Grant Application and Letter of Support to Climate Smart Communities InitiativeCity of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 13.
Copyrighted
March 16, 2026
ITEM TITLE: Grant Application and Letter of Support to Climate Smart
Communities Initiative
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval of a grant
application and letter of support to The Climate Smart
Communities Initiative (CSCI) grant application on behalf of
Office of Sustainability in partnership with Crescent
Community Health Center and MK Corona.
RESOLUTION Retroactively Authorizing The Filing Of An
Application For The Climate Smart Communities Initiative
(CSCI) Grant
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Adopt Resolution(s)
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
MVM Memo Grant Application and Letter of Support to Climate Smart Communities
Initiative
2. Staff Memo for CSCI Grant Application
3. CSCI grant_ DubuqueVulnerabilityAssessment_FinalDraft
4. Letter of Support —City of Dbq for CSCI
5. Retroactive Authorization of Application Resolution_CSCI_03092026
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THE CITY OF
Dubuque
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2017202019
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Grant Application and Letter of Support to Climate Smart Communities
Initiative
DATE: March 11, 2026
Director of Sustainability Gina Bell is recommending City Council approval of a grant
application and letter of support to The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI)
grant application on behalf of Office of Sustainability in partnership with Crescent
Community Health Center and MK Corona.
Due to time constraints, the application was submitted by the deadline, and we
respectfully request approval of the application and letter of support for the Climate
Smart Communities Initiative grant application.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
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THE C
DUjIBQTE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
March 9, 2026
Dubuque
tirn� r
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Grant Application and Letter of Support to Climate Smart Communities Initiative
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request City Council approval of a grant application and letter of
support to The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) grant application on behalf of Office of
Sustainability in partnership with Crescent Community Health Center and MK Corona.
BACKGROUND
The Climate Smart Communities Initiative grant program is seeking applications from city/non-
profit/adaptation practitioner collaborations from across the U.S. focused on building and enhancing
climate resilience in their communities.
DISCUSSION
The CSCI grant will support an update to the City's climate vulnerability study and develop a related
action plan that would include valuable community engagement, with a focus on communities most
impacted by climate threats. The team of an adaptation practitioner (MK Corona), a community -based
organization (Crescent Community Health Center) and a local government (City of Dubuque's Office
of Sustainability) will work together to gather input from residents, collect data, analyze and then
ground truth lived experiences with the data. The study will provide an updated study for use to build a
pathway to action. Additionally, the work directly supports our 50% by 2030 Community Climate
Action Plan. The result will guide future engagements with our community members and help to move
forward climate action in our city. A partnership and letter of support from the City is required as a part
of the grant application.
BUDGETIMPACT
No impact. We will not proceed with this work if grant funding is not available.
REQUESTED ACTION
Due to time constraints, the application was submitted by the deadline, and we respectfully request
approval of the application and letter of support for the Climate Smart Communities Initiative grant
application.
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Climate Smart Communities Initiative
Grant Application
Grant applications must be submitted by 8:OOpm ET on Thursday, March 12, 2026
Adaptation Practitioner Contact Information
1. Marcella Corona
2. Marcella@mkcorona.com
3. MK Corona
4. Principal
5. (Optional) Organizational Federal Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
6. 1-312-953-0540
7. Registry used: No
Community Contact Information
8. Michelle Kim
9. mkim@cityofdubuque.org
10. City of Dubuque
11. Climate Action Coordinator
12. 563-580-3745
Community Project Area Information
13. City of Dubuque
14. Iowa
15. Dubuque County
16. 52001, 52002, 52003, 52004, 52099
17. Dubuque city
18. NA
19. 51k-100k
Project Information
20. Building Climate Resilience and Community Health in Dubuque
21. What are you planning to do and why is it important to your community? (up to 1400
characters)
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Dubuque, Iowa faces degraded air quality from regional wildfire smoke, more frequent and
intense summer heat waves, and declining water quality from stormwater runoff and emerging
pollutants. Our original Community Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) focused on heat, housing,
and stormwater; this update is needed to address emerging climate -related threats to air and
water quality while identifying new community resilience strategies.
