Portland is one of 20 cities awarded a $2.5 million grant from Mike Bloomberg to try to speed up plans to reduce carbon emissions while encouraging biking, transit and pedestrian-centric projects in the city center.

Bloomberg Philanthropies, the former New York City mayor and financial service industry leader's charitable organization, announced the grant award winners Wednesday.

The additional money comes as Portland intends to spend $30 million during the next five years on projects downtown and in the close-in eastside neighborhoods to make it easier for buses, bicyclists and pedestrians to get around while discouraging single-occupancy automobile traffic. A list of more than a dozen projects on a wish list will go to Portland City Council Nov. 14 for a public hearing and discussion.

Portland was one of 20 cities chosen for the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge because it showed leadership where the nation's capital hasn't. "We were looking for cities with ambitious and realistic plans to cut emissions in ways that improve people's lives, and mayors committed to getting the job done," Bloomberg said in a statement. "Each of these winning cities brings those ingredients to the table - and we're looking forward to working with them and seeing what they can accomplish."

The cities will have a new staffer, paid for by Bloomberg, too "facilitate the development and passage of high impact policies." That employee will also help train the city's senior leadership to speed up climate plan policies and "maximize community buy-in."

Mayor Ted Wheeler said the city has a "long and proud history" of environmental leadership. "With these resources, we'll be able to develop and implement policies and programs that will keep Portland at the forefront of city leadership on climate issues," he said in a statement. "Now more than ever, this type of action at the city level is necessary if we are to seriously address the important and pressing issue of climate change."

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen