Rex Burkholder

Metro Council president 'deeply concerned' about House committee vote to end dedicated transit, air quality funding

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:23:16 GMT

A proposal in Congress would undermine the Portland area's ability to build a balanced transportation system that provides travel options and protects air quality, Metro Council President Tom Hughes said today.

A personal message from Rex Burkholder: Who we are

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:25:47 GMT

Like any business, Metro's success depends on knowing our customers. What we "sell" are communities where people like to live and are proud of and where businesses want to invest and grow.

New natural areas beyond Forest Park forge connections for wildlife, people

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:01:39 GMT

Metro's Natural Areas Program has purchased 550 acres in western Multnomah County during the past two years, including a significant addition last month. As this network of wildlife habitat grows, so do the possibilities for restoration and recreation.

Convention center hotel discussion shifts to private sector, smaller incentives

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:37:13 GMT

Members of the Metro Council and the Metro Exposition and Recreation Commission generally agree that there need to be more hotel rooms near the Metro-owned Oregon Convention Center. But it's unlikely that a massive, publicly financed "headquarters hotel" will be built in the Lloyd District.

European cities boost economic future with public-private action on climate change, Burkholder says

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:37:49 GMT

To create jobs and save money, several European metropolitan areas are building public-private partnerships that create innovative clean energy solutions the Portland area can learn from, says Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder.

Metro events, Jan. 14 to Jan. 16: Days of service

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:50:24 GMT

Martin Luther King Jr. once said "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 16, check out the following opportunities to get dirty, have fun and help out.

Oregon Zoo to ring in new year with free admission Jan. 2

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:50:21 GMT

Zoo celebrates 2011 attendance milestones, anticipates even brighter future

The Oregon Zoo will ring out 2011 in record fashion this weekend with the final nights of its best-attended ZooLights ever –– and then ring in 2012 with a celebratory day of free admission on Monday, Jan. 2.

Metro grant helps the Community Cycling Center leverage funding to help families bike

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:49:32 GMT

With a grant from Metro, the Community Cycling Center studied the cultural and socioeconomic barriers to bicycling in some of Portland’s poorer neighborhoods. Now, the center is using the study’s findings to leverage additional funding and roll through barriers to riding a bike.

Grant connects neighbors to nature in St. Johns

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:39:38 GMT

Baltimore Woods was in limbo. While the recession kept developers at bay, the area gave rise to weeds, litter and neglect.

But neighbors around the 30-acre corridor in North Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood saw the land as a community asset. And with the support of a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods capital grant, the woods were given a new lease on life.

Metro offers tips for handling holiday waste

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:45 GMT

Got holiday stuff to recycle? From trees to old TVs, learn what to do with what’s left behind.

Residents with curbside service for yard debris can add their Christmas trees, wreath and swag, too. Remember to remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands and other materials. Another option? Let a scout troop, school group or service club collect the tree as part of its fundraising program. For a small fee or donation, organizations will collect trees, along with wreaths, the first weekend of the year. Some will continue recycling them the following week. Call Metro Recycling Information at 503-234-3000 or check online for the nearest options.

Find a recycler

Packing peanuts aren’t recyclable curbside, but folks can take clean, dry packing peanuts to a shipping store for reuse. Some locations also may accept bubble wrap and sheets of packing foam. Block foam isn’t recyclable curbside, but a handful of businesses accept polystyrene block foam marked '6' inside the recycling symbol. Another possibility? Save the materials for your next big packing project. Call Metro’s recycling hotline or search the online directory for more details on local options.

Search online

Making the switch to energy-saving LED holiday lights? Throughout its winter ZooLights festival, the Oregon Zoo is collecting old incandescent lights for recycling. Zoo visitors who drop off their old holiday light strings by Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, will get a coupon for free fudge at the Zoo Store.

Learn more

Consider donating excess food to a local food bank, shelter or other charitable organization that can accept it. For leftover food scraps, don’t forget to compost. With minimal equipment such as a compost bin, it's easy to turn trimmings into a garden-boosting soil amendment. Plus, Portland residents can now toss kitchen scraps – including fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy – into their green roll cart for curbside pickup. To learn more about waste-free holiday meals, visit Metro's news page.

Visit Metro News

To learn which electronics recyclers take mice, keyboards and printers, cell phones, VCRs, DVD players, fax machines or handheld devices, call Metro’s recycling hotline at 503-234-3000. Another option? Offer still-good electronics to friends or relatives who can use them. Oregon E-Cycles, a statewide industry program that collects computers, monitors and televisions for recycling, makes it even easier to keep valuable materials out of the landfill. For free recycling locations in the Oregon E-Cycles program, call 1-888-5-ECYCLE (888-532-9253) or visit the website.

