SALT LAKE CITY – Salt Lake City’s Green City Growers program has been awarded $50,000 in grant funds to support the development of two new community gardens for residents who lack their own gardens or who have limited access to fresh, whole foods. The two new gardens will be on .6 acres of City-owned and managed land.
The award includes $25,000 from the Local Sustainability Matching Fund, a project of the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities. The Community Foundation of Utah provided the $25,000 grant match and will manage permanent endowments.
“Salt Lake City recognizes the important role community gardens play in not only supporting our local food system but in making positive impacts on the carbon footprint, and related air quality impacts, associated with commercial food shipment,” said Mayor Ralph Becker. “We are delighted to accept this grant, which would not have been possible without the support from our friends at the Community Foundation of Utah.””
“Leveraging national opportunities is a great role for the Community Foundation of Utah’s Natural Heritage Fund. “ said the Foundation’s Board Chair Jeramy Lund. “We are committed to sustainable nonprofits and sustainable communities, and this project is a demonstration of both.”
In October 2013, the City designated eight additional parcels of City-owned and managed land for its new community garden program, Green City Growers. As a result, the City has contracted with the well-established local non-profit, Wasatch Community Gardens, to serve as the community garden liaison and provide support and management of community gardens in the city.
The Local Sustainability Matching Fund is a project of the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. The Fund is supported with leadership grants from Bloomberg Philanthropies, The JPB Foundation, Kendeda Fund, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The New York Community Trust, Summit Foundation, and Surdna Foundation. The Fund is designed to catalyze partnerships between local governments and local, place-based foundations and to advance community-based sustainability initiative.
The Community Foundation of Utah is a catalyst for philanthropy that is inclusive, innovative and sustainable. More information is available at www.utahcf.og.
More information on the Green City Growers program is available at SLCgreen.com, and wasatchgardens.org.
Contact:
Art Raymond
801-547-2659