With this grant, the City of Dubuque and Crescent Community Health Center (CCHC) will work
with climate adaptation practitioner MK Corona to update and expand the CVA using the latest
climate projections, air and water quality data, public health information, and demographic
indicators. The CVA guides local planning and investments, and updating it will help ensure
resources address current climate -health risks.
Community engagement will be central to the process. A Community Climate Vulnerability
Committee, made up of CCHC clients and Patient Advisory Council members, will participate in
participatory mapping, surveys, and storytelling sessions to connect lived experience with
climate and health data.
The assessment will also include designs for a community resiliency hub at the former Blum
scrapyard site, a partially remediated brownfield located adjacent to CCHC that is currently
planned for future expansion of community health services. Having a resiliency hub in a location
that residents already trust and rely on is important for ensuring future climate preparedness
resources are accessible, community -informed, and responsive to local needs.
Climate Hazards
22. What climate change -related hazards will be addressed by the proposed climate
resilience project?
• Air quality
• Extreme heat
• Water quality
23. Briefly describe how the selected hazards in Q22 are impacting community members
and/or local natural environments, buildings, or other infrastructure, and assets that are
important to your community. (up to 2000 characters)
Dubuque's worsening air quality, including increased ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5),
is linked to growing community health concerns such as asthma and cardiovascular disease,
conditions disproportionately experienced by historically-disinvested populations and many
CCHC patients.
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Dubuque's summer heat waves have heat index values exceeding 100' F. According to NOAA's
Climate Explorer, under a high -emissions scenario, Dubuque may experience 23 days over
100' F annually, by the end of the century. Heat waves elevate the risk of heat -related illnesses,
particularly for older adults, children, outdoor workers, and residents without reliable cooling.
Emergency department data across Iowa show seasonal spikes in heat -related illness visits
during prolonged high -heat periods. These impacts disproportionately affect lower -income
households and renters in older housing stock without adequate insulation or air conditioning.
Many patients of CCHC live in higher -vulnerability census tracts where tree canopy is limited
and energy burden is high, increasing exposure and health risk.
Water quality is increasingly stressed by climate -driven changes in precipitation, PFAS
detections in Dubuque's shallow wells, and ongoing agricultural runoff. Heavier rainfall
accelerates nutrient runoff from row cropping and manure application into rivers and
groundwater. Iowa has some of the highest nitrate concentrations in U.S. waterways. Long-term
exposure to nitrates in drinking water has been linked to elevated risks of colorectal, thyroid,
and other cancers. These risks are especially concerning for lower -income and marginalized
communities who have fewer resources to purchase filtration systems, alternative water
sources, or absorb higher utility costs.
Together, these hazards strain healthcare systems, burden vulnerable households, and
compound long-standing health inequities in Dubuque.
24. Are there historically-disinvested populations that are especially vulnerable to the
identified climate change -related hazards and/or more severely affected by the impacts?
(up to 1700 characters)
Dubuque's low-income households, communities of color, seniors on fixed incomes, children,
renters in older housing, and individuals with chronic health conditions are more vulnerable to
climate change -related hazards. These residents often have limited financial flexibility, reduced
access to healthcare, and fewer opportunities to influence local decision -making, which can
make adapting to environmental challenges more difficult.
The interconnected hazards of degraded air quality and extreme heat disproportionately affect
older adults, infants, and individuals with chronic conditions such as asthma. Outdoor workers
also face greater exposure to heat and air pollution. At the same time, protective environmental
features such as tree canopy and green space are unevenly distributed across the community,
contributing to differences in heat exposure between neighborhoods.
Research in Iowa has also documented disparities in drinking water quality, with higher nitrate
concentrations disproportionately affecting low-income residents, people of color, children, and
seniors, contributing to elevated long-term health risks including certain cancers.
Housing and infrastructure conditions further compound vulnerability. Many low-income families
live in older housing that may lack air conditioning, have limited air filtration during smoke
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events, and require higher energy costs to maintain safe indoor temperatures.
CCHC serves many of the residents most affected by these conditions. CCHC is located in the
52001 zip code, which according to U.S. Census and housing tract data has the highest rates of
poverty in the region. Residents of the 52001 zip code make up the largest share of CCHC
patients. According to 2024 UDS data, 86% of CCHC patients live at or below 200% of the
federal poverty level, 56% are enrolled in Medicaid, and 22% are uninsured.
