Lots of groups are seeking community feedback and volunteers for a variety of projects — from clean air to tennis courts, and fruit trees to reading tutors.
Read on for details!
Apply for DEQ diesel mitigation grants
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has a Diesel Emissions Mitigation Grant Program. DEQ plans to award up to $8 million in grants to businesses, governments and equipment owners this year.
You can submit your application through DEQ’s grant platform no later than 5 PM on August 31. DEQ will announce grant awards in November 2021. Visit the Diesel Emissions Mitigation Grant Program to learn how to apply.
For more information and questions about the program, please email Gerik Kransky, project manager, at dieselgrants@deq.state.or.us.
Comment on DEQ clean air rule change proposals
The Portland metro region is within the 95th percentile nationally for diesel pollution exposure, and our neighborhood has some of the worst concentration of air pollutants in Portland. The BAC is continually advocating for stricter rules to improve air quality and encourages all neighbors to do the same!
DEQ is currently accepting public input on proposed rule amendments which seek to:
- Strengthen the process for setting and revising toxicity values for toxic air contaminants
- Aligning the Oregon State Air Toxics Program and the recently established Cleaner Air Oregon Program to protect the health of all Oregonians, including sensitive and vulnerable populations
- Clarifying certain Cleaner Air Oregon requirements for facilities and addressing inefficiencies in the risk assessment process
Anyone can submit comments and questions about this rulemaking. A person can submit comments through email or postal mail. Comments must be received by August 20, 2021, at 4 PM.
- Email: Send to caoat2021@deq.state.or.us and include “RULEMAKING COMMENT” in the subject line
- Mail: Oregon DEQ, Attn: Tori Heroux, 700 NE Multnomah St, Suite 600, Portland, OR 97232-4100
Visit DEQ’s proposal to learn more.
Give feedback on Portland’s tennis courts
The City of Portland’s Tennis Courts and Emerging Recreation Strategy will set a strategic direction for the programming, maintenance, and use of outdoor tennis courts and provide for other emerging court sports, like futsal (similar to soccer), bike polo, and pickleball, in Portland. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) currently has 103 outdoor tennis courts located within 38 parks.
To learn more and give your feedback, visit the project webpage to find more information, including:
After you have reviewed the information, please fill out the Tennis Courts and Emerging Recreation Strategy Comment Form by Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at 5PM. If you have additional questions, please contact Katie Dunham at Katie.Dunham@portlandoregon.gov.
Share your experience with urban fruit tree harvesting
The Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP) is seeking feedback from the Portland community to understand their experience with food equity and harvesting fresh fruit. They are offering a survey that aims to better understand your experience with harvesting urban produce. In return, PFTP will learn how they can be a better resource to the community through understanding these barriers.
This survey should take about 10 minutes to complete: https://forms.gle/8fmgHcMkAqmuDijz5
Volunteer with the AARP Experience Corps as a reading tutor
The AARP Experience Corps program is an inter-generational tutoring program where older adult volunteers help kids in Portland and Gresham public elementary schools become better readers. It is a very rewarding opportunity that benefits both the students and the tutors.
See the flyer below for more details, or contact Metropolitan Family Service at (503) 290-9427 or volunteer@mfs.email.
