La Pine, OR -- Deschutes County will ask the Environmental Protection Agency for a grant to fund projects in the La Pine area.

Commissioners approved the grant request Wednesday after Community Development Department Director Peter Gutowsky told them how the money would benefit South County residents, “We have efforts that are ongoing right now that deal with air quality, upgrading septic systems, assisting homeowners with rehabilitation efforts, helping people with deepening domestic wells.”

The EPA’s Community Change grant is for addressing climate action, pollution reduction, and community engagement.

NeighborImpact, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality are included as partners in the proposal.

“We're going to have a story to tell, we're going to have experiences. It will inform how we can utilize these resources countywide, but it also has statewide implications in a very positive way,” Gutowsky told the board the partners play an important role in coordinating with the county to get the money, “You have to demonstrate, not only that you have the relationships today, you have the readiness to proceed, but you have the capacity to continue to invest in not just specific sub area, but for us, it would be all of southern Deschutes County.”

The proposed 19.7 million dollars in grant funding would go towards specialized equipment and implementing pollution reduction strategies.

“We have, I think a significant track record that we can leverage going forward with the partners. And it's a really exciting opportunity,” Gutowsky said.

The county aims to submit its application by late May or early June.