Incorporation of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and
Justice principles in project processes
25. How will historically-disinvested populations be involved and/or how will their perspectives
be included in the work proposed during the 12 month grant period? (up to 1400
characters)
Community members are intimately familiar with the places most vulnerable to climate impacts
because they live, work, and raise families there. They see their children experience asthma
attacks after poor air quality days and have firsthand conversations about cancer diagnoses and
water quality concerns within their households. Because climate change intensifies these risks,
our assessment must be grounded not only in data, but in lived experience.
Historically-disinvested residents will be engaged throughout the 12-month process. We will
convene an intergenerational steering committee drawn from CCHC's Patient Advisory Council
and clients. This committee will participate in approximately four structured sessions, including
sharing personal climate experiences, co -designing the proposed Resiliency Hub based on
community -identified needs, participating in a storytelling training workshop, and presenting
their stories alongside the CVA findings to City Council. The committee will also support the
development and implementation of broader community engagement activities and provide
early feedback on the draft CVA.
This approach centers community voice in both data interpretation and solution design. To
reduce barriers to participation and demonstrate respect for their expertise, all committee
members will receive stipends, meals, and transportation vouchers. By centering residents who
are currently experiencing vulnerability, the updated assessment will ensure that adaptation
strategies address those most at risk now and in the future.
Nature -Based Solutions
26. Please describe whether and how the climate resilience of natural systems and/or the
nature -based solutions (NbS) will be considered as part of the proposed project's efforts
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to address climate -related hazards impacting the community. (up to 1400 characters)
The Climate Vulnerability Assessment update will consider nature -based solutions (NbS) when
evaluating the climate adaptation capacity of neighborhoods across Dubuque. Building on the
previous CVA, the update will assess current and planned tree canopy and land cover, and
identify climate change -vulnerable NbS assets. The CVA's Resiliency Hub workshop and chapter
will incorporate NbS options when developing the prototype hub.
The CVA update will also assess the City's current urban forestry and other NbS practices,
including the potential need to adapt practices in response to climate change -related hazards.
Specifically, the CVA update will assess the potential for NbS to address air pollution and
drinking water quality, in addition to extreme heat. The CVA will review co -benefits and best
practices for improving air and water quality, with the objective of enhancing the program design
of Branching Our Dubuque. The Branching Out Dubuque programs, funded by the USFS,
enables free tree planting for all income -qualified residents and specific census tracts that were
heavily impacted by emerald ash borer.
Project Goal and Schedule
27. Please provide a goal statement for the climate resilience plan or project over the
12-month grant period (up to 550 characters). Desired long-term outcomes can be
described later in the application.
The project will enhance Dubuque's CVA to assess emerging climate impacts from air quality,
extreme heat, and water quality, using best practices for quantitative data and qualitative
community insights. The CVA will incorporate adaptation capacity and a resiliency hub plan and
design. This project will produce a human -centered, data -driven framework to guide future
resiliency investments and include historically and currently-disinvested populations in adaptation
planning.
Yes
28. CSCI projects are 12 months and will start in Q3 of 2026 and end in Q3 of 2027. Will this
timeline work for your project?
29. Please list the main activities your team will undertake during the 12-month grant period
to make progress towards your stated climate resilience goal.
