benefits and education,
aiming to actively involve students, teachers, and the broader community.
Certified arborists and trained volunteers will partner with students,
teachers, and PTAs to provide hands-on instruction in proper planting,
watering, maintenance, and mulching of trees. TftT will collaborate with
school administration, maintenance staff, and environmental clubs to
organize bi-annual clean-up and ground maintenance days. Additionally,
we will offer tree-related educational materials and activities for school
curricula, minimizing the burden on teachers while maximizing educational
impact.
To engage a diverse audience, we will offer educational materials in
multiple formats, including take-home resources, online information, and
school gatherings. These materials and events will cover topics like green
infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and the benefits of tree planting,
with translations available in Spanish where possible to ensure
accessibility. Students will receive seedling packages with how-to kits,
encouraging them to apply their learning at home and in their
communities while ensuring proper tree plantings offsite. Our team will
include creative, interactive elements, such as brain puzzles, coloring
pages, and seedling photo contests to make learning engaging and
impactful.
By partnering with local organizations like DOC NC, we will provide
workshops and create additional educational content. Our goal is to reach
thousands of students in Orange County, instilling knowledge about native
trees and fostering a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.
This project not only aims to improve local surroundings but also
empowers students to enhance their natural environments wherever they
go.
35. How will you measure the
success of that engagement
or educational effort?
To measure the success of our engagement and educational efforts, TftT
will employ a variety of strategies. We plan to foster ongoing participation
by organizing school or class contests, encouraging students to document
their seedling planting progress through photo submissions. This will allow
us to track and evaluate their adherence to proper planting and care
practices.
To minimize the burden on the community, we aim to reduce the need for
extensive surveys, though concise surveys might be distributed for
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feedback on important program elements to encourage ongoing
improvement. We will also monitor engagement through relying on
website analytics for any online resources we provide. Additionally, we
may use signage with QR codes placed near the planted trees, allowing us
to track interactions and gather data on community engagement. These
methods will help us assess the effectiveness of our educational initiatives
and ensure that our project is achieving its goals. All our data and success
indicators will be integrated with social justice and racial equity measures
as outlined in Criterion 1 on this grant application.
36. Please describe any other
aspect of your project that
is relevant to the amount,
or quality, or length of
engagement and/or
education that your project
will produce.
Schoolchildren represent the future stewards of our planet. As we confront
the climate emergency, it is crucial to invest in their education and raise
awareness about environmental issues and solutions. This program
addresses this need by embedding environmental education into school
programs and providing students with the tools to make a tangible impact
on their surroundings. By collaborating with students, teachers, parents,
and school staff to integrate these lessons into daily learning and planting
trees that will thrive for over 100 years, we are ensuring that the benefits
of this project extend well beyond our immediate involvement. This
approach not only promotes long-term environmental stewardship but
also empowers future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to
enhance their communities and protect the planet, ensuring a healthy and
resilient future.
Criterion 7 - Time to Complete
This criterion has a maximum score of 3 pts (out of a total of 26 pts).
37. How much time will your
project require to
demonstrate the positive
impacts you describe?
Over a two-year period, we will successfully complete the tree plantings
across all 13 school campuses through Shade for Schools - Orange County.
The program will be divided into two phases: Phase 1 will involve planting
at up to 6 schools during the 2024-25 planting season (October through
March), followed by Phase 2 at the remaining 7 schools during the 2025-26
planting season. All tree planting is expected to be finalized by March
2026, with a subsequent follow-up period dedicated to replacing any trees
that do not survive to ensure long-term success and impact. We anticipate
the initial positive effects of the program will be evident by Fall 2024 for
the first group of schools.
We are committed to meeting the funding requirements, including
submitting quarterly written progress reports and adhering to the terms of
the Performance Agreement throughout the program period.
Thank you for your review and consideration of Trees for the Triangle’s Shade for Schools – Orange County
program proposal for the Orange County Community Climate Action Grant!
Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
FY 2018-19 Agency Budget
Applicant Organization's Budget
(Most recent complete calendar year or fiscal year)
Starting date: 07/01/2023 Ending Date: 06/30/2024
ORGANIZATION NAME:Trees for the Triangle
ORGANIZATION REVENUE
Actual Total for
Previous Year
(2023-24)
Estimated Total
for Current Year
(24-25)
Projected Total
for Next Year (25-
26)
Percent
Change
Private Donations ($ 124,668)($ 14,000)($ 50,000)257%
Generated Revenue (fees, sales, etc)($-)($-)($5,000)0
Local Government Grants
(Please list separately):
($-)($-)($-)0
($-)($-)($-)0
($-)($-)($-)0
Other Government Grants
Inflation Reduction Act Grant ($-)($ 162,000.00) ($ 250,000.00) ($ 0.54)
($-)($-)($-) 0
($-)($-)($-) 0
($-)($-)($-) 0
Other Revenue: please briefly explain here ($-)($-)($-) 0
Total Organization Revenue ($ 124,668) ($ 176,000) ($ 305,000) 73%
AGENCY EXPENSES
Compensation ($ 30,000)($ 60,000)($ 125,000)108%
Rent & Utilities ($-)($-)($-)0
Supplies & Equipment ($ 10,000)($ 70,000)($ 150,000)114%
Travel & Training ($-)($ 10,000)($ 10,000)0%
Other Expenses: Events and Fundraising Costs, Insurance, Website ($-)($ 12,000)($ 16,000)33%
Total Agency Expenses ($ 40,000) ($ 152,000) ($ 301,000) 98%
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR PERIOD:($ 84,668) ($ 24,000) ($ 4,000) -83%
Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
FY 2018-19 Agency Budget
Proposed Project Budget
PROJECT NAME:Shade for Schools Orange County
Use only if project is ongoing Use for all projects
PROJECT REVENUE
Actual Total for
Previous Year
(2023-24)
Estimated Total
for Current Year
(24-25)
Projected Total for
Next Year (25-26)
Percent
Change
Private Donations ($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Project Generated Revenue:($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Local Government Grants
(Please list separately):
Orange County Community Climate Action Grant ($- ) ($- ) ($50,000) 0
($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Other Government Grants
Triangle United Way ($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
State Government ($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Federal Government (CDBG/HOME/etc.)($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Private Foundation Grants ($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Other Revenue: please briefly explain here ($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Total Project Revenue ($- ) ($- ) ($50,000) 0
PROJECT EXPENSES
Compensation ($- ) ($- ) ($25,000) 0
Rent & Utilities ($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Supplies & Equipment ($- ) ($- ) ($20,000) 0
Travel & Training ($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Other Expenses: Development of Educational Materials/Presentations ($- ) ($- ) ($5,000) 0
Total Project Expenses ($- ) ($- ) ($50,000) 0
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR PERIOD:($- ) ($- ) ($- ) 0
Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date:December 10, 2024
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-b
SUBJECT: Community Climate Action Grant (CCAG) –FY 2024-25 Project Selection
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. CCAG 2024-25 Project
Descriptions, Scoring and
Comments
2. CCAG Project Status Summary
Including Estimated Greenhouse
Gases (GHG) Reductions
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Eckberg,(919) 245-2626
PURPOSE: To:
1. Receive the grant project funding recommendations from the Commission for the
Environment (CFE) and the overall scores and comments from the CFE and Human
Relations Commission (HRC) for the FY 2024-25 Orange County Community Climate
Action Grant Program; and
2. Approve funding for the recommended Community Climate Action Grant projects for FY
2024-25 as outlined in the table below and further described in Attachment 1.
BACKGROUND: As part of the FY 2019-20 budget, the Orange County Board of Commissioners
(BOCC) established the Orange County Climate Action Fund to accelerate climate change
mitigation efforts within the County. This initiative was motivated in part by the Board’s ambitious
climate goals, including a full transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The recently adopted
Climate Action Plan establishes additional climate goals and outlines the actions and strategies
that will enable Orange County to achieve these objectives, including the Community Climate
Action Grant.
