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.