Concord Mayor looks at how federal funding freeze impacts city
CONCORD, CA (Feb. 25, 2025) — As the new presidential administration takes shape, there has been a flurry of hard-to-follow executive activity. As the mayor of Concord, the recent order to freeze federal funding for programs “inconsistent with the Trump Administration’s policy goals” got my attention.
President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Jan. 20, 2025, targeting specific funding streams that could impact pending projects the city of Concord was working to deliver for residents. Press reports continue to document that many federal grant-funded projects remain frozen in defiance of court orders.
So, if federal grant funding remains frozen, what could it mean for the residents of Concord? Here is a summary of some of the outstanding projects threatened by the funding freeze:
- Funding for affordable housing programs like the city’s Housing Conservation Loan Program (via Community Development Block Grants).
- Funding to address slope failure at Holbrook Creek (via FEMA claims).
- Citywide bridge repair and the replacement of all city streetlights with high-efficiency, energy-saving LEDs by 2027 (via Highway Planning and Construction funding).
- Grants for public safety (via the Department of Justice).
- Grants to help promote bicycle, motorcycle and pedestrian safety, and to prevent impaired driving (via the Office of Traffic Safety).
- Funding to replace and expand our city’s aging tree canopy (via Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Funding).
These projects are critically important to our Concord community, representing $10.5 million in grant funding that has been awarded to our city but not disbursed.
Take the Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Funding. After advocacy from me and Councilmember Dominic Aliano, as well as the completion of a rigorous grant application by city staff, the U.S. Forest Service selected Concord in fall 2023 to receive a $1 million grant to grow our urban forest. The grant is intended to support community efforts to plant and maintain trees, combat extreme heat and climate change, and improve access to nature in cities, towns and suburbs.
While leading regular tree planting efforts, such as my annual September of Service events, I have long advocated for more funding for Concord’s tree canopy, especially in North Concord and the Monument Community, where there are fewer trees than in other parts of our community. With this grant to plant more trees in Concord, I was looking forward to building a greener community with cooler temperatures, cleaner air and healthier residents. Unfortunately, this funding is now at risk due to the federal grant freeze.
Regardless of whether pausing program funding is upheld as enforceable, the Trump Administration’s policy goals may ultimately change the rules for federal financial assistance, which could affect both new awards as well as existing grants such as those awarded to the city of Concord.
So, what can be done? I will be traveling to Washington, D.C., in March, along with Aliano, to represent the city of Concord at the National League of Cities Conference and meet with our federal elected representatives. Your stories will help us fight to keep funding for various essential programs, including affordable housing, transportation improvements and other initiatives that enhance the quality of life in our community.
If you are unhappy with this threat to quality-of-life improvements, or if your business or nonprofit organization is impacted by a federal funding freeze, please make your voice heard. Contact the offices of U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier and Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff to let them know you want them to fight for federal funding promised to the city of Concord.
Contact Mayor Obringer at carlyn.obringer@cityofconcord.org