For the FY 2024-25 funding cycle, $262,500 was allocated to general applicants to support climate
action projects designed to benefit Orange County residents both socially and financially. The
Board did not approve any climate funding for schools this year. In alignment with the Board of
Commissioners’ direction, the selection process for awarding funds was conducted through the
Community Climate Action Grant program.
The Community Climate Action grant program received twenty-five (25) applications in this round
from a variety of applicants representing nonprofits, small businesses and public organizations
whose total requests added up to $1,151,873. Grant applications were completed over the
summer and reviewed by both the Commission for the Environment (CFE) and the Human
Relations Commission (HRC) in fall 2024. Each of these Commissions voted to forward their final
scoring and comments to the BOCC.
1Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
The following is a rank-order summary table of the combined project scoring and
recommendations for funding. More details on each project are available in Attachment 1.
Rank Applicant
Name Project Name Project Summary Amount
Requested
Recomme
nded
Funding
level
Total
Score
(out
of 26)
1
Trees for the
Triangle
Shade for Schools Planting of 260 native trees and
distribution of 2,600 seedlings across 13
schools in Orange County, prioritizing
schools in rural, underserved areas $50,000 $50,000 22.1
2
Habitat for
Humanity
Rooftop Solar on
Habitat Homes
Rooftop solar on 14 newly constructed
Habitat Homes $100,000 $50,000 21.7
3
Empowerment Peach Apartments
Solar Project
Elecrical panel box and labor for solar
installation project $19,800 $19,800 20.9
4
Eno River
Association
Nature Based
Solutions at the
Confluence Natural
Area
Conversion of 14.2‐acre agricultural field to
Piedmont prairie and reforestation of an
8.6‐acre agricultural field. Includes
purchase of equipment such as a $45,000
tractor. $67,600 $22,600 20.5
5
SolarEquity St. Joseph's CME
Church Solar
Project
23.4‐kW solar array on the roof of St.
Joseph's CME Church
$78,251 $50,000 19.1
6
Urban
Sustainability
Solutions
Orange County
Green
Infrastructure
Workforce
Development
Program
Installation of sustainable stormwater
management measures in historically
underserved communities utilizing public
HS teachers and students in a certified
green infrastructure training program to
implement these measures $71,000 $58,100 18.6
7
Red Hawk Farm Farm Renewable
Energy
Infrastructure
Hire consulting firm to provide engineering
and design services for a REAP grant to
install solar on farm; replace single phase
with 3‐phase power to enable solar
installation $100,000 $0 18.2
8
Town of Chapel
Hill
Extended Service
and Key Equipment
for E‐Bike Pilot
Program
E‐bike maintenance and management
services to offer free e‐bike pilot program
in Chapel Hill; funds will supplement
federal funding received for this program
to help it operate for an additional six
months $57,165 $0 18.1
9
Community
Home Trust
Electrify 5 CHT
homes with water
heaters and heat
pumps
Replacement of gas water heaters with
electric water heaters & gas
furnace/electric air conditioners with
electric heat pumps for 5 homes in
Community Home Trust inventory $110,000 $0 17.8
10
Endswell The First Carbon
Neutral Funeral
Home
Installation of a 40‐kW solar array
$15,000 $0 17.6
11
Town of
Carrboro
Sustainable
Transportation
Pilot
Purchase of e‐bikes, safety equipment, and
storage to allow Town employees to
replace most low‐cargo trips within two
miles of each town building and a portion
of trips beyond two miles $49,620 $0 17.5
2Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Rank Applicant
Name Project Name Project Summary Amount
Requested
Recomme
nded
Funding
level
Total
Score
(out
of 26)
12
Jubilee Healing
Farm
Cob Outdoor
Classroom and
Food Forest
Construction of cob outdoor classroom and
adjacent food forest
$34,625 $12,000 17.2
13
Eno River
Farmers’
Market
Compost Monitor Compost monitor for Eno River Farmers'
Market
$4,800 $0 16.6
13
Town of Chapel
Hill
LED Lighting
Upgrade for
Hargraves
Community Center
Basketball Court
Purchase and installation of new LED light
fixtures to replace the existing, less
efficient metal halide fixtures at the
Hargraves Community Center outdoor
basketball court $35,000 $0 16.6
15
Carolina
Advocates for
Climate, Health
and Equity
1. Video Vignettes
of Climate Health
Principles in
Clinical Practice; 2.
Solar Arrays and
Energy Offsets for
Medically High‐Risk
Residents
1. Production of bilingual videos on climate
health to be used in clinical practice; 2.
Planning for solar arrays to offset energy
costs through renewable energy credits for
medically high‐risk patients
$64,850 $0 15.2
16
Parker Farm
and Vineyard
Carbon
Sequestration
through Pasture
Establishment
Transition 60 acres of intensively tilled row‐
cropped tobacco into permanent
pasturelands for regenerative grazing
$39,085 $0 15.1
17
Town of
Carrboro
Enhancing
Resilience and
Biodiversity: Rain
Gardens at Dr.
Martin Luther King,
Jr. Park
Installation of two rain gardens in Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to manage
stormwater runoff, enhance local
biodiversity, and contribute to education
and outreach
$50,000 $0 14.7
18
One Soil Farm Electric Vehicle and
EV Charger for
Produce Delivery
Electric vehicle and EV charger for produce
delivery
$50,000 $0 14.7
19
The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter
Energy Efficiency
Initiative
Installation of NFRC UV ray blocking films
on all eastern and western exposure
windows $10,000 $0 14.3
20
Kolibri Farm Cultivation,
Cooking and
Community
Purchase of multiple electric appliances for
kitchen, powered by solar array, as well as
seeds, mower and drill for community
garden $60,077 $0 14.0
21
Spring Crest
Farms
Solar Well Pump
System
Installation of solar well in remote area to
reduce GHG and provide water for cattle
$18,000 $0 12.4
22
Blawesome Sun Smart:
Functional Shade
Structure for
Energy‐Efficient
Cold Storage
Installation of cold storage protective
structure around existing cold storage unit
to enhance its functionality and energy
efficiency
$15,000 $0 11.9
23
The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter
Sustainable
Landscape Project
Installation of 20’ x 30’pollinator garden,
two commercial grade rain barrels, a tri‐
section compost bin and bird feeding
station $33,000 $0 11.2
3Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Rank Applicant
Name Project Name Project Summary Amount
Requested
Recomme
nded
Funding
level
Total
Score
(out
of 26)
24
Botanist and
Barrel
Rural Electric
Vehicle Charging
Station
Installation of a 2 port Level 2 EV charging
station at a commercial site in Cedar Grove
$12,000 $0 9.8
25
Fiori Hill ‐
Homeowner's
Association
Floating Wetlands
in Fiori Hill
SCM/Koi Pond
Purchase floating wetlands and plants as
part of SCM designed to sequester carbon,
reduce algal growth, and eliminate the
need for an aeration system $7,000 $0 9.0
Total Requested: Total:
$1,151,873 $262,500
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The $262,500 in funding for Community Climate Action Grants for FY
2024-25 is designed to identify and support impactful projects, with a focus on accelerating
meaningful action on the urgent issue of climate change.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION
OBJECTIVE 1. Identify the priorities and resources necessary to implement the Climate
Action Plan.
OBJECTIVE 3. Improve educational opportunities for County staff and community
members on climate action and available resources to advance climate action projects.
OBJECTIVE 7. Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life
of the community (e.g., recreation and public open spaces, arts, etc.)
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1. Receive the grant project funding recommendations from the Commission for the
Environment for the FY 2024-25 Orange County Community Climate Action Grant
program; and
2. Approve funding for the recommended Community Climate Action Grant projects for FY
2024-25.
4Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
P.O. Box 8181 * Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
Telephone: (919)245‐2625
Attachment 1
Date: December 10, 2024
To: Board of Orange County Commissioners
From: Amy Eckberg, Sustainability Programs Manager
RE: Orange County Community Climate Action Grant – Project Descriptions, Scoring, and Comments for General
Applicants
For the 2024‐25 funding cycle of the Orange County Community Climate Action Grant program, $262,500 in funding
was budgeted to support climate action projects that benefit Orange County residents both socially and financially.
In response to feedback from the Board in previous years, the Sustainability team enhanced its outreach efforts to
publicize the grant opportunity, broadening the applicant pool and increasing community awareness of this impactful
climate action program. Staff conducted targeted email campaigns directed at local businesses, community groups,
and nonprofits. A specially designed infographic announcing the grant was shared widely through social media,
Orange County TV screens, the County website, and the Orange County Weekly Happenings email newsletter.
Additionally, staff presented at the annual Ag Summit, promoting both the County’s new Climate Action Plan and the
Community Climate Action Grant program. New promotional signs were also created and displayed throughout
County facilities during the summer, further highlighting the grant opportunity. As a result of these comprehensive
outreach efforts, we received a record number of grant applications, including many from first‐time applicants!
The Community Climate Action grant program received a total of 25 applications in this round from a variety of
nonprofit groups, small businesses, and public organizations whose total requests added up to $1,151,873.
Following the scoring and eligibility guidelines of the Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC), the
applications were reviewed and scored by the Commission for the Environment (CFE) and the Human Relations
Commission (HRC). The BOCC asked the Human Relations Commission to score the applications on the Social Justice
and Racial Equity criterion, as this pertains to their expertise and because the racial representation of the CFE as a
whole does not reflect the racial diversity of Orange County.
The following is a rank‐order summary table of the combined project scoring and recommendations. A full table
showing the scores for each project on each of the 7 scoring elements is included in the Appendix.
5Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Rank Applicant
Name Project Name Project Summary Amount
Requested
Recomme
nded
Funding
level
Total
Score
(out
of 26)
1
Trees for the
Triangle
Shade for Schools Planting of 260 native trees and
distribution of 2,600 seedlings across 13
schools in Orange County, prioritizing
schools in rural, underserved areas $50,000 $50,000 22.1
2
Habitat for
Humanity
Rooftop Solar on
Habitat Homes
Rooftop solar on 14 newly constructed
Habitat Homes $100,000 $50,000 21.7
3
Empowerment Peach Apartments
Solar Project
Elecrical panel box and labor for solar
installation project $19,800 $19,800 20.9
4
Eno River
Association
Nature Based
Solutions at the
Confluence Natural
Area
Conversion of 14.2‐acre agricultural field to
Piedmont prairie and reforestation of an
8.6‐acre agricultural field. Includes
purchase of equipment such as a $45,000
tractor. $67,600 $22,600 20.5
5
SolarEquity St. Joseph's CME
Church Solar
Project
23.4‐kW solar array on the roof of St.
Joseph's CME Church
$78,251 $50,000 19.1
6
Urban
Sustainability
Solutions
Orange County
Green
Infrastructure
Workforce
Development
Program
Installation of sustainable stormwater
management measures in historically
underserved communities utilizing public
HS teachers and students in a certified
green infrastructure training program to
implement these measures $71,000 $58,100 18.6
7
Red Hawk Farm Farm Renewable
Energy
Infrastructure
Hire consulting firm to provide engineering
and design services for a REAP grant to
install solar on farm; replace single phase
with 3‐phase power to enable solar
installation $100,000 $0 18.2
8
Town of Chapel
Hill
Extended Service
and Key Equipment
for E‐Bike Pilot
Program
E‐bike maintenance and management
services to offer free e‐bike pilot program
in Chapel Hill; funds will supplement
federal funding received for this program
to help it operate for an additional six
months $57,165 $0 18.1
9
Community
Home Trust
Electrify 5 CHT
homes with water
heaters and heat
pumps
Replacement of gas water heaters with
electric water heaters & gas
furnace/electric air conditioners with
electric heat pumps for 5 homes in
Community Home Trust inventory $110,000 $0 17.8
10
Endswell The First Carbon
Neutral Funeral
Home
Installation of a 40‐kW solar array
$15,000 $0 17.6
11
Town of
Carrboro
Sustainable
Transportation
Pilot
Purchase of e‐bikes, safety equipment, and
storage to allow Town employees to
replace most low‐cargo trips within two
miles of each town building and a portion
of trips beyond two miles $49,620 $0 17.5
12
Jubilee Healing
Farm
Cob Outdoor
Classroom and
Food Forest
Construction of cob outdoor classroom and
adjacent food forest
$34,625 $12,000 17.2
13
Eno River
Farmers’
Market
Compost Monitor Compost monitor for Eno River Farmers'
Market
$4,800 $0 16.6
6Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Rank Applicant
Name Project Name Project Summary Amount
Requested
Recomme
nded
Funding
level
Total
Score
(out
of 26)
13
Town of Chapel
Hill
LED Lighting
Upgrade for
Hargraves
Community Center
Basketball Court
Purchase and installation of new LED light
fixtures to replace the existing, less
efficient metal halide fixtures at the
Hargraves Community Center outdoor
basketball court $35,000 $0 16.6
15
Carolina
Advocates for
Climate, Health
and Equity
1. Video Vignettes
of Climate Health
Principles in
Clinical Practice; 2.
Solar Arrays and
Energy Offsets for
Medically High‐Risk
Residents
1. Production of bilingual videos on climate
health to be used in clinical practice; 2.
Planning for solar arrays to offset energy
costs through renewable energy credits for
medically high‐risk patients
$64,850 $0 15.2
16
Parker Farm
and Vineyard
Carbon
Sequestration
through Pasture
Establishment
Transition 60 acres of intensively tilled row‐
cropped tobacco into permanent
pasturelands for regenerative grazing
$39,085 $0 15.1
17
Town of
Carrboro
Enhancing
Resilience and
Biodiversity: Rain
Gardens at Dr.
Martin Luther King,
Jr. Park
Installation of two rain gardens in Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to manage
stormwater runoff, enhance local
biodiversity, and contribute to education
and outreach
$50,000 $0 14.7
18
One Soil Farm Electric Vehicle and
EV Charger for
Produce Delivery
Electric vehicle and EV charger for produce
delivery
$50,000 $0 14.7
19
The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter
Energy Efficiency
Initiative
Installation of NFRC UV ray blocking films
on all eastern and western exposure
windows $10,000 $0 14.3
20
Kolibri Farm Cultivation,
Cooking and
Community
Purchase of multiple electric appliances for
kitchen, powered by solar array, as well as
seeds, mower and drill for community
garden $60,077 $0 14.0
21
Spring Crest
Farms
Solar Well Pump
System
Installation of solar well in remote area to
reduce GHG and provide water for cattle
$18,000 $0 12.4
22
Blawesome Sun Smart:
Functional Shade
Structure for
Energy‐Efficient
Cold Storage
Installation of cold storage protective
structure around existing cold storage unit
to enhance its functionality and energy
efficiency
$15,000 $0 11.9
23
The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter
Sustainable
Landscape Project
Installation of 20’ x 30’pollinator garden,
two commercial grade rain barrels, a tri‐
section compost bin and bird feeding
station $33,000 $0 11.2
24
Botanist and
Barrel
Rural Electric
Vehicle Charging
Station
Installation of a 2 port Level 2 EV charging
station at a commercial site in Cedar Grove
$12,000 $0 9.8
25
Fiori Hill ‐
Homeowner's
Association
Floating Wetlands
in Fiori Hill
SCM/Koi Pond
Purchase floating wetlands and plants as
part of SCM designed to sequester carbon,
reduce algal growth, and eliminate the
need for an aeration system $7,000 $0 9.0
Total Requested: Total:
$1,151,873 $262,500
7Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Below is a set of expanded details for each proposed project, in rank order per HRC and CFE scoring. The quoted text
was pulled directly from various sections of the submitted applications. Also summarized below are the comments
from the HRC and the CFE, along with scores and funding recommendations.
