Open Space Authority Kicks Off Second Annual Measure Q Urban Open Space Grant Program
Grant application deadline is January 12, 2018
San Jose, CA - November 1, 2017: The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is kicking off its Second Annual Measure Q Urban Open Space Grant Program, designed to connect more people throughout its jurisdiction with the many benefits of nature. This competitive grant program is funded by Measure Q and provides funding for projects in one or more of these categories:
- Environmental Stewardship and Restoration
- Parks, Trails, and Public Access
- Environmental Education
- Urban Agriculture/Food Systems
Eligible organizations include public agencies, schools and school districts, and non-profits. The grants range from $25,000 to $100,000. The application deadline is Friday, January 12, 2018. For ideas on the types of grants funded in last year’s grant cycle, view these Urban Success Stories.
The Authority is offering two public workshops to provide an overview of the grant and the application process. Participation is recommended but not mandatory.
Tuesday, December 5, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Tully Branch Library, 880 Tully Rd, San Jose – Attendees can register here. A Spanish and Vietnamese translator will be provided if needed. Please register before November 21 if you would like a translator.
Wednesday, December 6, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. ONLINE WORKSHOP ONLY – Attendees must register in order to receive the link and access code.
In the 2016 inaugural grant cycle, the Authority awarded $1.5 million across 15 grants. The selected awards covered a broad spectrum of innovative, well-planned projects that are already having a transformative impact in communities across the Authority’s jurisdiction. Grantees, like the Friends of Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, are already starting to complete their projects and programs. The Master Gardeners are now teaching educational and urban agricultural classes at their new Community Education Center located in Martial Cottle Park, which was funded by the grant program. “The Measure Q Urban Open Space Grant has given the Master Gardeners an opportunity to have a beautiful education center where we can teach multi-generational groups how to grow year-round in environmentally sound and regionally appropriate ways,” says Elizabeth Evans, Master Gardener.
Other projects are also underway, like Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful’s Coyote Meadows Park planning. This project aims to create a proposal for the City of San Jose to transform a previous landfill into an exciting urban park, connect trails with the Coyote Creek Trail, and plant native oak and cottonwood trees. Restoration of the meadow would also improve the water quality of Coyote Creek. “This grant has provided a chance to enable grassroots community planning to create an open space park and trails in an urban community, connecting residents to nature right here in downtown San Jose,” said Deb Kramer, Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful and Coyote Meadows Coalition member.
“The Open Space Authority is looking forward to reviewing the next round of community-serving urban project proposals,” said Andrea Mackenzie, General Manager for the Open Space Authority. “Measure Q has provided the Authority an amazing opportunity to help these dedicated organizations create access to nature for all.”
For more details on the Urban Open Space Grant Program, visit http://www.openspaceauthority.org/grants.
Download the press release here.