Mont Activity Desired Outcome or Purpose
h
1 A. Partner team kickoff A. Establish and confirm explicit roles
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B. Consult existing planning documents
B. Ensure alignment with past plans and ongoing
C. Identify critical stakeholders
initiatives
C. Ensure a comprehensive community
engagement process
2
A. Form community -based,
A. Committee in place with diverse and
intergenerational CVA steering
climate -vulnerable community representation
committee
B. Identify data gaps and determine quantitative
B. Analyze existing data sets
data needs
3
A. Plan broader community vision and
A. Launch the community -wide CVA process
objectives workshops with steering
B. Update and enhance quantitative data sets
committee
B. Collect updated quantitative data
sets
4
A. Host community vision and
A. Identify community's stated vision and
objectives workshops with steering
objectives for the CVA
committee members
B. Design and test survey community hazards
B. Plan community hazards survey with
survey
steering committee
5
A. Launch community hazards survey
A. Collect updated, hyperlocal climate hazards
B. Plan workshop #1: Crafting your
data set with community insights
personal story
B. Design storytelling workshop for capacity
C. Analyze community hazards survey
building and community insights
data
C. Identify additional qualitative data needs
6
A. Host CVA committee workshop #1:
A. Build community capacity for climate resilience
Telling your climate story
advocacy; Synthesize lived experiences to
B. Plan CVA committee workshop #2:
inform Resiliency Hub design process; Collect
Resiliency Hub education, ideation,
community insights to inform CVA hazards
and design workshop
data set
C. Plan community -wide survey for
B. Develop co -design process for a community
Resiliency hub needs
resiliency hub
C. Design and test city-wide Resiliency Hub
survey
7
A. Host CVA committee workshop #2:
A. Generate an implementable resiliency hub
Resiliency hub ideation and design
concept, designed by community members.
B. Plan community science initiative for
CVA data analysis progresses
air quality data collection, integrated
B. Develop methodology for a hyperlocal air
with Teen Resilience Corps
quality data set
8
A. Launch community science activity
A. Collect updated, hyperlocal climate hazards
for air quality
data set with community insights
B. Present outline CVA update to
B. Refine CVA outline and key findings to date
community steering committee
9
A. Present draft CVA update to City
A. Refine and cultivate buy -in for CVA update
Council
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B. Plan CVA committee workshop #3:
Producing your story for greater
impact
10
A. Host CVA committee workshop #3:
A. Increase community capacity for climate
Producing your story for greater
resilience advocacy; committee trained to
impact
present their story for greater impact
11
A. Draft final CVA update
A. Final plan prepared for presentation
B. Develop climate storytelling
intergenerational performance
12
1. Present final plan and climate
2. City Council receives actionable CVA for
storytelling performance to City
adoption; Community voices represented to
Council
decision makers
Steps to Resilience & Prior Project Work
30. At what phase in the Steps to rcesiiience (btm) FrameworK are the activities you are planning
to undertake during the 12-month grant period?
Assess Vulnerability and Risk. Follow an assessment process with input from the community and
relevant experts to analyze the sensitivity and adaptive capacity of assets, the risk levels of the
potential impacts on them, and pre-existing non -climate stressors that can amplify vulnerability or
contribute to certain groups being disproportionately impacted
Investigate Options. Gather information on adaptation options (actions strategies) that
are likely to reduce the community's risk and vulnerability to climate change, work with the
community to refine its climate resilience objectives, and understand what can be done to manage
its risk.
Project team readiness to make progress on climate
resilience
33. Based on your selection in the previous section, you are proposing activities during the
12-month grant period that are in the Assess Vulnerability and Risk phase in the Steps to
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Resilience please describe the process used to identify what assets (people infrastructure, natural
systems, etc.) are being impacted by climate change -related hazards and prioritize their importance
to the community within a defined project area prior to this grant. (up to 1700 characters)
Dubuque previously identified climate -vulnerable assets through the Dubuque Climate
Vulnerability Assessment, which combined climate data analysis and infrastructure review. The
assessment began by identifying key community assets, including residents, housing stock,
healthcare facilities, transportation corridors, and stormwater infrastructure.
City staff and an outside consultant analyzed regional climate projections and local datasets to
evaluate how climate hazards (focusing on extreme heat, housing vulnerability, and stormwater)
could impact these assets. Sensitivity and adaptive capacity were assessed by examining factors
such as housing age and condition, nonpermeable surfaces, flood prone areas, and
demographic indicators including income, language spoken, and health disparities.
Assets were then prioritized based on risk and the degree to which climate hazards could
exacerbate existing social vulnerabilities. Community serving organizations such as CCHC
function as critical assets because they provide healthcare to all, including populations identified
as disproportionately impacted by climate hazards.
Since the 2019 CVA, emerging climate -related health risks, including worsening air quality from
wildfire smoke and water pollution associated with heavy precipitation and runoff, have
highlighted the need to update the assessment. This proposed project will incorporate new data
sets and include community voices to reassess asset vulnerability under the emerging risks.