#1 Ranked Project – Trees for the Triangle – Tree Planting at Schools
Applicant (Collaborators): Dedicated to Our Community of North Carolina (DOC NC)
Funding Requested: $50,000
Recommended Funding Level: $50,000
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 22.1
Project Description: Trees for the Triangle will use the funds to plant 260 native trees and distribute 2,600 seedlings
across 13 schools in Orange County, promoting tree equity and environmental enhancement. The funds will support
tree planting, data‐driven site selection, and community engagement, prioritizing schools in rural, underserved areas.
Project Benefits: This investment will create cooler, healthier, and more resilient communities for current and
future generations, while increasing community engagement and access to green spaces. Economic development will
be supported by showcasing career options for students, conducting skill‐building activities, offering volunteer and
internship opportunities and sourcing materials from local nurseries and businesses. The program is expected to
benefit approximately 55,000 students and school staff over the lifespan of the trees. In addition, an estimated 6,300
people will benefit from the 2,600 seedlings distributed during educational presentations, including the students'
families who receive seedlings, as well as school faculty and staff who frequently visit the schools.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE strongly supports this project, praising its focus on benefiting Orange County schools
and their surrounding communities. They value the lasting impact it will have through tree planting, which offers
enduring environmental and social benefits. Similarly, the HRC appreciates the project’s emphasis on rural Orange
County schools, particularly those serving high‐minority and low‐income populations. Both commissions are
enthusiastic about the educational opportunities embedded in the project and its overall positive impact on the
community.
#2 Ranked Project – Habitat for Humanity – Rooftop Solar
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $100,000
Recommended Funding Level: $50,000
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 21.7
Project Description: Habitat for Humanity of Orange County proposes to install rooftop solar panels on fourteen
newly constructed affordable Habitat homes in Habitat’s Weavers Grove Community in Chapel Hill.
Project Benefits: The solar installations will help to address inequities in access to green technology in Orange
County, while promoting environmental and resident health by decreasing the amount of fossil fuels burned.
Limiting monthly energy costs is a critical component of housing affordability. The addition of a 5.4‐kW rooftop solar
system will save each qualified Habitat household approximately $780 per year in energy costs.
Reviewer Comments: This project, submitted by a trusted and highly productive organization, was recognized as
excellent by the CFE. However, partial funding was awarded to ensure the 2024 CCAG funding could support a
diverse range of projects. The HRC values this initiative for its focus on providing affordable, energy‐efficient housing
to low‐income and underserved communities.
#3 Ranked Project – Empowerment – Rooftop Solar
Applicant (Collaborators): SolarEquity Inc.
Funding Requested: $19,800
Recommended Funding Level: $19,800
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 20.9
8Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Project Description: Last year, Empowerment received $61,623 in Community Climate Action Grant funds for solar
installation on the PEACH Apartments. This year, Empowerment is asking for funds that will go towards the cost of a
panel box tailored to PEACH’s electrical system and $4,300 worth of labor provided by NC Solar Now. This panel box
and labor is necessary to finish the solar project.
Project Benefits: The solarization of the PEACH Apartments will provide around 55,000 kWh of energy every year,
saving $5,534 worth of energy costs. Consequently, the average tenant will see their energy bills reduced by
approximately $46/month, or 6S%. The energy savings felt by those living in the PEACH Apartments may stimulate an
additional $22,080 of local economic activity. About 156 people—assuming tenant turnover rate is 5 years—will
directly benefit from the project, and the entire Pine Knolls Neighborhood will indirectly benefit from the project.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE strongly recommends full funding of $19,800 for this project, recognizing it as a robust
and compelling application. This initiative has the potential to serve as a model for low‐income housing,
demonstrating innovation and impact. Additionally, the HRC values the project's direct benefits to low‐income and
marginalized communities, including the provision of solar energy for a historically Black neighborhood.
#4 Ranked Project – Eno River Association – Piedmont Prairie and Reforestation
Applicant (Collaborators): Triangle Prescribed Burn Association (Through NC Cooperative
Extension), Bluestem Community NC
Funding Requested: $67,600
Recommended Funding Level: $22,600
Total Score (Out of 25 pts): 20.5
Project Description: Funding requested to convert a 14.2‐acre existing agricultural field to a Piedmont prairie and the
reforestation of another 8.6‐acre agricultural field in the Confluence Natural Area in northern Orange County plus the
purchase of a 2024 John Deere diesel tractor.
Project Benefits: The restored Piedmont prairie site will attract both wildlife and visitors, and positively benefit
agricultural production as flowers begin to bloom, and native plants provide food and habitat for insects, birds, and
other native fauna. The prairie will also improve the health of the soil and water of Orange County. These nature‐
based solutions will decrease CO2 emissions from previous cropland production as well as sequester carbon and the
benefits will increase over time as trees grow larger and native Piedmont prairie plants mature. Through both passive
and active learning, over 10,000 visitors and around 500 students annually will learn about the vast benefits of these
habitats and how they might establish these habitats in their backyards.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE strongly supports the nature‐based solution of prairie restoration and has approved
partial funding of $22,600 for the project (funding will cover prairie restoration efforts only, not the diesel tractor).
This project will take place at a heavily visited park, and the Eno River Association brings a robust camp and
educational component to the initiative. The HRC appreciates the Association’s direct work with Title 1 schools,
providing valuable opportunities for underserved students. While there is some engagement with marginalized
groups, the project is not specifically focused on racial equity. Nonetheless, it offers educational benefits for visitors
of all income levels and ethnic backgrounds.
#5 Ranked Project – SolarEquity – Rooftop Solar
Applicant (Collaborators):
Funding Requested: $78,251
Recommended Funding Level: $50,000
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 19.1
Project Description: The installation of a 23.4‐kW solar array on the roof of the church, including a partial roof
replacement, the cost of the solar equipment, and the cost of the labor to install the panels.
9Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Project Benefits: The installation of rooftop solar on St. Joseph's CME Church will provide around 28,431 kWh of
energy every year, saving over $1,400 in energy costs. These savings will continue to accrue over the 25‐year lifetime
of the panels and will be re‐injected into the Northside Neighborhood, stimulating higher home retention rates, and
preserving the neighborhood’s complex history. Moreover, the system will prevent 1.038 million pounds of carbon
from entering the atmosphere over 25 years.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE considers this an excellent project with a significant impact on the local community,
earning high marks for its community outreach and educational components. However, funding was limited to
$50,000 for 2024 to ensure support could be provided to as many projects as possible. The HRC values the project’s
focus on addressing energy poverty by providing solar solutions to low‐income households. Additionally, the church
plays a vital role in serving a historically low‐income, minority neighborhood and offering support to the Northside
community.
#6 Ranked Project – Urban Sustainability Solutions – Green Infrastructure Workforce
Development Project
Applicant (Collaborators): Burt’s Bees, Environmental Protection Agency, Triangle Community Foundation, Carrboro
Stormwater Management/Public Works
Funding Requested: $71,000
Recommended Funding Level: $58,100
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 18.6
Project Description: Urban Sustainability Solutions will install sustainable stormwater management practices to
minimize flooding, mold, and foundation issues on additional, historically underserved properties in Orange County.
Funding will support training and certification of Orange County teachers and students via afterschool training
programs, culminating with 1‐2 sustainable stormwater management multi‐home installations on Orange County
properties.
Project Benefits: This project will both protect and improve these properties, the residents and their waterways from
the increased force and frequency of storm events accompanying climate warming. 50 students (and 10 teachers)
trained in the USS program will receive real‐world work experience in sustainable stormwater and landscape
engineering, providing them with job‐ready skills.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE appreciates the workforce training and educational outreach components of this
project, highlighting the organization’s strong track record. However, due to limited 2024 funding, support was
capped at $58,000. The HRC values the project’s direct benefits to teachers and students, particularly its focus on
installing stormwater management systems in historically underserved Orange County neighborhoods. They also
commend the inclusion of a significant educational component and the provision of compensation for both teachers
and students involved in the project.