Learn about Oregon E-cycles

From garbage and old furniture discarded in an alley to tires and rusted drums piled in a public park, it’s easy to spot an illegal dump. Metro's Regional Illegal Dumping Patrol partners with local governments including law enforcement to help clean up illegal dumps on public property. To report an illegal dump site in Multnomah, Clackamas or Washington county, call RID Patrol at 503-234-3000 or visit the website.

Learn about the RID Patrol

Of course, Metro also has the scoop on what kinds of packaging and gift wrap are recyclable, where to take other items that residents can’t recycle at the curb and how to maximize reuse options. Call Metro’s recycling hotline for details, or get waste-wise ideas online.

Learn more at Metro's site

A personal message from Rex Burkholder: Learning about business and sustainability

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:45:00 GMT

I recently was awarded an Urban & Regional Policy fellowship by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. The fellowship allowed me to travel to Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Birmingham, U.K., and Bologna, Italy. In each city I interviewed leaders in business, government, academia and non-governmental organizations.

Metro Council applauds collaboration, equity in allocation of transportation projects

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:13:43 GMT

The Metro Council has approved spending $70 million in federal transportation money, applauding a two-year effort by the agency to collaborate with cities and counties and give a more thorough consideration of low income and minority communities.

Equity concern on Portland Bike Sharing program overshadows flexible funding decision

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:54:50 GMT

A rare public dust up between Portland and Multnomah County was the flashpoint of a meeting where a regional committee approved spending $70 million in federal money for transportation projects and programs across the metropolitan area.

Get tips on green gifting

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:02:32 GMT

Making headway on that holiday list? Hold the foil-coated wrapping paper! Metro’s eco-friendly tips make it easy to go green while wowing everyone on your gift list.

Behind the curtain: materials and their environmental impact

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:52:36 GMT

Obsessing about the potential environmental impacts of every single product you might buy? David Allaway, a senior policy analyst at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, wants you to stop that.

In Latin America, Ciclovia is a cultural touchstone

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:30:38 GMT

Ciclovias – the model for Sunday Parkways – are a weekly occurance in many cities, including Mexico's capital, where car is king. But that doesn't mean bicycles are dominant the rest of the week.

Zoo's animals to gobble up Thanksgiving 'Beast Feast'

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:33:40 GMT

Leftovers, schmeftovers! Throughout the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, Oregon Zoo animals will gobble their way through their very own Beast Feast, a cornucopia of enrichment activities and treats aimed at stimulating their minds and stomachs.

Oregon Zoo offers free admission for military, Nov. 11

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:03:37 GMT

The Oregon Zoo will mark Veterans Day by offering free admission for military veterans and active military personnel, as well as family members who accompany them to the zoo. Families of deployed military personnel also will be given free admission.

Metro walks its talk with new green building policy

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:21:31 GMT

With the recent adoption of its first-ever green building policy, Metro has set new sustainability standards for all the agency’s facilities and developed properties, from regional parks, solid waste transfer stations and the Oregon Zoo to venues such as the Portland Expo Center and Oregon Convention Center.

Frank talk about community design and health

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:20:21 GMT

Commuters in Atlanta collectively drive further than a round trip to the sun and back – each day. Professor and author Lawrence Frank points to that example as the reason "why we're having an energy and environmental crisis today" – and why Americans are overweight and experience a number of health problems. It all comes down to how we get around.

Earn your Halloween chills at the Tour of Untimely Departures

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:02:43 GMT

The spirits at Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery are loose, but you can catch them during a series of tours this Halloween.

K-Station condominiums deliver workforce housing, green living, travel options and inspired design

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:29:27 GMT

K-Station, a contemporary-design, four-story condominium and retail development on the corner of Northeast Interstate Avenue and Killingsworth Street, swung open its big glass double doors on Oct. 17 for the grand opening of a project seven years, two developers and $16 million in the making. Learn more about the mixed-use, LEED-certified development that provides moderate-income home buyers an option for urban living near transit.

"Grant's Getaways" visits Lone Fir Cemetery

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:25:49 GMT

KGW's Grant McOmie joined the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery and Metro to showcase this culture and habitat-rich oasis in the heart of Portland.

Oregon Zoo to host howlin’ good time

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:14:37 GMT

Animals and visitors will receive treats during zoo’s Howloween celebration

Trick-or-treaters can fill their bags with goodies and learn about wildlife Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 during Howloween at the Oregon Zoo, presented by Sterling Savings Bank. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free with zoo admission.

