Wednesday’s (June 10, 2015) celebration of the $200,000 grant from the EPA for brownfield cleanup and mitigation included speakers saying wonderful things about the project at Siskiyou Square. Speakers included Kakumyo Lowe-Charde; Representatives from EPA Brownfields Program, DEQ Brownfields Program, City of Portland, Senator Ron Wyden’s office, Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s office, Business Oregon, and Metro.

They explained what an ideal project this is for recovering the brownfield, how wonderful the collaboration is with other agencies and the neighborhood, and how this project is contributing to livability in Portland. After brief remarks from several people, there was an opportunity for any who wished to participate to get their hands dirty in mushroom mediation, assisted by Jordan from Jordan’s Mushrooms. Those who wished also got tours of the property to see the progress made so far.

This week’s announcement of a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrates the latest grant we have received for our environmental restoration of Siskiyou Square. Dharma Rain has now received eleven grants totaling more than $700,000, including:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Brownfields Cleanup Grant – $200,000
• City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Brownfield Program Revolving Loan – $200,000
• Metro Regional Council Nature in Neighborhoods, Capital Grant Program – $93,781
• City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Brownfield Program Assessment Grant – $53,781
• East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District Partners in Conservation Program – $40,000
• Oregon Business Development Department Brownfield Redevelopment Fund – $32,300
• Oregon Business Development Department & Regional Solutions Center Brownfield Redevelopment Fund – $25,000
• Metro Regional Council Nature in Neighborhoods Conservation Education Program – $25,000
• City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Innovative Wet Weather Program – $25,000
• City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Community Watershed Stewardship Program – $7,500
• The Tributary Fund $300

This is a wonderful accomplishment. All of these grants pay for restoration and development of the land, but do nothing to finish the buildings so they can be fully used by all of us.

We are grateful to our Sangha members and friends who have donated and pledged over $600,000 toward our Lotus Blooming Phase I goal of $1 million. We accept each of these gifts, ranging from $100 to $100,000, with bows. Click here to review the list of individual donations and pledges, public grants and in-kind gifts (including reduced interest on loans) to Lotus Blooming.

We still have to raise another $400,000 to meet our $1 million goal for Phase 1 of Lotus Blooming. Meeting this goal will allow us to finish the Sodo (mediation hall), workshop and temporary office.

If you have not already, please make a gift or multi-year pledge today here.