North Austin News

The City of Austin's Office of Sustainability has announced funding for sustainability projects at 50 schools in the Austin area. The Bright Green Future Grants Program will provide a total of $146,000 to support 54 student-centered projects aimed at advancing climate action. Each project is eligible for up to $3,000 in funding. More than half of the schools receiving these grants qualify for Title 1 funding, indicating they serve a significant number of students from low-income families. These initiatives are designed to offer hands-on learning opportunities, deliver community benefits, and contribute to a cleaner and safer climate for Austin.

“This program reflects the power of our schools to inspire the next generation of climate leaders,” said Zach Baumer, Austin’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “By engaging students in hands-on projects, we’re not only building a better, more livable city today but also equipping young people with the tools they need to understand and address climate issues.”

Sam Lee, an educator with Del Valle ISD, expressed enthusiasm about the grant's impact on their school garden project: “This grant will bring our school garden to life, creating a vibrant space where students can learn about sustainability, nutrition, and the environment,” he said. “Furthermore, it will allow our students to work as a team, see their work come to fruition, and build confidence and self-esteem. We deeply appreciate the City's support in making this vision a reality.”

The Office of Sustainability received 135 applications from 60 schools across various districts including Austin ISD, Leander ISD, Del Valle ISD as well as several private schools. Projects were selected from every Austin City Council District through a competitive process.

Since its inception in 2012, the Bright Green Future Grants Program has provided funding to 90 schools and surpassed the $1 million milestone last year. To date, over 142,000 students have benefited from this initiative. Funding for these grants is sourced from a collaborative effort among six different City of Austin departments.

Austin’s Office of Sustainability aims to ensure an equitable and ecologically resilient community by providing leadership and influencing positive actions through engagement. The office works towards achieving net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 while promoting sustainable municipal operations and fostering resilience within the city.

For more information about their efforts visit www.austintexas.gov/sustainability.