New TriMet tool helps you plan transit, biking and walking trips in any combination

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:01:25 GMT

What's all this buzz about TriMet's new trip tool, the Portland Regional Trip Planner? Unlike existing tools, the new Trip Planner lets you to plan trips combining transit, bike and walking in a single itinerary.

Metro Council completes urban growth decision

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:20:38 GMT

Today the Metro Council voted 6-0 to add 1985 acres to the region’s urban growth boundary for future housing and jobs. (Councilor Rex Burkholder was excused.) This represents less than a one-percent expansion of the region’s urban footprint to accommodate thousands of additional households and workers over the next 20 years.

Honoring the forgotten: Advocates work toward a new memorial at Lone Fir

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:38:30 GMT

Bit by bit, local officials have been piecing together a mystery at Lone Fir Cemetery. Now, their challenge is to piece together resources for a proper memorial.

National Geographic recognizes Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:14:50 GMT

Metro's Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery was named National Geographic's No. 9 must-see cemetery in the world for its historic past, eerie tributes and forested canopy.

The cemetery joins the ranks of graveyards in France, Argentina and Romania in the list of most legendary and scary.

Metro accepting applications for Nature University

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:53:11 GMT

Metro's Nature University is a 12-week training course that starts people along the path of becoming naturalists and teachers. Students are introduced to time-honored techniques of nature observation and principles of discovery learning, and learn about common wildlife and plants, the ecology of wetlands and ancient forests, and effective teaching techniques.

Metro tests new approach to fight illegal dumping

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:40:11 GMT

Bright orange tags that declare “This item has been illegally dumped,” are appearing on discarded sofas, mattresses and other bulky items left on street corners as part of a new effort to stop illegal dumping, clean up neighborhoods and reduce costs to Metro’s solid waste rate payers.

Volunteers needed for trail improvements at Glendoveer

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:06:38 GMT

Metro and Friends of Glendoveer are seeking volunteers to help prepare the Glendoveer Fitness Trail for wet weather. Metro is working closely with local groups after community feedback clearly showed East Portland's appreciation for the Glendoveer Golf Course and Fitness Trail, and a desire for more maintenance at the facility.

UGB FAQ: All about the Metro Council's look at the urban growth boundary

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:30:41 GMT

UGB FAQ: All about the Metro Council's look at the urban growth boundary

Share your thoughts about efforts to shrink Oregon’s greenhouse gas footprint at a Global Warming Commission workshop on Oct. 11

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:58:08 GMT

The Oregon Global Warming Commission wants feedback on a proposals to help reduce Oregon’s carbon footprint and meet the state's 2020 greenhouse gas reduction goals. The 25-member group has been working to coordinate state and local efforts to prepare for the effects of climate change. Last fall, the commission adopted a roadmap of ideas and has been on a "road trip," seeking input on the proposals.

Sponsored by Clackamas County and local cities, the workshop will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Abernethy Center, 606 15th Street in Oregon City.

People are also encouraged to take a brief online survey about the roadmap and provide online comments. Feedback from the workshop and survey will be used to inform the commission's future work and will be provided to local policymakers working on a response to climate change.

Learn more about the Roadmap to 2020

Take the survey

METRO’S ROLE

Metro is working with the state and local partners on a multiyear "scenarios" project to learn what it will take to reduce emissions from cars, small trucks and SUVs as the regional economy grows and more vibrant neighborhoods emerge. The intent is to see how addressing climate change can support the growth of communities and neighborhoods, while meeting state greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Learn more about the Climate Smart Communities scenarios

New information available about urban growth boundary options

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:49:58 GMT

At www.oregonmetro.gov/greatplaces, you can view interactive maps and download reports about each of 10 areas being considered.

Bike ride to support the search for Mark Bosworth

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:33:40 GMT

A bike ride for Mark Bosworth, the Metro employee who disappeared on September 16, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 1, beginning and ending at North Portland's Peninsula Park. The ride is being organized by Cycle Oregon director Jerry Norquist, who has spent the days since Mark Bosworth's disappearance, looking for him. Norquist and Mark's family feel the ride is a perfect way for people to come out and show support for Mark, while continuing to spread the word about the search for him. Meanwhile, cycling great Lance Armstrong helped increase awareness about Mark's disappearance.

