Larimer County announces 2024 Small Grant Program recipients to support underrepresented youth and adults accessing the outdoors, nature-based workshops, and school gardens among others

LOVELAND – Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) is proud to announce $19,700 in grants to support six community and neighborhood projects that help connect people to the land.  The 2024 awardees support a wide range of organizations spanning Larimer County through the department’s Small Grants for Community Partnering Program. Since 1998, LCDNR has awarded $415,120 from Help Preserve Open Spaces sales tax dollars to 238 community and neighborhood projects.

Grant funds from the program are available to non-profits, community organizations, homeowner associations, and K-12 schools for outdoor neighborhood and community-based projects across Larimer County.   The 2024 grantees, projects, amounts and locations include:

• Friends of Lory State Park, Homestead Accessible Trail Interpretive Signage, Fort Collins, $2,450
• Red Feather Lakes Community Library, Nature workshops for underserved families and older adults, Red Feather Lakes, $3,500
• Streamside Community HOA, Habitat restoration and improvement project along Spring Creek, Fort Collins, $3,500
• Vibe Tribe Adventures, #Adventure for Everyone Larimer County, Loveland, $3,300
• Colorado Early Colleges Fort Collins, Farm to School garden improvements at CEC Middle and High School, Fort Collins, $3,500
• Colorado State University-Collective for Nature, Immersion, Science & Practice, Facilitating community collaboration on nature and health, Larimer County, $3,450
   

Small Grants for Community Partnering is an initiative of LCDNR to disperse a portion of Help Preserve Open Spaces sales tax dollars each year. The five grant program categories align with LCDNR’s mission, meet community needs, and inspire stewardship of the natural world. LCDNR invites new and returning applicants to apply for seed or capacity building support for projects including:

1. Provide or enhance natural landscapes, including wildlife habitat, rivers, wetlands, outdoor community gathering spaces, neighborhood parks, greenbelts, lakes/ponds, etc.
2. Provide nature-based environmental education opportunities, including outdoor education signs and materials, outdoor classrooms, workshops, trainings.
3. Provide opportunities for people to connect with the land by providing access to nature for those experiencing barriers including limited transit options, financial obstacles, etc.
4. Provide opportunities for people to connect with the land via local agricultural food production.
5. Develop new research on Larimer County open spaces which will provide information on the ecology, history visitation, and/or human dimensions.

For more information about the program, contact Jennifer Almstead, Small Grants Program Coordinator, at (970) 619-4569 or jalmstead@larimer.org, or visit www.larimer.org/small-grants.

 

Photo credit Loveland Youth Gardeners, 2022, Erica Wharton

 

About Larimer County Department of Natural Resources
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources' mission is to connect people, nature, and place.  Since 1954, Larimer County has acquired and conserved a vast network of public and private lands. Today, thirteen public properties are available for recreational access and enjoyment, and over 56,000 acres of land within its boundaries have been conserved. For more information, visit larimer.gov/naturalresources