The city of Boulder will receive $200,000 to fund a program that trains homeless residents to make furniture and art from trees felled by the invasive emerald ash borer.

The idea, dubbed Tree Debris to Opportunity, was chosen as a winner in the $5 million Knight Cities Challenge hosted by the Knight Foundation. The challenge is held in 26 communities around the U.S. that were once home to newspapers owned by brothers John S. and James L. Knight.

Thirty-seven projects in 19 cities were awarded funds ranging from $4,000 to $385,000.

“The project reflects Boulder’s characteristic resourcefulness, utilizing what most would think of as a nuisance into reusable natural resources to benefit the community,” said Lilly Weinberg, Knight Foundation director for community foundations.

The proposal was submitted by Yvette Bowden, deputy director of the city’s parks and recreation department. Bowden was inspired by the huge amounts of trees killed by the green jewel beetles that will eventually affect up to 11 percent of the city’s canopy.

“Aside from thinking what can we do to slow the infestation, I started thinking about what am I going to do with the debris?” Bowden said. “It’s not very Boulder to leave it sitting in a yard. I said, ‘What would Boulder do?'”

The city will partner with local nonprofit Bridge House to train homeless residents in woodworking, crafting furniture and art from the dried ash wood that will then be sold at the farmers’ market. The 18-month long pilot program will utilize the maker space at Boulder library and will be open to members of the public as well.

Bridge House has been partnering with the city’s parks department since 2012 on Ready to Work, which employs homeless individuals on work crews doing cleanup and landscaping. About 50 people have graduated to full-time employment and housing through the program.

“When the city decided they wanted to apply for the challenge, they approached me with the idea that Ready to Work could be a partner,” said Bridge House Executive Director Isabel McDevitt. “We’re always looking for opportunities to enhance the employability (of our clients) so to have an additional layer of training and woodworking is exciting.”

Another good thing is that the program is replicable, Bowden said. Not only for the 25 states in which the emerald ash borer is found, but for any municipality that finds itself with an excess of downed trees from other pests, inclement weather or construction projects.

“I can’t express to you how honored we are” to be a challenge winner, Bowden said. “I’m really confident that we can turn this to an idea from solution.”

Shay Castle: 303-473-1626, castles@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/shayshinecastle