Couch Street Apartments connect residents to safe, reliable travel options

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:06:06 GMT

Renters looking to expand their travel options may find the Couch Street Apartments the ideal urban dwelling, with space to store and work on their bicycles inside the building and multiple MAX lines running within steps of the front door. The project comes with support from Metro's Transit-Oriented Development Program for its use of space and promise of accessibility.

Youth use photos to exhibit health gap in outer Southeast Portland

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:02:52 GMT

Portland youth are using photos to engage local residents in a conversation about health in an art show at Metro Regional Center Wednesday.

Public gets to improve, refine $22 million in transportation projects through Oct. 13

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:17:40 GMT

Cities and counties across the region have nominated 11 transportation projects for Metro to approve – and now through Oct. 13, the public gets a chance to help refine and improve those projects.

350 Day event highlights carbon reduction, but not all convinced

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:10:00 GMT

Metro Council endorses 350 Day, Moving Planet event scheduled for Sept. 24. The event drew praise from a Metro councilor, but questions from two speakers at Thursday's council meeting.

Don't miss the last Sunday Parkways of the season

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:30:50 GMT

The Sunday Parkways season wraps up the year by rolling into Northeast Portland on Sunday, Sept. 25. Unlike previous Sunday Parkways events this year, the Northeast Portland event will run from noon to 5 p.m.

Walkers, bikers, joggers and skaters will take to the streets in place of cars along an eight-mile route for the afternoon. The route will have two loops, connecting Woodlawn, Alberta and Fernhill parks, plus Rigler School and Cully Boulevard.

Reduce, reuse, reART

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:01:19 GMT

Imagine sorting through bits and pieces of your daily life, things you’ve tossed away, from that wild fashion accessory that never quite worked, to a well-loved baking pan used to make your family memorable meals and festive feasts.

Contemplating that tangled mess of unpredictable odds and ends and guiding them to become objects suitable to be contemplated as fine art may seem unimaginable or downright ludicrous. For Jen Fuller, one of five local artists given seven months of scavenging privileges and access to the region’s discards dropped off at Metro Central Transfer Station in Northwest Portland, "what began as an exploration of materials has morphed into an overwhelming and emotional experience."

Interactive Bike There! map is now online

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:51:35 GMT

Looking for another resource to plan safe bike trips? Check out an interactive, zoomable version of the Bike There! map, so you'll know where to go.

Plant natives for a low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly yard

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:39:23 GMT

Fall is a great time to transplant new plants into your yard, especially native trees and shrubs. Dormancy reduces damage during transplanting, and the rain and lower temperatures help the plants get established. You can learn more about natives at a free natural gardening workshop on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Management plan protects one of America's largest urban wetlands

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:23:50 GMT

At nearly 2,000 acres, Metro’s Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area is one of the region’s most important assets. Hidden on all sides by industrial land and commercial development, it provides rare habitat for plants, birds and wildlife and unique opportunities for human interaction with nature. Visitors are often surprised to find the area teeming with beaver, river otter, black-tailed deer, osprey, bald eagles and Western painted turtles living only minutes from downtown Portland.

Metro grant supplies 500 students with tools to learn

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:22:30 GMT

On the first day of school, James John Elementary's 500 students will get the tools they need to succeed thanks to a $7,500 community enhancement grant from Metro. Through a partnership with Schoolhouse Supplies, every child enrolled at the school will receive a new backpack full of classroom supplies.

Schoolhouse Supplies, a nonprofit dedicated to providing Portland Public Schools with the supplies students need to learn, coordinates the effort. The program is aimed at providing relief for parents, who spend an average of $96 on school supplies per child each year, as well as teachers, who sometimes contribute hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for classroom supplies.

A personal message from Rex Burkholder: August 2011

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:27:00 GMT

Jeremy Grantham, founder and chief strategist of the $100 billion dollar asset management firm GMO, says " ... dealing with climate change will be good for the economy and job creation." Corporations respond well to this message because they are "persuaded by data," but American public opinion is harder to move.

Community nature projects blossom, showing reach of Metro Natural Areas Program

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:20:15 GMT

Across the Portland metropolitan area this month, efforts to protect nature in neighborhoods are taking root

Salmon habitat is being restored along Johnson Creek. A park will be dedicated in Cedar Mill. The new Cornelius Wellness Center, which will transform a concrete alley into a green parkway, is breaking ground. A dinner concert will raise money to expand and restore West Linn's White Oak Savanna. The Equity Bike Ride will highlight a partnership to green the Interstate 205 path for cyclists and pedestrians. And West Linn will celebrate new nature trails, playgrounds and more.

The common denominator: support from Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program.

