Rocky Mountain Power announces new grants focused on community enhancement and the environment
SALT LAKE CITY — Every day, local organizations are putting their hearts into projects and programs to nurture our communities and care for the environment. These efforts weave together to create a stronger, more resilient future for the region.
The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Rocky Mountain Power, is donating more than $242,000 in new grant funding across the three states it serves to support organizations committed to community enhancement and environmental respect. From improving access to affordable housing and workforce training to building new hiking trails and protecting wildlife and local ecosystems, this round of grants will underwrite a wide range of efforts that meet critical needs and improve local livability.
“We are inspired by these organizations, in towns large and small, that are working hard to lift up people in their communities and take care of the environment,” said Gary Hoogeveen, president and CEO, Rocky Mountain Power. “It is an honor to support this indispensable work, while helping to boost the growth and vitality of the communities we serve.”
This round of grants, focused on community enhancement and environmental respect, is one of the four grant cycles offered by the foundation annually.
The following 53 grants were given to local organizations supporting communities in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho:
Utah
Wasatch Front
Clever Octopus Creative Reuse Center to create five Little Free Libraries to provide free books and STEAM art kits to underserved youth of South Salt Lake neighborhoods.
Envision Utah to strengthen disaster resilience in Utah by helping educate local officials, businesses and individuals on how to prepare for and respond to disasters.
Grantsville City to help establish a Youth Council that will help youth develop leadership skills while they perform meaningful service projects for the community.
Housing Connect Fund to increase access to affordable housing by providing funds for application fees, rental deposits and other fees that often form barriers for people with low incomes.
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium to support the Birds of Prey Flight Experience, part of the Aquarium’s mission to inspire people of all ages to explore, discover and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems.
The Nature Conservancy in Utah to support Wings and Water, a hands-on field trip adventure that teaches fourth graders the importance of wetlands and the vital ecosystem wetlands offer to the Great Salt Lake, wildlife and people.
NeighborWorks Salt Lake for the YouthWorks Program, a youth leadership and economic workforce development program that provides underserved teens, ages 14-18, with pre-employment and life-skills training.
People Helping People to support the employment program that provides tools and services for single mothers and women with low incomes to help them compete for better jobs and seek raises and promotions.
Rape Recovery Center to expand office space to accommodate additional staff and volunteers who are responding to an increased need for services.
Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective to support the Bikes for Goodwill program that recycles, repairs and refurbishes donated bicycles and provides them to children, low-income households and other community members in need of sustainable transportation.
Salt Lake City Police Foundation for a Community Basketball League to provide at-risk youth 18-25 with a safe, fun activity where they connect in a positive way with members of the police department.
Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity to support the ReStore Second Chance Fund that gives a second chance to refurbished appliances and household furnishings and a second chance to families with low incomes who need household items.
Utah Live Steamers Railroad Club for replacement of railroad ties so the club can continue to provide free train rides at Shay Park in Saratoga Springs.
Wasatch Community Gardens for the Youth & School Garden Program that connects children, families and teachers to healthy, local food through hands-on, garden-based learning.
Waste Less Solutions for the food rescue program that empowers community volunteers to use an app-based mode to prevent surplus food from ending up in landfills and redirect it to people in need.
Women of the World to support direct services to refugee and asylum-seeking women in Salt Lake County to help them move to self-sufficiency.
Northern Utah
Centerville City Recreation for a batting cage to support local youth baseball participants.
Ogden City to support the development of an installation at the new Marshall N. White Center that will help educate the public on the legacy of Marshall White, the first Utah Black Police Officer killed in the line of duty.
Ogden Nature Center for a picnic-grove renovation that will include installation of a 15-pole hammock garden as well as upgrades to two treehouses, a restroom pavilion, fire pits and trails.
Trails Foundation of Northern Utah to support expanding and improving hiking and biking trails in Weber County.
Park City
Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch Counties to support Silver Creek Village affordable housing, consumer financial literacy training and the Habitat ReStore home thrift store.
KPCW Radio to help the nonprofit public radio station create public service announcements that allow nonprofit organizations and municipalities to connect with more people in the growing and increasingly diverse local communities.
Summit Land Conservancy for projects to help preserve sensitive lands and waters, including threatened watershed lands in the Kamas Valley, a multigenerational working ranch in Chalk Creek Canyon and scenic open space in Park City that is home to a public trail network.