#7 Ranked Project – Red Hawk Farm – Renewable Energy Infrastructure
Applicant (Collaborators): Branham Group Inc., NC Clean Energy Technology Center, Piedmont Electric Cooperative
Funding Requested: $100,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 18.2
Project Description: Red Hawk Farm requests funds to hire a renewable energy contractor to supply engineering
services for the farm’s USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant application, and to replace their existing
single phase power supply lines with three phase, which is required to install the appropriately sized solar array
needed for the farm and allow for future investment in geothermal heating and cooling systems.
Project Benefits: These improvements would allow the farm to serve as a demonstration of what is possible with
sustainability and renewable energy on farms in this region. This demonstration would be of
10Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
greatest benefit to other farmers and organizations motivated to support resilient communities and reduced
emissions. The farm would save $19,915 on electricity and 153,108 kWh per year.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE regarded this as a great project with significant potential but noted that full funding
was not feasible as it would consume nearly half of the available grant funds and this was a project that needed full,
not partial, funding to move forward. The application was strong and demonstrated a positive impact on the local
economy and the CFE encourages Red Hawk to apply again and/or continue to pursue other funding through state
and federal grants. The HRC appreciated the project as a valuable component of a broader initiative to transition the
farm to sustainable operations. They also commended its ties to Durham schools for food supply, highlighting its
commitment to social responsibility.
#8 Ranked Project – Town of Chapel Hill – E‐bike Pilot Project
Applicant (Collaborators): The Bicycle Chain, East Coast Electric Speed Shop, and Trek
Funding Requested: $57,165
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 18.1
Project Description: The Town of Chapel Hill is creating a free e‐bike lending program and requests funding
for e‐bike maintenance and management services to lengthen this pilot program another 6 months or more to offer
e‐bike experiences to more residents. Funds would also cover helmets, locks, cargo e‐bike racks, bags, and baskets,
and an additional bike rack for secure storage.
Project Benefits: This project will increase participation in biking by reducing barriers to demographics who find it
difficult financially and physically. It also will increase access to transportation for those who lack it. The reduction of
tailpipe emissions will improve local air quality and help reduce traffic congestion and parking constraints. Economic
stimulation will result from the sale of more e‐bikes. The use of biking equipment, like helmets, will increase public
safety.
Reviewer Comments: This was a strong and well‐written application; however, due to limited CCAG funds, the
project could not be supported this year. There were also concerns about bike theft and the limited impact on
Orange County’s economic development. The CFE encourages Chapel Hill to reapply next year. The HRC noted
concerns about the demographics served, appreciating that the program provides free e‐bike access to low‐income
individuals. However, they felt the outreach efforts lacked a strong focus on racial equity.
#9 Ranked Project – Community Home Trust – Electrification Project
Applicant (Collaborators): Carrboro Plumbing & Morales Heating and Cooling
Funding Requested: $110,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 17.8
Project Description: Community Home Trust (CHT) proposes to provide electric water heaters as replacements for
gas water heaters AND electric heat pumps as replacements for gas furnace/electric air conditioners for five (5)
homes that are currently in the CHT inventory. This proposal will remove barriers for homeowners to replace their
equipment.
Project Benefits: By successfully completing these conversions, the homes will be better candidates for the addition
of solar‐electric panels, providing an exciting opportunity to engage homeowners in additional solar energy
education. CHT would also be in a better position to analyze additional efficiency measures such as weatherization.
Up to 20 individuals will benefit immediately. The RMI analysis estimates heating and cooling costs will be lowered by
$10,159 per house over the 15‐year lifetime of the HVAC equipment. As the homes are permanently affordable, CHT
expects additional beneficiaries over time. Homeowners’ fuel consumption along with gas bills will begin to decrease
immediately.
11Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Reviewer Comments: The CFE recognized the valuable mission of electrifying homes but noted that the project’s cost
was high relative to the limited number of people it would serve. They also suggested strengthening the climate
education component. The HRC appreciated that the project addresses racial disparities in homeownership by
focusing on affordable housing initiatives for low‐income and minority communities.
#10 Ranked Project – Endswell – Solar Project
Applicant (Collaborators): Farewell Earth
Funding Requested: $15,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 17.6
Project Description: The funds will be used towards the installation of a 40‐kW solar array that will offset all energy
usage of this eco‐friendly funeral home.
Project Benefits: Annual savings of $7100 are expected. Endswell intends to use this money to expand an
affordability fund to make their services more affordable. The project will have immediate benefits in terms of the
reduction in carbon‐emission and energy‐cost savings. Additionally, the installation of the solar array could help draw
attention to the eco‐friendly death‐care movement as a whole.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE strongly supports the business’s mission and outreach efforts; however, the solar
panels would primarily benefit the business itself, with limited local economic impact. The HRC expressed concern
about the limited engagement with low‐income and marginalized communities, though they acknowledged the
project’s partnership with Black‐owned funeral homes. Ultimately, they felt the project would primarily benefit the
business rather than the broader community.
#11 Ranked Project – Town of Carrboro – Sustainable Transportation Pilot
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $49,620
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 17.5
Project Description: Funds will be used to purchase e‐bikes, safety equipment, and storage to allow Town employees
to replace most low‐cargo trips within two miles of each town building and a portion of trips beyond two miles.
Project Benefits: This project will remove cars from the road and reduce emissions from gas‐powered vehicles,
shorten travel times on trips during peak hours when car congestion is high, extend the life of existing vehicles,
encourage active transportation in Town, contribute to the health and wellness of Town employees, and educate the
public on the ever‐growing uses of e‐bikes in our area.
Reviewer Comments: While the CFE is eager to support transportation projects, funding is limited, and this project
primarily benefits Carrboro town employees, who must also be willing to bike. The HRC believes that the Town of
Carrboro should cover the cost of these e‐bikes for their employees, given that they are primarily used for
government‐related business.
#12 Ranked Project – Jubilee Healing Farm – Cob Outdoor Classroom and Food Forest
Applicant (Collaborators): PORCH Hillsborough
Funding Requested: $34,625
Recommended Funding Level: $12,000
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 17.2
Project Description: Jubilee Healing Farm seeks to build a cob outdoor classroom and food forest to teach
participants and visitors low carbon emission building strategies and create a zero‐emission building project sourced
12Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
from soil. This classroom will serve as a location for teaching about permaculture and expanded understanding of
ecologically sustainable practices around food.
Project Benefits: Building a food forest and pond alongside the classroom will amplify carbon sequestration and
positively impact community food security. The cob outdoor classroom and food forest will provide a new site for
community education, workshops, and programs around climate, food, and sustainability. The Jubilee Healing Farm
Food Forest would provide another source of locally produced food for PORCH and contribute to Orange County’s
network of edible gardens.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE appreciates the organization’s mission and partnerships. As a new initiative just
getting off the ground, partial funding is recommended, focusing specifically on the food forest component, as the
cob architecture and structure have limited impact on Orange County's GHG reduction goals. The HRC values that the
project will collaborate with Porch to support low‐income families. While the organization is new, its social justice‐
driven mission and its status as a minority‐run therapy farm are highly commendable.
#13 Ranked Project – Eno River Farmers’ Market – Compost Monitor
Applicant (Collaborators): Orange County Solid Waste Services, Brooks Contractors
Funding Requested: $4,800
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 16.6
Project Description: Funds are requested to pay for a compost monitor for the Eno River Farmers' Market (ERFM)
Community Compost Collection site. The monitor will work every week during market hours throughout the year to
ensure that only compostable items are collected and will educate participants (ERFM customers and vendors, and
other community members who use the site) about composting in general and about the "commercial composting"
they are using. Additional funds are requested to buy cleaning supplies.