34. Based on your selection in the previous section you are proposing activities during the
12-month grant period that are in the Investigate Options phase in the Steps to Resilience, please
describe the assessment process used to analyze the sensitivity and adaptive capacity of assets,
the risk levels of the potential impacts on them. Please include descriptions of any pre-existing
non -climate stressors that can amplify vulnerability or contribute to certain groups being
disproportionately impacted in order to create a comprehensive understanding of the community's
vulnerability and risk. (up to 2000 characters)
The assessment will begin by compiling updated datasets on climate hazards affecting
Dubuque, including extreme heat projections, air quality trends, and precipitation patterns that
influence water quality. These datasets will be analyzed alongside community indicators such as
age, household income, housing conditions, and access to cooling to understand where climate
hazards may place the greatest stress on people, infrastructure, and community services.
Special attention will be given to neighborhoods surrounding the CCHC/Blum site, which sit
near major transportation corridors including highways connecting three states, a major railroad
crossing, the Mississippi River, and several legacy industrial sites.
The project team will then evaluate the sensitivity of key community assets, including residents,
housing, healthcare access points, and neighborhood infrastructure. Dubuque has one of the
highest concentrations of buildings over 100 years old in Iowa, which can increase vulnerability
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to extreme heat, flooding, and poor indoor air quality. Extreme heat can increase health risks for
older adults, outdoor workers, and residents without reliable cooling. Poor air quality can worsen
respiratory conditions such as asthma, while water quality challenges associated with
agricultural runoff and PFAS contamination may affect drinking water safety and public health.
Next, the assessment will examine adaptive capacity, or the ability of residents and community
institutions to prepare for and respond to climate hazards. Factors such as transportation
access, housing conditions, language access, and healthcare availability will be analyzed to
understand where additional resources or preparedness measures may be needed. These
conditions can act as non -climate stressors that amplify the impact of climate hazards.
Demographic change is also an important consideration, as the region, historically
predominantly white, is now experiencing growth in Black/African American and Pacific Islander
populations, highlighting the need for culturally responsive engagement and equitable resilience
planning.
To complement the quantitative analysis, the project will incorporate qualitative input from
storytelling workshops with the Community Climate Vulnerability Committee made up of CCHC
clients. These discussions will provide insight into lived experiences with housing, health, and
environmental conditions that influence vulnerability.
Together, this mixed -methods assessment will help identify and prioritize resilience strategies,
including the potential development of a community resiliency hub at the proposed Blum site,
ensuring future climate adaptation efforts respond to the most significant risks facing residents
and critical community services.
37. Describe how future climate conditions will be or are factored into the proposed climate
resilience plan or project (up to 1400 characters)
Future climate conditions will be incorporated into the updated CVA through the use of regional
climate projections, environmental monitoring data, and public health indicators. The project will
analyze projected increases in extreme heat, changing precipitation patterns, and trends
affecting air and water quality to understand how climate risks may evolve over time. Climate
projection data from sources such as the Midwest Regional Climate Center and the U.S. Global
Change Research Program will help inform expectations for higher temperatures, more frequent
heavy precipitation events, and associated environmental impacts.
These projections will be paired with locally relevant datasets, including heat exposure mapping,
air quality monitoring data, water quality information, and demographic indicators such as age,
housing conditions, and access to cooling. Spatial analysis will help identify where future climate
hazards may place the greatest stress on residents, infrastructure, and community services.
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Community input will also play an important role in interpreting these projections. Storytelling
workshops and discussions with the committee will provide real -world context for how climate
conditions are already affecting daily life. Integrating projected climate trends with local
environmental data and community experience will help ensure the CVA reflects both current
conditions and future risks, guiding long-term resilience planning and informing needs for the
future development of a Community Resiliency hub at the Blum site.
* 38. Describe if there is a potential for maladaptive impacts and how they will be addressed (up to
1400 characters)
Maladaptive outcomes are unlikely because this project focuses on assessment and planning
rather than implementing physical infrastructure. However, the project team will intentionally
evaluate potential unintended consequences as part of the CVA process. For example,
strategies that rely heavily on energy -intensive cooling could increase energy costs or strain the
grid during extreme heat events, while nature -based solutions require long-term maintenance to
remain effective.