Cache Valley
Cache Valley Humanitarian Center to help supply 400 back-to-school kits, packed with essential learning supplies, for children from limited-income households.
George S. Eccles Ice Center for the School Outreach Program that supports experiential learning aligned with Utah Core Curriculum for K-12 students through the Sciences and Physics of Skating, Skating for Your Health and Creative Movement on Ice offerings.
Stokes Nature Center to complete construction of an 11-acre outdoor classroom and nature park in Cache Valley to expand the nature preschool, enhance standards-based STEM education for all ages, provide a free access point to the outdoors for all people, and preserve an integral green space in the heart of a rapidly growing community.
Central Utah
Fayette Town to support road improvements at the town’s historical cemetery.
Fountain Green City for the installation of concrete sidewalks to make the local ballpark ADA accessible so people with disabilities can more easily access restrooms and the concession stand.
Gunnison City to fund trail kiosks and information boards to enhance the G Hill Recreation Area.
Southern Utah
Iron County School District to provide a sensory table and sensory materials to introduce kindergarten students from disadvantaged backgrounds to STEM concepts.
Eastern Utah
Epicenter to support interpretive educational panels and wayfinding signage at the Pearl Baker Park & Outdoor Classroom, an interactive natural learning environment and recreational asset in Green River.
Moab Area Community Land Trust to provide updated, secure mailboxes for affordable housing units that serve local workforce members and retirees.
Youth Garden Project to support resilience in the Moab food system by providing access to a diverse array of organically grown fruits and vegetables.
Wyoming
Eastern Wyoming
Albany County Public Library Foundation to support the expansion of bookmobile services to more people in the community and the purchase of up-to-date, diverse materials.
Audubon Rockies to support three community science projects in Wyoming, including bird-banding stations, the annual BioBlitz events and the Wyoming Naturalist Program, all of which serve to engage youth and adults with science and education focused on local birds and their habitats.
City of Casper to help create the First Street Gateway park that will include multi-ability recreation opportunities while prioritizing and embracing a native riparian area, showcasing how urban and natural can co-exist and thrive.
Elk Mountain Volunteer Fire Department to help attract, recruit and train new volunteer firefighters; provide continuing education and safety support for active members; purchase new personal protection equipment and safety gear; and acquire, maintain and repair fire trucks and equipment to meet national standards.
Family Promise of Albany County for the PATH program that helps prevent homelessness by providing rent and utility assistance and other emergency funds.
Western Wyoming
Big Horn County Fire Protection District #2 for the purchase of up-to-date equipment for firefighters to help them better protect local citizens and their property.
Friends of PAC to help fund swim lessons at the Pinedale Aquatic Center and a voucher program that provides every elementary student the opportunity to participate in one free session of lessons.
Habitat for Humanity Wind River Country to support a tiny house pilot project with the Riverton High School Geometry in Construction program.
Ironside Bird Rescue to support the feeding and housing of injured and orphaned raptors and other birds and small mammals.
The SHACK for equipment to maintain the only year-round disc-golf course in the Big Horn Basin area, a key program at this safe, supportive community youth center.
Town of Diamondville to support literacy and community by creating a lending library near the town park where citizens of all ages can easily borrow or share books.
Town of LaBarge for flagpole banners to help beautify the main street for the town’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Water for Wildlife Foundation to improve wetlands and riparian habitat, which will attract and support wildlife, through the development of a well to supplement the annual snowpack and spring in the Soda Lake basin.
Wyoming Wildlife Federation to facilitate the Grizzly WHMA Wildlife-Friendly Fencing project, providing tools, staff time and volunteer supplies to remove or replace 17 miles of wildlife-unfriendly fencing that poses an entanglement hazard for mule deer, elk, antelope and other wildlife.
Idaho
Butte Soil and Water Conservation District to help protect fish by installing fish screens on a new enclosed irrigation pipeline system aimed at conserving water.
City of Downey for updating the kitchen at the Community Center, which provides a local gathering space for a variety of activities.
City of Preston to create pickleball courts, by refurbishing old tennis courts, to provide new recreational opportunities for residents of all ages.
City of Rexburg for the installation of a disc golf course at Eagle Park, which is in high demand in this fast-growing town.
League of Idaho Cities to provide sub-grants for city beautification projects to communities within the Rock Mountain Power service area.
Sugar City for landscaping and maintenance of the Memorial Garden, which honors Sugar-Salem High School students who passed away before graduating.