Reading, in partnership with the Green Building Alliance, has been awarded a $250,000 planning grant from the Municipal Investment Fund.
Launched by the Coalition for Green Capital and ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability USA, the Municipal Investment Fund provides public-private funding to accelerate smart infrastructure projects across the country.
The grant is intended to support building revitalization projects that incorporate sustainable electrification.
Reading is one of 50 communities selected from a pool of 114 applicants across 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and tribal nations and is the only municipality in Pennsylvania to receive a grant.
“This grant is an important step forward in our work to make Reading stronger, more sustainable and more affordable for everyone,” Mayor Eddie Moran said in a statement. “By working with GBA, ICLEI and our local partners, we’re giving businesses, schools and neighborhoods the resources to modernize, save on energy costs and prepare for the future.”
The grant will help the city develop a roadmap for property owners, businesses, schools and building industry professionals to invest in energy- and cost-efficient projects while connecting them to early-stage funding opportunities, city officials said.
“Reading is proud to be the only Pennsylvania partnership selected for this year’s Market-Building Funding & Technical Support grant,” city Community Development Director David Barr said in a statement.
The grant money and technical assistance will support other efforts such as the City Revitalization and Improvement Zone, or CRIZ, Barr said.
“This support will play a key role as we launch our CRIZ program by developing user-friendly guides for land development, historic preservation, permitting, financing and other project phases in a sustainable way, helping create a more resilient community.”
Officials said the alliance will create an energy efficiency capital tool kit to guide commercial and institutional property managers through every stage of building resiliency projects.
The organization will host workshops, provide case studies and offer training in energy efficiency and preventative property maintenance to strengthen the local workforce.
“Green Building Alliance is honored to partner with the city of Reading to empower area businesses, developers, nonprofits and schools with the knowledge and tools to identify, prioritize, and invest in upgrades and renovations that will improve energy efficiency, support the transition to electrification, and lower utility costs,” Alliance President and CEO Jenna Cramer said in the announcement of the grant.
City Sustainability Manager Bethany Ayers-Fisher, who participated in the application process, said the grant reflects the priorities of the city and the sustainability division.
“It supports the mayor’s vision for a stronger, more resilient Reading,” she said in an interview Tuesday. “This project will help us deepen partnerships and keep building a better Reading together.”
The $250,000 will fund planning and technical assistance, Ayers Fisher said, noting additional funding opportunities could become available for projects identified through the planning process.
“It’s about getting the city ready for more opportunities,” she explained. “Several years ago, we were not ready for this kind of grant. Now we are, which positions Reading for future investment and revitalization efforts.”
ICLEI USA Executive Director Saharnaz Mirzazad emphasized the broader impact of the awards.
“These projects make communities safer, lower energy costs and meet local needs head-on,” Mirzazad said in the grant announcement.
Businesses, property owners, schools and other organizations interested in learning more about available resources and support for shovel-ready projects or participating in Reading’s energy-efficient building initiatives can contact alliance CEO Chris Cieslak at info@gba.org.