Project Benefits: This project will help Orange County residents reduce transportation to county waste and recycling
centers to drop off food waste. It will also decrease the amount of waste going to the landfill (including items that
can be composted only commercially, not in a home bin), reduce methane emissions at the landfill, and reduce
transportation to the landfill. It will encourage residents to compost because of the convenience of the drop‐off site
and may encourage new composters who see the site and learn about composting. Ultimately, it will lead to the
creation of rich compost that will increase the carbon capture of soil in Orange County and the surrounding area.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE appreciates that the compost monitors help educate community members; however,
the monitor position itself does not significantly contribute to GHG reductions, and the project offers limited impact
on local economic development. The HRC expressed concerns that the project does not engage a diverse group,
limiting its broader community impact.
#13 Ranked Project – Town of Chapel Hill – LED Upgrade
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $35,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 16.6
Project Description: The requested funds will be used to purchase and install new LED light fixtures to replace the
existing, less efficient metal halide fixtures at the Hargraves Community Center outdoor basketball court. Hargraves
Community Center is located in Chapel Hill’s largest historically black neighborhood and is part of the NC Civil Rights
Trail. In addition to the emissions reductions, this retrofit would enhance safety, improve neighborhood relations,
and minimize maintenance and energy costs.
Project Benefits: This proposed upgrade would provide both better lighting and better quality of life. Carbon
emissions will be reduced through improved energy efficiency, and this new lighting system will significantly reduce
13Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
spill light and glare while also allowing the lights to be consistently turned off each night by 11 pm. This has
biodiversity benefits (especially for migrating birds in spring and fall) and would benefit neighbors by reducing light
spillage, glare, and noise after 11 pm.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE supports this project for its focus on addressing light pollution, benefiting both birds
and people. However, it offers limited potential for GHG emission reductions and local economic development. The
HRC values that the project targets a historically Black neighborhood, providing energy‐efficient upgrades that
enhance safety and climate resilience. Hargraves Center plays a vital role in supporting low‐income communities,
making this project especially impactful.
#15 Ranked Project – Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health and Equity – Climate Videos and
Planning for Solar Arrays
Applicant (Collaborators): Multiple physicians, health professionals, and health care trainees
Funding Requested: $64,850
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 15.2
Project Description: These funds would be used to produce: 1) bilingual videos on climate health to be used in
clinical practice and 2) develop an assessment and plan for an Orange County program that would enable medically
high‐risk residents to reduce their energy bills with renewable energy credits. Local solar array sites, hosted on
private or nonprofit businesses, could choose to participate by offering offsets from the energy their arrays generate.
This model is based on a successful pilot based at Boston Medical Center and would be adapted for our community.
Project Benefits: The videos would support good clinical practice ensuring clinicians have the tools to address
climate‐related clinical challenges. Building on these educational initiatives, the second part of the project would
develop a plan to provide ongoing financial support to low income, medically high‐risk individuals. Lowering the
energy burden (heating and cooling costs) for these individuals will reduce the risk of temperature‐related adverse
health outcomes for the duration of the program. The proposed project would reduce greenhouse gases, increase
renewable energy consumption, and support climate resilience for low‐income, medically high‐ risk residents.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE recognized the creativity and innovation of this project, noting its potential to reach a
large segment of the population. However, the project did not directly contribute to GHG emission reductions, and
while the CFE supports the idea, it did not align with funding parameters. The HRC agreed that the project is a
valuable initiative, particularly for medically vulnerable and low‐income households. However, it was felt that its
association with UNC Health should secure funding for this effort.
#16 Ranked Project – Parker Farm and Vineyard – Carbon Sequestration through Prairie
Establishment
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $39,085
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 15.1
Project Description: The requested funds will support the transformation of approximately 60 acres of intensively
tilled tobacco farmland into permanent pasturelands for regenerative grazing. This transition involves seeding the
land with a rich mix of forages, installing fencing, and implementing rotational grazing for their grass‐fed cattle. By
shifting from tobacco production to sustainable pasture management, this project will not only enhance carbon
sequestration but also enable us to continue supplying our community with a local, nutrient‐dense food source.
Project Benefits: This project will support Orange County's efforts to reduce and offset carbon emissions, aligning
with the goals outlined in the County’s Climate Action Plan. By expanding our herd, enhancing soil health, and
improving cattle genetics, we can sustainably strengthen our ability to feed both our local community and broader
14Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
regions. Additionally, we will leverage our connections within the county and collaborate with farmers across the
state to share insights and best practices, fostering a network of knowledge and innovation.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE acknowledges that this family‐run farm has been a staple in the community for over
100 years and deserves recognition for its ongoing improvements. However, the proposed pasture restoration
project would have a limited impact on Orange County's economic development and the number of people it
reaches. The HRC noted that while the project does not directly support disadvantaged populations, it does
contribute to carbon sequestration efforts.
#17 Ranked Project – Town of Carrboro – Rain Gardens
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $50,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 14.7
Project Description: Staff propose the installation of two rain gardens at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to effectively
manage stormwater runoff, support local biodiversity, and provide opportunities for community education and
outreach. The funding will be used to acquire native, pollinator‐friendly plants, river rocks for energy dissipation,
fencing, and other essential materials, as well as create multilingual educational signage.
Project Benefits: The rain garden, along with its informational signage, workshops, and volunteer events, will be
accessible to all residents of the Town of Carrboro. Additionally, staff plan to develop an internal Operations and
Maintenance manual for the rain gardens, which will be made available to the public for their use. Ongoing outreach
and programming will also be provided to highlight stormwater mitigation tools and the significance of native species
in supporting local ecosystems.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE supports the mission of the project but noted that the garden would result in limited
emissions reductions and is relatively expensive for a garden. The HRC believed that the Town of Carrboro could
provide funding and mentioned concerns about the demographics served, with the project primarily benefiting more
affluent neighborhoods.
#18 Ranked Project – One Soil Farm – Electric Vehicle
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $50,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 14.7
Project Description: One Soil Farm proposes to purchase an electric cargo van to completely eliminate reliance on
gasoline for produce delivery, while expanding the ability to serve more individual customers and restaurants with
locally grown, sustainably sourced produce.
Project Benefits: Our project serves the Jewish community across Orange and Durham counties, while our
partnership with Farmer Foodshare enables us to extend our impact to low‐income households and historically
underserved populations throughout the Triangle region. Through this collaboration, we provide fresh, nutritious,
and sustainably grown food to those in need, helping to alleviate food insecurity and promote the overall well‐being
of our community.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE recognizes the farm's strong community connections and outreach efforts; however,
the EV van would have limited impact on the local economy and Orange County's GHG reductions. The HRC believes
that while the EV charger and vehicle would benefit the business, the project’s focus on a Jewish community—an
underrepresented group in grant funding—is valuable. The project also engages marginalized groups to address food
insecurity.
15Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
#19 Ranked Project – The ArtsCenter – Energy Efficiency Project
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $10,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 14.3
Project Description: The ArtsCenter’s renovated 1974 downtown building features over thirty windows, spanning a
total of 1,000 square feet. Many of these floor‐to‐ceiling windows allow abundant natural light, which is invaluable
for creating art. However, they also place significant strain on the building’s 27‐year‐old HVAC system, resulting in
cold interior spaces and uncomfortably warm exterior rooms during the summer and parts of fall and spring.
Installing window films offers a cost‐effective, immediate solution that will enhance comfort while significantly
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Project Benefits: Applying films to our western and southern‐facing windows will block up to 98% of UV rays and
reduce energy bills by 38%. This initiative will benefit all visitors to the ArtsCenter by promoting awareness and
education on energy‐efficient practices.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE considered this project simple and easy to install. For future grant applications, we
recommend increasing its impact on local economic development and providing more specific details. The project
may have limited visibility unless signage is included. We also suggest exploring a Duke Energy grant as an additional
funding option. The HRC sees potential to serve disadvantaged communities but noted the lack of direct engagement
with these populations.
