SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga University and the City of Spokane are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reverse its decision to terminate a $19.9 million federal grant. The grant, critical for local climate resilience and public health, was initially awarded through the Climate and Environmental Justice Community Change program.
According to the press release from Gonzaga and the City, the grant supports Spokane and the Inland Northwest by funding initiatives like the installation of high-efficiency HVAC systems in 300 low-income homes, developing five Community Resilience Hubs for extreme weather, and offering job training in clean energy. More than 94% of the funding is aimed at direct services and community infrastructure.
“This work has already begun in good faith under a legally binding agreement,” said Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown. “The decision to terminate this grant puts lives at risk and undermines locally led solutions to climate and public health challenges. Make no mistake, recent history shows just how critical this funding is to ensure the health, safety, and economic stability of so many Spokane families.”
The City of Spokane and Gonzaga University argue that the termination lacks legal justification and contradicts the cooperative agreement’s terms. Courts have previously ruled against similar efforts to halt climate-related funding.
“We are concerned not only about the process by which this decision was made, but even more so about its very real consequences for the people we serve,” said Dr. Thayne McCulloh, president of Gonzaga University. “Our mission is to educate and serve. This grant enables our community to learn how to deal with dangerous climate conditions and help the thousands of community members who lack the ability to protect themselves from the extreme heat and wildfire smoke that is all too common in the Inland Northwest today.”
The call to action includes urging legislators to intervene and request a formal explanation from the EPA. The risks are significant, with past extreme heat and smoke leading to 19 area resident deaths. Gonzaga University and the City of Spokane stress the urgency of reinstating the funding to protect the community and complete the program.
“This is not about politics,” Brown said. “This is about people. It’s about protecting neighbors and investing in a healthier, safer future for Spokane.”