To minimize these risks, the CVA process will evaluate proposed strategies considering
long-term public health outcomes, feasibility, and maintenance needs. Community input will also
help identify barriers or unintended consequences that technical analysis alone may miss.
By integrating climate projections, hazard exposure data, and community feedback, the CVA will
prioritize adaptation strategies that reduce climate risks without creating new burdens for
residents, infrastructure systems, or local government operations.
Community Partners
39. Community-Daseu organization partner name
- Crescent Community Health Center
40. The community -based organization partner is a...
Local non-profit organization
Local university
Other non -governmental or community -serving organization (please specify)
41. Upload a letter of support from the community -based organization partner. Make sure it includes
or references what their role is in the proposed project.
42. Local/regional government partner name: City of Dubuque
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43. The local/regional government partner is a...
Municipal government
County government
Tribal government
Regional government/planning authority
44. Upload a letter of support from the local or regional government partner. Make sure it includes
or references what their role is in the proposed project.
45. List the names and roles of any other partner organization(s) that is directly involved with the
proposed project
Capacity Building
48. What plans or processes are in place to build and sustain relationships between community
partners and government leaders and build their capacity to continue this work beyond the
12-month grant period? (up to 1400 characters)
The City of Dubuque and CCHC maintain a formal, institutional partnership that extends beyond
individual projects. This includes ongoing board representation by the Public Health Director,
annual City funding commitments, CDBG support for facility expansion at the Blum site, and
legislative advocacy at the state and federal levels to sustain healthcare access for vulnerable
residents.
Coordination occurs through shared planning processes, cross -department collaboration, and
alignment with the City's health and capital planning frameworks. The redevelopment of the
City -owned Blum brownfield site adjacent to CCHC, planned as both a future CCHC expansion
and proposed Resiliency Hub, provides a multi -year implementation pathway beyond the grant
period.
For this project, governance will include joint leadership, regular coordination meetings, and
integration of findings into City planning processes. By having an updated Vulnerability
Assessment and Resiliency Hub plans, it will be easier to engage in planning findings into City
priorities, budgeting discussions, and land -use planning efforts. This project builds on long-term
institutional capacity rather than a one-time initiative.
49. What new skills, resources, or abilities can the community -based organization and/or
government partner expect to gain from this grant that will help them pursue their community's
climate resilience needs and goals more effectively in the future? (1400 characters)
The project will provide a data driven understanding of how extreme heat, air quality, and water
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quality intersect with public health and further intersects with social and economic conditions.
This will enable identification of neighborhoods where patients experience higher rates of
heat -related illness, asthma, and other health conditions to set the stage for a proactive approach
to healthcare, rather than a reactive one.
Partners will improve their ability to integrate climate, health, and demographic data, creating a
more complete picture of climate vulnerability across the community. The project will also
generate a roadmap for prioritizing climate resilience strategies and planning the proposed
Resiliency Hub, ensuring that resources are directed to areas of need.
Additionally, the members of the Community Climate Vulnerability Committee will be central to
this work. Through participation, they will receive training, technical assistance, and opportunities
to network with the cohort as well as local leaders and practitioners. By the end of the project,
committee members will leave with stronger leadership and storytelling skills and a deeper sense
that their voices are necessary and integral to building a thriving, climate -resilient Dubuque.
Learning and impact potential of the proposed work
50. How will you know that the activities and work taking place during the grant period are
successful? (up to 1400 characters)
The primary indicator of success will be the completion of an updated CVA that integrates
multiple data sources, including climate projections, hazard data related to extreme heat, air
quality, and water quality, and relevant socioeconomic indicators. The assessment will also
clearly document how populations with higher exposure to climate hazards were identified and
represented within the analysis.
Another key measure of success will be meaningful community engagement throughout the
process. Community members, particularly clients of CCHC, will participate in storytelling
workshops and steering committee sessions that ensure lived experiences inform the
assessment. Success will include documentation of these perspectives within the CVA and
opportunities for community representatives to present their stories and needs directly to City
leadership.
