Sustainable NCW awarded Ecology grant for air pollution project

WENATCHEE — Environmental education nonprofit Sustainable NCW is one of more than 20 recipients of a grant to develop and implement projects that reduce sources of air pollution in highly impacted communities. 

The Washington Department of Ecology offered $10 million in Air Quality on Overburdened Communities Grant Awards to organizations statewide. The grant program is funded by Washington’s Climate Commitment Act and over half of the awards went to community-based organizations.  

Sustainable NCW was awarded $213,800 to help pay  for community engagement, a bike repair mobile trailer, and educational workshops. Ecology identified the cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee as overburdened by air pollution due to frequent wildfire smoke activity.  

Between 2015-2021, the area experienced an average of 13 smoke days a year, according to an Ecology report. 

“The Wenatchee and East Wenatchee community has high rates of poverty, asthma, and uninsured populations, which can increase vulnerability of community members to air pollution impacts,” the report says. “This community also has a high proportion of children under age 18 and includes many sensitive receptors  such as schools, hospitals and healthcare clinics, long term care facilities, and migrant farmworker housing.” 

The grant recipients will complete their projects over the next two years.