About one-quarter of the region's 2006 natural areas bond measure goes toward community nature projects, in the form of money distributed to cities, counties and local park providers and Nature in Neighborhoods grants. After several years of planning, many efforts to protect nature close to home are unfolding on the ground.

"When you first start out, there are a few isolated projects," said Metro Councilor Carl Hosticka, who has served on the Nature in Neighborhoods grant committee since it launched. "When you add them up, it starts to amount to something over the years."

The Metro Council has awarded nearly $4.7 million in Nature in Neighborhoods grants, supporting 18 projects. And local jurisdictions have spent more than $22 million in their communities – about half the money available through the bond measure.

A month of kickoffs and celebrations got under way Thursday night, when the Johnson Creek Watershed Council and its partners commemorated starting construction on a project to restore salmon habitat at the confluence of Johnson Creek and the Willamette River. The project, which recently received a Metro grant, is expected to be complete this fall.

Projects such as the salmon restoration provide concrete examples of the impact that neighborhood-scale efforts can have, said Mary Rose Navarro, Metro's natural areas grants coordinator.

"Voters should feel excited about the wide variety of efforts envisioned and initiated by local communities," Navarro said. "The projects that will be highlighted this month are examples of how organizations are pulling together to provide a wide variety of experiences throughout the region."

This month's array of milestones also shows why the Metro Council shifted away from hard-and-fast environmental regulations in the early 2000s, Hosticka said, instead focusing on incentives and investment.

"The Council agreed that, if we could somehow foster a larger public consciousness of the need and opportunities to do these things, that would be the best role Metro could play," Hosticka said. "All these projects move in that direction. At some point, you get synergy."

You can see projects first-hand by attending an event this month:

Jackie Husen Park dedication
6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10
10955 NW Reeves St., Cedar Mill area, Washington County

The Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District will celebrate its new Jackie Husen Park, which was protected and upgraded with funds from Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program. Festivities include prizes, information, a ribbon cutting, hot dogs, chips and soft drinks. To RSVP, contact Anne Bookless at 503-645-6433 or abookless@thprd.org.

Cornelius Wellness Center groundbreaking
8 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12
85 N. 12th St., Cornelius

Celebrate the groundbreaking for the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center's new Cornelius Wellness Center. A Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant is helping transform a concrete alley outside the building into a public greenway where people can connect with nature. To RSVP, contact Michele Horn at mhorn@vgmhc.org or 503-352-8617.

Concert for the White Oak Savanna
6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12
Adult Community Center, 1180 Rosemont Road, West Linn
Casual dinner and performance by John Nilsen, $15 per person

Help raise money to expand and restore the 14-acre White Oak Savanna natural park and wildlife habitat, which was protected with support from a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant. Supporters hope to protect an additional six acres and continue restoring the property. No RSVP required.

Equity Bike Ride along the I-205 path
6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25
Meet at Lents Park, Southeast 92nd Avenue and Southeast Steele Street, Portland

Join a guided ride along neighborhood streets and the I-205 cycling and walking path, where thousands of trees and shrubs are being planted with help from a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grant. The ride will highlight equity efforts by a variety of community groups. No RSVP required.

West Linn parks celebration
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27
Robinwood Park, 3600 Fairview Way, West Linn

West Linn recently completed improvements ranging from nature trails, spray features and playgrounds to rain gardens and bank angling access at multiple locations, including Robinwood, Midhill and Marylhurst parks. All improvements were funded through West Linn's share of Metro's 2006 bond measure. Following a brief ceremony, children can enjoy juggling entertainer "Mag" Hughes, face painting, balloons and family lawn games. Bring your picnic or "relish" a hotdog lunch.

Explore community nature projects and regional natural areas on an interactive map
Learn more about Metro’s voter-approved Natural Areas Program
Learn more about Metro Nature in Neighborhoods grants

Opt In panel reaches 5,000 participants

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:59:25 GMT

Metro's online opinion panel reached a significant milestone Wednesday, with more than 5,000 people now signed up for Opt In.

Glendoveer open house draws community concerns about change

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:02:04 GMT

More than 250 community members attended an open house Aug. 1 at Metro's Glendoveer Golf Course and Fitness Trail to express their concerns about proposed changes to the property. Councilors Barbara Roberts and Shirley Craddick were on hand to discuss the facility assessment and business plan project and hear public feedback.

Public can talk about how to spend $22 million in transportation funding

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:07:15 GMT

Cities and counties across the region are selecting transportation projects this summer they plan to nominate for Metro’s $22 million regional flexible funding program.