Finally, success will be demonstrated by the City of Dubuque's adoption and application of the
updated CVA as a guiding document for resilience planning and decision -making. This includes
using the assessment to inform future resilience investments, including planning for a
community Resiliency hub at the proposed Blum site and integrating climate vulnerability
considerations into City processes and priorities.
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51. What will be different in your community because of this work? What long-term outcomes will
the proposed work enable? (up to 1700 characters)
As a result of this work, Dubuque will gain a more precise, community -centered understanding of
where climate hazards of extreme heat, air quality, and water quality risks overlap with social
vulnerability. This updated information will allow City leadership and partners to make informed
resilience goals, public health decisions, and projects based on both hazard exposure and the
needs of our community, rather than relying on generalized or outdated data.
The process will also advance planning for a Resiliency Hub at the proposed Blum site,
integrating community -identified needs with climate and health data. By designing the Resiliency
Hub through community workshops and incorporating feedback from patients and residents, the
project will ensure the hub is responsive to local needs and supports multiple functions, climate
preparedness, health access, and community services.
Long-term, this work will improve decision -making and resource allocation, help reduce health
and climate -related disparities, and strengthen community capacity to prepare for and respond to
climate hazards. By embedding community input into the updated Vulnerability Assessment and
Resiliency Hub planning, Dubuque will create a model for inclusive, data -driven resilience
strategies that can guide future projects and investments for years to come.
52. Optional. Is there anything else you would like to tell reviewers that the application did not
capture? (up to 1700 characters)
Budget
53. What is the anticipated total budget for the 12-month proposed climate resilience plan or
project?
detailed budget will be requested if your application advances in the selection process
- $115,000
Amount allocated
Partner
Line items
$60,000
MK Corona
Drafting CVA; Climate data
analysis and visualizations;
Travel and workshop
facilitation; project oversight;
Resiliency Hub planning;
$30,000
City of Dubuque
CVA data pulling and
aggregation; Community wide
survey; Teen Resiliency
Corps; Marketing and design
of CVA; Community
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Engagement; Resiliency Hub
Planning; Workshop
Facilitation
$15,000
Crescent Community Health
Community Engagement;
Center
Health data pulling from
internal sources; Location for
facilitated workshop;
Resiliency Hub Planning
$10,000
Crescent Patient Advisory
Food during workshop hours;
Council
transportation to and from
workshops; Participant
stipends
54. Estimated total amount anticipated to fund the adaptation professional
Enter a whole number only
- $60,000
55. Optional Estimated total amount of funds for other purposes (If applicable)
Enter a whole number only
56. Optional. Is there anything else you would like to share about your estimated budget? (up to 700
characters)
Additional Partnership and Capacity Information
57. Describe the previous work the community -based organization and local/regional government
partners have done together (up to 1700 characters). Please include relevant details about the
nature or structure of the proposed partnership for this application
The partnership between the City of Dubuque and CCHC began during the Envision 2010 process,
when the community identified the need for an affordable, accessible health center. The City
supported CCHC's creation through $250,000 in capital funding, $647,000 in parking lot
development and staff oversight, temporary office space in the City Hall Annex, and participation of
multiple City staff in startup planning. The Public Health Director continues to serve on CCHC's
board, ensuring sustained leadership alignment.
Since opening, the City has provided ongoing CDBG funding, rent forgiveness and facility
remodeling support, and annual funding to expand culturally responsive programming. CCHC has
partnered with the City on COVID-19 testing and vaccination, neighborhood outreach events, and
advancing the Health Services Department's equity plan. The City also designated CCHC as a
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recurring legislative priority to secure sustainable funding.
For this application, the partnership builds on this established structure. The City will lead technical
climate analysis and planning integration, while CCHC will lead patient engagement and
community -centered design through its Patient Advisory Council. Together, the partners will update
the Vulnerability Assessment and co -design a Resiliency Hub concept at the Blum site, combining
climate resilience planning with trusted community health infrastructure.