#20 Ranked Project – Kolibri Farm – Cultivation, Cooking and Community
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $60,077
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 14.0
Project Description: The funds will be used to purchase equipment that will support an increased number of
participants in the communal garden and expand the land dedicated to regenerative cultivation. Electric appliances
for the kitchen will also be acquired, powered by a solar array, enabling participants to prepare healthy meals in an
eco‐friendly environment. These funds will help facilitate community activities and shared meals, fostering stronger
connections within the local community.
Project Benefits: Regenerative farming helps sequester carbon, while providing fresh produce and prepared meals to
individuals who may not have access to transportation or the income to afford fresh food from local markets.
Additionally, the project offers educational benefits through hands‐on participation. By working in the garden,
participants gain valuable knowledge while actively contributing to the community’s well‐being.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE supports the mission and goals of the project but recommends prioritizing community
connections before moving forward. The project's impact on local economic development and GHG reductions is
currently limited. The HRC highlighted that the project promotes food security and community engagement through
communal gardening, with a strong focus on racial and social equity. It also empowers low‐income families by
providing the opportunity to grow their own food.
#21 Ranked Project – Spring Crest Farms – Solar Well Pump
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $18,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 12.4
Project Description: Spring Crest Farms is a small, family‐owned and operated beef cattle farm that supplies locally
raised beef products to Orange and Alamance County restaurants and directly to consumers. They are implementing
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a new pasture to better graze their cattle and need a well to provide fresh, clean drinking water. This project involves
installing a solar‐powered water pumping system, complete with a water storage tank, a concrete pad, and a
protective housing structure.
Project Benefits: Consumers will potentially benefit as the farm would have more beef to sell and more low‐cost beef
could be sold to PORCH. This could also be a great example of how sustainability and conservation can easily be
integrated into production agriculture.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE noted that while the solar pump would benefit the farm, its impact on local economic
development and GHG reductions in Orange County would be limited. The HRC acknowledged that the project would
collaborate with Porch to provide affordable, locally grown beef but pointed out that there was minimal engagement
with marginalized groups.
#22 Ranked Project – Blawesome – Shade for Energy Efficient Cold Storage
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $15,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 11.9
Project Description: Blawesome, a unique flower farm and design studio is owned and co‐operated by a young
farmer with autism and, as such, sets a powerful example of inclusion, demonstrating how all individuals, regardless
of ability, can contribute meaningfully to environmental stewardship and community well‐being. This proposal is for
the construction of a protective structure around an existing cold storage unit to enhance its functionality, energy
efficiency, and reduce its climate impact. The cold storage is currently exposed to direct southern sun, which leads to
higher energy consumption and decreased operational efficiency. By building a structure that shields the unit from
harsh weather conditions, it will save energy, reduce maintenance costs, and improve performance.
Project Benefits: This project has the potential to benefit community members from Orange County and the
surrounding counties, particularly the estimated two and a half million people with disabilities in North Carolina and
the approximately 13,000 in Orange County. Blawesome aims to be a model of the incredible outcomes that can be
achieved through inclusivity and diversity by fostering a community that values and honors all its members.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE praised the farm’s mission and noted that the application was well written. However,
they recommend reaching a broader audience to increase the project's impact on local economic development and
enhance its effect on Orange County’s GHG emissions. The HRC acknowledged the environmental focus of the project
but pointed out the limited engagement with marginalized communities, especially those with disabilities, who are
often underserved in the County.
#23 Ranked Project – The ArtsCenter – Sustainable Landscape Project
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $33,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 11.2
Project Description: This grant would enable The ArtsCenter to launch its educational sustainable landscape
initiative. This plan includes preparation and planting of a 20' x 30' pollinator garden, installation of two commercial
grade rain barrels, a tri‐section compost bin, and a locally crafted migratory bird feeding/observation station. The
purpose of this project is to: 1) provide a model sustainable landscape for enjoyment and education and 2) provide
nature‐based solutions, reduce waste, improve soil, and reduce the campus’s carbon footprint.
Project Benefits: The ArtsCenter provides 75,000 arts experiences annually and they anticipate a sustainable park‐
like campus and sculpture garden to draw tens of thousands more people every year. They especially hope to impact
children who will learn about sustainable living practices such as water capture methods, pollinator plants and
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animals, migratory birds, soil amending, recycling, composting, planting and caring for plants, and best practices for
living sustainably.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE noted that the garden and bird station would attract more outdoor visitors to the Art
Center. They recommended providing additional details on the budget and GHG reduction potential and highlighted
that the project is small in scale but high in cost. They also suggested exploring alternative garden grant sources such
as T‐Mobile, the NC Botanical Garden, the NC Native Plant Society, or the Carrboro Green Neighbor Grant. The HRC
recognized the potential to serve disadvantaged communities but noted the lack of direct engagement with these
groups.
#24 Ranked Project – Botanist and Barrel – Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $12,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 9.8
Project Description: Botanist and Barrel proposes to use the funds to install a two‐port Level 2 electric vehicle
charging station at a commercial business in Cedar Grove, NC. This project will provide EV charging to local residents
who may not have the resources to install charging stations at their private residences as well as encourage EV
drivers who live in urban areas to visit rural business and farms, promoting beneficial electrification and supporting
climate change mitigation. The funds will cover the cost of equipment, installation, and associated expenses.
Project Benefits: The project will provide a charging station for area residents as well as Cedar Grove visitors. It will
also expand EV charging to rural communities in Orange County.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE recognized this as a great initiative to serve rural areas, but noted that, beyond B&B
employees/customers, access to the charger would be limited. The HRC pointed out the mixed impact—while rural
charging is beneficial, it seems to primarily benefit the business rather than the broader community.
#25 Ranked Project – Fiori Hill – Floating Wetlands
Applicant (Collaborators): N/A
Funding Requested: $7,000
Recommended Funding Level: $0
Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 9.0
Project Description: This project is for the establishment of floating wetlands in the concrete settling pond of the
Stormwater Control Management (SCM) system of the Fiori Hill neighborhood. Plant life in this concrete pond will
sequester carbon, ideally increase the life of the SCM, reduce algal growth, and eliminate or reduce the need for an
aeration system. The operations funds are to run and maintain it appropriately. They will actively reach out to other
local communities to share learnings and experience and anticipate that neighborhood children will share this in their
classrooms.
Project Benefits: Approximately 100 people in the neighborhood will benefit directly and they anticipate an
additional 100 per year based on outreach efforts. Floating wetlands are a way to improve the quality of the water in
the settling pond, decrease evaporation, reduce algal blooms, allow for carbon sequestration, reduce reliance on an
electricity‐powered aerator system, and increase the health of the pond’s ecosystem. The hope is that the floating
wetlands will increase the longevity of the dry bioretention pond, improve the quality of the surface water flowing
from the neighborhoods into the Eno River, serve as an educational opportunity for the neighborhood and others,
and improve the aesthetics of the community.
Reviewer Comments: The CFE described this as a great community project and expressed hope that residents will
continue to pursue it. However, they noted its limited impact on Orange County’s GHG reductions and that the
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primary beneficiaries are residents of Fiori Hills. The HRC highlighted concerns that the project did not target low‐
income populations and served a non‐diverse, high‐income neighborhood.
Appendix: Full Scoring Table:
Final
Rank
Applicant
Name Project Name Amount
Requested
1. Social
Justice
and Racial
Equity
(0‐6 pts)
2.
Emissions
reduced
(0‐4 pts)
3.
Efficient
use of
Funds
(0‐4 pts)
4.
