Rocky Mountain Power announces new grants to organizations focused on community enhancement and the environment
SALT LAKE CITY — Nonprofit organizations in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho transform hopes into action every day by showing up to care for their neighbors and the environment. The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is supporting this important work with a new round of grants to local organizations that are committed to fostering resilient cities, towns and natural areas in our region.
The foundation is donating a total of $167,500 in grants across the three states it serves to underwrite a diverse range of programs and projects, from affordable housing access, job training and rural economic development to ecosystem preservation, trail restoration and nature-based education.
“These organizations lift up our communities and protect our natural surroundings for future generations,” said Gary Hoogeveen, president and CEO, Rocky Mountain Power. “It is an honor to support their inspiring work and help build communities where everyone can flourish.”
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 40 grants were given to local organizations:
Utah
Wasatch Front
Community Action Services and Food Bank for its homebuyer and financial literacy education program, which provides classes in English and Spanish to help households prepare for homeownership and become more financially self-reliant.
Envision Utah for ongoing efforts to improve Utah’s disaster resilience by helping educate local officials, businesses and individuals on how to prepare for and respond to disasters.
Housing Connect Fund to increase access to affordable housing by providing funds for application fees, rental deposits and other costs that often create barriers for people who qualify for rental assistance.
The Nature Conservancy – Utah for its Wings and Water program, a hands-on field trip adventure that teaches fourth graders about the Great Salt Lake wetlands and the importance of this vital ecosystem to the lake, wildlife and people.
People Helping People to support an employment program that provides tools and services for single mothers and women with limited incomes to help them enter the workforce, compete for better jobs and seek raises and promotions.
Salt Lake City Police Foundation to help fund outreach programs that provide residents in at-risk neighborhoods with safe, fun activities where they can connect in a positive way with members of the police department.
Suazo Business Center to support underserved entrepreneurs by enhancing the community impact of minority-owned businesses and providing advisory services, capital and business courses.
Tooele City to implement the first phase of its Xeriscape Project, which will replace sod grass at City Hall with landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation.
TreeUtah for its 2023 community tree planting program, which will bring together volunteers at more than 100 events across the state to plant 6,000 trees.
Utah Veterans Alliance to support the Helping Hands project, which provides vital services such as rent, food and auto and home repairs for the community’s most vulnerable veterans and their families.
Wasatch Community Gardens for the Youth & School Garden Program to connect children, families and teachers with healthy, local food through garden-based learning and opportunities to prepare and share the produce they grow.
Northern Utah
Centerville City Recreation to help purchase equipment for an after-school program serving local children that promotes participation in mentally, physically and socially stimulating activities.
Trails Foundation of Northern Utah for the creation of a community center where the organization can offer inclusive programming, provide meeting space for local groups and inform visitors and residents how to access and responsibly use the area’s extensive public trail system.
Park City
Habitat for Humanity for Summit and Wasatch Counties to support Silver Creek Village affordable housing, the Habitat ReStore home resale shop and consumer financial literacy training that helps prepare people for financial stability and homeownership.
KPCW Radio to help the nonprofit public radio station create public service announcements in Spanish, allowing nonprofit organizations and municipalities to connect with more people in the region’s growing and increasingly diverse local communities.
Summit Land Conservancy for its Utah Headwaters Initiative, which focuses on saving land to protect the Great Salt Lake Watershed and the sensitive ecosystems of Utah’s rural Wasatch Back.
Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation for its initiative to inspire active lifestyles and a lifelong love of sport while helping children develop social, emotional and leadership skills.
Cache Valley
Bridgerland Community Ice Arena to help cover instructional and equipment costs for its 22-year-old school outreach program, which brings kindergarten through high school students onto the ice rink to study science, creative movement and health through the lens of skating.
Central Utah
Delta City to build four pickleball courts and additional parking space in an existing city park to provide new recreational opportunities for residents of all ages.
Vineyard City to advance the development of two multipurpose recreational fields designed to serve the growing city as a hub for multiple sports, a venue for public recreational programs and a gathering place for community events that foster social connections.
Eastern Utah
Castle Dale City to build a dedicated Ghost Road Walking and Bike Path that will keep pedestrians and bicyclists safer at a popular walking and biking destination that is currently positioned along an existing road.
Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks to increase parking availability for residents of the nonprofit’s Bunk House, which provides affordable housing for essential workers and seasonal employees of southeastern Utah’s public lands and county facilities.
Friends of the Helper Area to buy inclusive playground equipment for the Helper Express Playground, which will serve Helper and surrounding rural communities and provide an accessible space where children with disabilities can enjoy playing with their peers.
Main Street Southeastern Utah, Inc. for the Peace Gardens Mural project, a community gathering place and part of a robust Main Street program to revitalize downtown, attract new people to the area and support the local economy.
Youth Garden Project to support resilience in the Moab food system by providing garden-based education and access to a biodiverse array of organically grown fruits and vegetables.
Wyoming
Eastern Wyoming
Albany County Public Library Foundation to support library programming for all ages and the expansion of bookmobile services to reach a larger, more diverse audience.
City of Casper for replacement of the Bryan Stock Trail Boat Ramp, which will provide access for cleaning and caring for the North Platte River, as well as for recreation and river rescue.
Natrona County Public Library Foundation to help cover expenses, including materials and book club kits for library programs that serve nearly 30,000 adults, teens and children each year.
The Science Zone to update facilities and increase visitor capacity, expanding the learning destination’s ability to reach more children and families.
Western Wyoming
Habitat for Humanity Wind River Country to purchase building materials for the construction of a tiny house as part of a pilot program between Habitat for Humanity and Riverton High School’s Geometry in Construction program.
City of Green River Parks and Recreation Department for the purchase and installation of benches at the city’s newly established dog park.
Friends of PAC (Pinedale Aquatic Center) to continue offering learn-to-swim instruction for local youth and a voucher program that provides elementary school students with a session of free lessons.
The WYldlife Fund for a project to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and promote habitat connectivity by directing animals to new and existing wildlife crossing structures.
Wyoming Wildlife Federation to cover costs of coordinating volunteers for the Grizzly WHMA Wildlife-Friendly Fence project, which will remove or replace 17 miles of fencing that presents an entanglement hazard for local wildlife.
Big Horn Basin Nature and Discovery Center for the construction of an educational outdoor climbing wall that teaches children about local petroglyphs, erosion and natural resources through play.
Big Horn County Library System for the Teen X-treme X-periences program, which provides opportunities for local teens of all backgrounds to build critical skills through organized activities in a safe place.
Ironside Bird Rescue for feeding, housing and veterinary care of injured and orphaned birds and small mammals.
Idaho
City of Preston to help fund the construction of four public pickleball courts accessible to everyone in the city and nearby areas.
Ammon Improvement Alliance, Inc. to purchase computers, equipment and books for the new Ammon Library.
City of Rexburg to help pay for the addition of a wheelchair-accessible swing in the city-owned Smith Park.