Boulder County Awards Sustainability Grants to Local Communities

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

boulder county news and information banner

For Immediate Release

March 2, 2017

Media Contact
Lea Yancey, Community Sustainability Specialist, 720-564-2723

Boulder County Awards Sustainability Grants to Local Communities 

Boulder County, Colo. - The Boulder County Commissioners have announced the recipients of 2017 Environmental Sustainability Grants. Recipients include the following communities in Boulder County: Boulder, Jamestown, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland, Superior, and Ward.

Boulder County’s Environmental Sustainability Matching Grant Program provides an opportunity for governmental organizations within the county to undertake environmental sustainability priorities in their communities. The Grant Program will help the county leverage community resources for a coordinated, countywide approach to environmental sustainability.

The Sustainability Grant recipients are pursuing diverse projects, including things such as conducting a greenhouse gas inventory and developing effective strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, developing a roadmap to increase electric vehicle adoption, and building a greenhouse to grow food year-round.

“We are grateful for the leadership of municipalities to advance sustainability in our region,” said Susie Strife, Boulder County Sustainability Coordinator. “We value the partnerships we have built to meet our shared vision of more sustainable communities.”

The Sustainability Matching Grant Program was established in 2014 as a way to support efforts that propel sustainability priorities in Boulder County communities. Any municipality located within Boulder County that could provide match funding for their request was eligible to apply for up to $15,000.

 

Recipients and Project Descriptions:

City of Boulder - Awarded funding of $15,000 to develop a strategy to achieve electric vehicle (EV) adoption at a level that meets the city’s climate commitment target. The strategy will provide a roadmap to increase EV adoption, reduce or eliminate key barriers to EV adoption, and increase alternative transportation solutions.

Town of Jamestown - Awarded funding of $6,785 to divert waste from the landfill through a monthly community collection of recyclables, and community zero waste education. The project will help divert materials from the landfill and conserve raw materials.

City of Lafayette - Awarded funding of $15,000 to increase solar energy adoption by streamlining the city’s permitting and planning process and offering community solar workshops and resources. The entire Lafayette community benefits from reduced need for fossil fuel energy, reduced energy costs, and supporting the local economy.

City of Longmont - Awarded funding of $15,000 to complete a greenhouse gas inventory and forecast that includes recommendations for the most effective ways to reduce Longmont’s greenhouse gas emissions. The benefits from this project include improving air quality, supporting climate change mitigation efforts, reducing stress on ecosystems caused by weather extremes, and enhancing the overall quality of life.

City of Louisville - Awarded funding of $15,000 to hire a sustainability consultant or intern to implement the short and long-term objectives described in the city’s recently adopted Sustainability Action Plan. The project is intended to support a sustainable future and prioritize environmental health, economic vitality, and community wellbeing.

Town of Lyons - Awarded funding of $15,000 to continue to support a part-time sustainability coordinator to implement recommendations identified in the Lyons Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (LESAP), help administer existing programs, and measure environmental impacts. Benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air, and waste reduction.

Town of Nederland - Awarded funding of $15,000 to establish the capacity to grow food year-round, including plans to build a greenhouse and support local food education in the community. This aligns with the community’s local food and resiliency priorities.

Town of Superior - Awarded funding of $15,000 to expand and improve the yard waste drop-off site to increase waste diversion from the landfill, make the facility more user-friendly, reduce contamination, and increase safety. The project aims to increase the amount of waste the facility can accommodate and help the town achieve its 50 percent diversion goal.   

Town of Ward - Awarded funding of $15,000 to continue efforts to increase local food security and resiliency, to research septic systems solutions with support from a consultant, and to provide stipends for community project coordinators. The Ward community aims to achieve long term resiliency and self-reliance though food security.

Boulder County is proud to partner with so many communities with progressive ideas for sustainability, and looks forward to seeing these grant-winning projects come to fruition.

For more information about Boulder County’s sustainability mission, visit www.BoulderCountySustainability.org.