Businesses host Powell Butte ‘Earth Day’ event

Find out about an important environment program, and a special Earth Day event held at Powell Butte on April 22 …

Midway Business Association President, Dr. David Day, DC, welcomes all to their April meeting at Pizza Baron.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

At its regular monthly meeting on April 11, members and guests of the Midway Business Association (MBA) learned more about the City of Portland Brownfield Program – and an upcoming “Business to Buttes” Earth Day event.

Explaining the program with which she works is Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Brownfield Program Assistant Claudia Christensen Garcia.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency – in simple terms, a “brownfield” is property that is either contaminated, or that people think might be contaminated, explained Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Brownfield Program Assistant Claudia Christensen Garcia.

Many sites that are now considered brownfields once provided economic vitality and jobs to local communities, and can be reclaimed, she said.

The city has funds to help property owners with contaminated land, says Claudia Christensen Garcia.

In Portland’s program, Christensen Garcia administers two grants from the Environmental Protection Agency to help landowners remediate their sites:

A $400,000 grant to assess contamination on properties around the city, with a target area of East Portland
A $1 million grant to provide loan funding for cleanup on private properties

“The Brownfield Program is accepting applications for these grants on a rolling basis, until funds are exhausted,” Christensen Garcia said.

Learn more about the city’s Brownfield Program at their website: CLICK HERE.

Telling about “Earth Day Business to Buttes” to be held on April 22 is Venture Portland District Organizer Brad Forkner.

Also during the meeting, Venture Portland District Organizer Brad Forkner talked up the MBA’s new event called “Earth Day Business to Buttes”.

Starting at 10:00 a.m., on April 22, the association is hosting the first such on Powell Butte, he said. “Those coming by can help beautify the Butte, and then explore it on several guided tours throughout the morning and early afternoon.”

The first 25 people receive a free garden and seed gift package. Then, bird watching hikes, a bike ride, and other activities take place at various times.

CLICK HERE to open their event-specific “Earth Day Business to Buttes” webpage. They’re meeting near the Powell Butte Visitor’s Center, at 16160 SE Powell Blvd., 97236.

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