Sustainable Tompkins has completed its 25th granting cycle for the popular Neighborhood Mini-grants Program. Thanks to the volunteer efforts of the Mini-grant Council: Miranda Phillips (on leave until 2015,) Joel Gagnon, Jamila Simon, Gay Nicholson, and our newest member, Larissa Comacho-Lillie, the Council convenes quarterly to review proposals and make awards. Cornell graduate student, Mike Catsos, our Sustainability Intern Spring 2014, is an interim member.

In September the Council awarded 4 grants: Operation Keep Out the Critters to the Dryden Community Gardens to replace their deteriorated garden gates; Cooking Up Community to Ellis Hollow Apartment residents for a fall harvest dinner to build community among the residents; White Hawk Ecovillage Marketing and Outreach to redesign and print new marketing materials to reach prospective community members who are eligible for their newly secured Community Housing grant; and to The Garden Club, Beverly J Martin Afterschool  Enrichment program that teaches children about nutrition and healthy food choices year round.

Council members join with Sustainable Tompkins board members  and staff in offering our warmest thanks to Neisha Butler who completed her six year term on the Mini-grant Council in June. Her thoughtful insight, and long term vision will be missed by all.

Neighborhood Mini-grants, ranging in size from $150-750, have funded more than 129 projects throughout the county. Grant money is provided by our sponsor, Aigen Financial and their matching gift partner Prudential, the Park Foundation and generous individuals like you. Make your gift to the Mini-grant program today! For more information see: https://sustainabletompkins.org/programs/mini-grants/ or contact Karen@sustainabletompkins.org