Capacity
of
Applicant
(0‐3 pts)
5. Local
Economic
Developme
nt
(0‐3 pts)
6. Duration
of
Engageme
nt
(0‐3 pts)
7. Time to
complete
(0‐3 pts)
Total
Score
1
Trees for
the Triangle
Shade for
Schools $50,000 4.4 3.7 3.1 3.0 2.3 2.7 2.9 22.1
2
Habitat for
Humanity
Rooftop Solar on
Habitat Homes $100,000 5.6 3.0 3.3 3.0 2.0 2.3 2.4 21.7
3
Empowerm
ent
Peach
Apartments Solar
Project $19,800 5.8 3.1 3.1 2.8 2.0 2.4 2.3 20.9
4
Eno River
Association
Nature Based
Solutions at the
Confluence
Natural Area $67,600 4.4 3.4 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.6 20.5
5 Solar Equity
St. Joseph's CME
Church Solar
Project $78,251 4.8 2.1 2.3 2.8 2.0 2.6 2.6 19.1
6
Urban
Sustainabili
ty Solutions
Orange County
Green
Infrastructure
Workforce
Development
Program $71,000 5.75 2.0 1.8 2.7 1.7 2.1 2.7 18.6
7
Red Hawk
Farm
Farm Renewable
Energy
Infrastructure $100,000 3.6 2.8 2.4 2.9 2.1 2.3 2.0 18.2
8
Town of
Chapel Hill
Extended Service
and Key
Equipment for E‐
Bike Pilot
Program $57,165 3.8 2.1 2.1 2.6 1.9 2.3 3.0 18.1
9
Community
Home Trust
Electrify 5 CHT
homes with
water heaters
and heat pumps $110,000 5.4 2.0 2.3 3.0 1.9 1.6 2.2 17.8
10 Endswell
The First Carbon
Neutral Funeral
Home $15,000 3.6 3.1 3.4 2.2 1.9 1.9 2.2 17.6
11
Town of
Carrboro
Sustainable
Transportation
Pilot $49,620 3.4 1.9 2.1 2.7 2.7 1.9 2.9 17.5
12
Jubilee
Healing
Farm
Cob Outdoor
Classroom and
Food Forest $34,625 5.4 2.5 2.4 2.0 1.3 2.1 1.5 17.2
13
Eno River
Farmers'
Market
Compost
Monitor $4,800 3.2 1.9 1.9 3.0 2.0 1.9 2.8 16.6
13
Town of
Chapel Hill
LED Lighting
Upgrade for
Hargraves
Community
Center Basketball
Court $35,000 5.2 1.5 2.0 2.8 1.3 1.6 3.0 16.6
19Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
15
Carolina
Advocates
for Climate,
Health and
Equity
1. Video
Vignettes of
Climate Health
Principles in
Clinical Practice;
2. Solar Arrays
and Energy
Offsets for
Medically High‐
Risk Residents $64,850 3.6 0.9 2.0 2.3 1.8 2.4 2.4 15.2
16
Parker
Farm and
Vineyard
Carbon
Sequestration
through Pasture
Establishment $39,085 3.4 2.0 1.9 2.8 1.5 1.2 2.4 15.1
17
Town of
Carrboro
Enhancing
Resilience and
Biodiversity: Rain
Gardens at Dr.
Martin Luther
King, Jr. Park $50,000 2.4 1.0 1.6 2.7 2.0 2.6 2.6 14.7
18
One Soil
Farm
Electric Vehicle
and EV Charger
for Produce
Delivery $50,000 3.25 1.9 1.8 2.7 1.6 1.9 1.7 14.7
19
The
ArtsCenter
The ArtsCenter
Energy Efficiency
Initiative $10,000 3 1.8 2.1 2.1 1.1 1.2 3.0 14.3
20 Kolibri Farm
Cultivation,
Cooking and
Community $60,077 4.6 1.8 1.6 2.0 1.0 1.3 1.8 14.0
21
Spring Crest
Farm
Solar Well Pump
System $18,000 3.8 1.0 1.5 2.1 1.0 1.1 1.9 12.4
22 Blawesome
Sun Smart:
Functional Shade
Structure for
Energy‐Efficient
Cold Storage $15,000 3.6 0.6 0.8 2.4 1.2 1.2 2.1 11.9
23
The
ArtsCenter
The ArtsCenter
Sustainable
Landscape
Project $33,000 2.8 0.9 1.7 1.7 1.2 1.9 1.1 11.2
24
Botanist
and Barrel
Rural Electric
Vehicle Charging
Station $12,000 2.6 1.3 0.9 1.3 1.2 0.4 2.0 9.8
25
Fiori Hill ‐
Homeowne
r's
Association
Floating
Wetlands in Fiori
Hill SCM/Koi
Pond $7,000 2.8 0.6 0.8 1.3 0.9 1.3 1.3 9.0
20Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Attachment 2 ‐ Community Climate Action Grant Project Status Fiscal Year Project Organization Award Amount Estimated Annual GHG Reduction metric tons CO2e Project Status 19‐20 Solar for Schools* Orange County Schools$150,000 25In progress19‐20 Solar for Schools** Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools $150,000 194In progress19‐20 Supplemental Weatherization Orange County$150,000 22 In progress19‐20 LED Light Campaign* Orange County$19,272 4COMPLETED 20‐21 Tree Planting Program Town of Chapel Hill$40,000 880 (pounds)COMPLETED20‐21 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Town of Chapel Hill$18,500 6COMPLETED20‐21 Cedar Falls Park LED Light Conversion Town of Chapel Hill$128,057 9 COMPLETED20‐21 Cane Creek Reservoir 352.4 kW Solar OWASA$75,000 110COMPLETED20‐21 Water heater replacements NAACP$122,100 26 In progress20‐21 Solar Panels on Affordable Habitat Homes Habitat for Humanity of Orange County $95,000 16 COMPLETED 21‐22 Low Income HVAC Replacement Rebuilding Together of the Triangle $113,000 34 COMPLETED21‐22 Neighborhood Energy Resiliency ProjectNC Sustainable Energy Association $90,000 10 COMPLETED21‐22 Food Waste Monitor Eno River Farmer’s Market$4,000 19COMPLETED21‐22 Food Waste Monitor Town of Carrboro$3,765 19In progress21‐22 Bike Rack and EV Charging Station The ArtsCenter$17,000 6COMPLETED21‐22 203 Project Solar Array and Green RoofTown of Carrboro$40,567 See FY 22‐23In progress21‐22 Solar for Schools Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools $250,00 See FY 19‐20In progress 22‐23 Habitat Rooftop Solar Habitat for Humanity$100,000 22COMPLETED22‐23 Weatherization Rebuilding Together of the Triangle $25,0005COMPLETED22‐23 Food Waste Monitors Eno River Farmers’ Market$4,500 19COMPLETED22‐23 203 Solar Project Town of Carrboro$40,575 21In progress22‐23 Fleet Electrification Project Town of Chapel Hill$50,000 33 In progress22‐23 Solar Roof The ArtsCenter$55,000 27COMPLETED22‐23 Emission Reductions Through HVAC Replacements Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools $275,075 147 In progress 23‐24 Supplemental weatherization to home repair projects Habitat for Humanity$55,000 7 In progress23‐24 Green infrastructure and apprenticeship program for Orange County Schools Urban Sustainability Solutions $69,156 5 COMPLETED21Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Attachment 2 ‐ Community Climate Action Grant Project Status * 54 Panel bi‐facial solar pedestal and three EV chargers; ** Morris Grove and Northside Elementary slated to receive solar. 23‐24 Rooftop solar Hillsborough United Church of Christ $10,0007COMPLETED23‐24 Rooftop solar Binkley Baptist Church$49,036 5COMPLETED23‐24 Rooftop solar on Peach Apartments EMPOWERment$61,623 12In progress23‐24 Installation of gardens, terrace and greenhouse, plant‐based diets Club Nova $37,227 5 In progress23‐24 LED light campus changeover CHCCCS $94,014 24 COMPLETED23‐24 54‐panel solar panel pedestal with battery storage and 3 EV charging stations Orange County Schools $188,029 36 In progress22Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC
Docusign Envelope ID: D22675F9-86C0-429B-8CAD-74E02C6C68FC