Ep 11 - Beating the Heat
Topics:'
- Heat mitigation strategies for small municipalities
- Community-based cooling solutions and facilities
- Infrastructure improvements for heat reduction
- Grant opportunities for heat resilience projects
- Role of community organizations and local government in heat safety
Takeaways
- Identify natural cool zones and existing infrastructure to maximize resources.
- Engage community organizations and residents in heat mitigation planning.
- Leverage grants and partnerships to fund infrastructure and community programs.
- Use existing facilities like council chambers and shade structures for cooling centers.
- Implement neighborhood surveys to identify vulnerable populations and resources.
See the full article at: https://govpossible.com/2026/06/21/beating-the-heat-practical-steps-for-small-towns/
Resources:
- Misting and shade shelter construction videos and options: links to various YouTube videos from manufacturers and how-to sites on shade canopies and misting solutions.
- Neighborhood Heat Safety Survey: Survey sheet to collect data in the Neighborhoods.
- Town Temperature Survey – Spreadsheet to collect data at various town locations to identify your hot and cool areas.
- Cooling Center Survey Worksheet – PDF you can use to collect information about a potential cooling center.
- Cooling Center Inventory Spreadsheet – spreadsheet to compile your cooling center information so you have one spot to look at in and emergency.
- Govlove Podcast – Tempe AZ 2/2025 - https://elgl.org/podcast-urban-cooling-and-climate-action-with-brianne-fisher-tempe-az/
Grants:
- 7/1: National – Tomberg Family Foundation: $5-20k: https://www.tombergphilanthropies.org/how-to-apply/
- Health, environment, and poverty alleviation
- 7/7: NJ: 200-350k: Resilient NJ: Regional Assistance Program https://dep.nj.gov/grantandloanprograms/resilient-nj-regional-assistance-program-regional-planning-grants-2/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- 7/10: National: Roy Hunt Foundation Opportunity and Inclusion: ~$50k: https://rahuntfdn.org/opportunity-and-inclusion-giving-circle/
- Minority Entrepreneurship, Health Outcomes, Fresh Food access, Leadership Programs
- 7/11 - Deadline for SC Farmers and Foresters: Helene Block Grant: https://agriculture.sc.gov/farm-and-business-support/grants/helene/
- Rolling NC, SC, OH, IN, KY, FL: Duke Energy Grants: https://foundation.duke-energy.com/grants
- Resiliency and Economic Opportunity
- 7/22: Silicon Valley: ~$500k – SVCE grant applications: https://cal-cca.org/3-2-million-in-grant-funds-available-for-energy-resilience-facility-and-fleet-electrification/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Find Us:
Mark Partin is Chief of Staff for the City of Sumter (https://sumtersc,gov). Subscribe and Find more of Mark's Local Government Leadership Thoughts at https://localleadershipinsights.substack.com/
Karl McCollester spent 20 year in strategic technology consulting for small municipalities in the Carolinas and George. He is the CEO of GovPossible.
GovPossible (https://govpossible.com) is a Public Benefit Corporation that provides software to help small municipalities manage their operations including finance, budget, licensing, permitting, planning, codes enforcement, cemetery, meetings, and website.
Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: GXB51HN0WHHT3OMI
Code: GXB51HN0WHHT3OMI