58. What additional resources and capacity, if any can the community -based organization partner
government partner and/or adaptation professional contribute to this next phase of climate
resilience building? (e.g. funding staff time community support etc.) (Up to 1400 characters)
CCHC and the City of Dubuque will contribute significant in -kind and institutional resources to
support this next phase of climate resilience building. CCHC will provide staff time for community
outreach, coordination, and facilitation of engagement sessions, as well as access to its Patient
Advisory Council to serve as the community based lead for the project. CCHC will also offer its
Training and Wellness Center space to host community workshops, storytelling sessions, and
Resiliency hub design activities in a trusted, accessible environment.
The City will contribute staff expertise in sustainability, public health, and planning integration to
ensure the updated Vulnerability Assessment aligns with capital improvement planning and
emergency preparedness efforts. City staff will also support data analysis, cross -department
coordination, and policy integration. The City's Teen Resiliency Corps will also be utilized to
facilitate citizen science data collection around Resiliency Hub planning and health impacts of
intense heat, water quality, and air quality.
Together, the partners bring established community trust, bilingual outreach capacity, healthcare
access expertise, and sustained institutional support. These combined resources strengthen
community engagement, ensure meaningful participation, and position the project for continued
implementation beyond the grant period.
59. How many staff hours per week can the government partner commit to this project over the next
year, if awarded?
Enter a number only.
- 5 hours
60. How many staff hours per week can the community -based organization partner commit to this
project over the next year, if awarded?
Enter a number only.
- 5 hours
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THE CITY OF
DUBQTE,
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
March 5, 2026
Climate Smart Communities Initiative
RE: Grant Support Letter
Dear Selection Committee,
Dubuque
City Manager's Office
50 West 13t" Street
All MEeigCip
Dubuque, IA 52001
II
Office (563) 589.4110
I I
ctvmgr@citvofdubugue.org
2007-2012.2013
www.cityofdubuque.org
2017*2019
On behalf of The City of Dubuque, I wish to express my full support for application titled, "Building
Climate Resilience and Community Health in Dubuque," submitted by MK Corona, Crescent Community
Health Center and the City of Dubuque to the Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI). Support from
CSCI support will strengthen and expand Dubuque's long-standing work in climate adaptation while
advancing resiliency among our most vulnerable populations. This project will bring together the City of
Dubuque, Crescent Community Health Center, and adaptation practitioner Marcella Keenan Corona to
deepen community involvement and ensure those most impacted by climate threats play an active role
in environmental stewardship. In particular, this project will support a community informed climate
vulnerability assessment grounded in local engagement and lived experiences.
The City of Dubuque, through the Office of Sustainability, will support the work through staffing and
coordination. The project aligns with the City's 50% by 2030 Climate Action Plan, which outlines
strategies to reduce greenhouse gases, adapt to a changing climate and support low -moderate -income
(LMI) residences in strengthening community resilience. The City supports the proposal because it will
deliver direct local benefits and offer a pathway to address vulnerabilities unique to the Dubuque
community. This work builds on prior efforts by the Office of Sustainability to promote health and
environmental stewardship throughout the community. The City is committed to the continuity of this
work beyond the grant period. The vision for CSCI aligns with our community priorities and the goals of
the proposed project.
The City's Office of Sustainability, in partnership with project collaborators, will support community
listening sessions and integrate this work with existing programming such as the Teen Resiliency Corps
and Green Iowa AmeriCorps. The City will support internal coordination, project oversight and
collaboration between community partners and the adaptation practitioner.
Thank you for your consideration of this proposal.
In partnership,
Mike Van Milligen
City Manager
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
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Prepared by: Crenna M. Brumwell, 300 Main Street Suite 330, Dubuque IA 52001 563 583-4381
RESOLUTION NO. 83 - 26
RETROACTIVELY AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE
CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE (CSCI) GRANT
WHEREAS, applications for certifications, funding, and grants are set by outside
entities and outside the control of the City; and
WHEREAS, the deadlines set by outside entities do not always coincide with the
meetings of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City applied for the Climate Smart Communities Initiative
opportunity with an application deadline of March 12, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. The application to CSCI is approved retroactive to March 12, 2026.
Passed, approved and adopted this 16t' day of March, 2026.
David T. Resnick, Mayor Pro Tern
Attest:
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk