Albemarle County awards first set of climate protection grants 

One of the new initiatives suggested in Albemarle County’s Climate Action Plan is a program to fund community programs intended to help the overall community reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A call for applications was issued in March and now the county has made five awards totaling $100,000. 

• A group called Autism Sanctuary will receive $25,000 to create a worm composting project “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote green gardening practices in the local community, and provide additional jobs and learning experiences to those with autism in Central Virginia.”
• The nonprofit Community Bikes has been awarded $25,000 to expand a project called “Bicycle Recycling, Refurbishment, & Redistribution” “with the goal of providing more affordable and sustainable transportation options to underserved communities in Albemarle County.”
• The International Rescue Committee runs the New Roots Farm will use its $20,020 in part to purchase equipment that is not powered by fossil fuels. They’ll also “create a democratic self-determination process for designing its largest community garden.” 
• A nonprofit group called FLIPP Inc will receive $18,600 to fund job-training programs for both designing and installing solar facilities that will be aimed at underserved communities.
• The Peabody School will get $11,380 to “engage the public and get youth involved in Piedmont grassland education and conservation through a grassland restoration project at Darden Towe Park.”

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment comes from the August 4, 2023 edition of the program. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.