The city's resilience office has awarded minigrants to 26 local businesses and groups under a pilot program aimed at shoring up local response to disaster-related shocks and stresses, the office announced Tuesday.
The grants support local community organizers, small businesses, and organizations that build resilience and serve racially and economically diverse Austinites, according to the city. The office awarded $3,000 each to applicants to help the needs of Austinites as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from shocks and stresses related to climate disaster.
The awards provide resources for preparedness training, supplies, and workforce development opportunities and has provided key information that will be city will use to develop Austin’s resilience hub network. In addition, they help the resilience office efforts to strengthen partnerships with community organizations and local businesses that play big role in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
“Small businesses, community organizers, and grassroots organizations are often the first to identify community needs during and after disasters, as they are closely connected with their neighbors," said Laura Patiño, Austin’s chief resilience officer.
The inaugural program awarded minigrants to 26 recipients, including Asian Texans for Justice, Black Women Who, Central Texas Mycology, CooperationEngine, Fruitful Commons, Jail to Jobs, Keep Austin Fed, KT Klean Energy Consultant, Red Heart CPR, Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, the Healing Project, and YWCA Austin.
