Gro1000 Garden and Green Space Grant ApplicationMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Gro1000 Garden and Green Space Grant Application
DATE: January 3, 2012
Dubuque
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All-America City
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In 2008, the City of Dubuque entered into an agreement with the Dubuque Rescue
Mission to provide land at the former United Rental location to be used as a community
garden for Mission residents. The Mission currently has two large raised beds on the
site. The garden project has created a considerable food cost savings to the Mission
during the growing months. It provides residents with access to healthy, local, home-
grown meals on a regular basis. In addition, the gardens provide a place for
participants of the Rescue Mission to learn the skill of gardening, to enjoy the healing art
of gardening and the serene beauty of this green space.
Sustainable Community Coordinator Cori Burbach recommends City Council approval
to submit a Gro1000 Garden and Green Space grant application in the amount of
$25,000 (cash and in- kind). The funds will be used to purchase a greenhouse that
would extend both ends of the growing season for the Mission garden. While the
program intends to make awards of $25,000 - $15,000 cash and $10,000 in -kind, the
actual cost for the proposed project is approximately $11,485.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
THE CITY OF
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
DATE December 29, 2011
SUBJECT Gro1000 Garden & Green Space Grant Application
Dubuque
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All-America City
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INTRODUCTION
This memo requests City Council approval of a Gro1000 Garden &Green Space grant application submitted to the US
Conference of Mayors in partnership with Dubuque Rescue Mission
BACKGROUND
The Gro1000 Garden &Green Space Grant Space Grant program is part of a new partnership between the US Conference
of Mayors and Scotts MiracleGro The program will recognize mayoral leadership in the development of green spaces and
will award innovative projects in the areas of edible gardens and sustainable landscapes that have a community -wide impact
DISCUSSION
In 2008, the City of Dubuque entered into an agreement with the Dubuque Rescue Mission to provide land at the former
United Rental location to be used as a community garden for Mission residents The Mission currently has two large raised
beds on the site The garden project has created a considerable food cost savings to the Mission during the growing months
It provides residents with access to healthy, local, home -grown meals on a regular basis In addition, the gardens provide a
place for participants of the Rescue Mission to learn the skill of gardening, to enjoy the healing art of gardening and the
serene beauty of this green space
The City submitted the grant application on behalf of the Mission Grant funds would be used to purchase a greenhouse that
would extend both ends of the growing season for the Mission garden While the program intends to make awards of
$25,000- $15,000 cash and $10,000 in -kind- the actual cost for the proposed project is approximately $11,485
RECOMMENDATION
I respectfully request Council approval of the attached Gro1000 Garden &Green Space application in the amount of $25,000
(cash and in -kind)
cc
Rick Mihm, Dubuque Rescue Mission
Cindy Steinhauser,Assistant City Manager
GRO1000 Gardens & Green Spaces Grant Awards Program
(Online Application: Submitted 12/5/11)
PAGE 1 QUESTIONS:
1. A.Title of Garden or Green Space:
Dubuque Rescue Mission Community Garden
B.Please indicate if this is a new project or expansion of an existing garden or green space? (only select
one)
Expansion of existing garden /green space
PAGE 2 QUESTIONS:
2. First Name
Roy D.
Last Name
Buol
E -Mail Address
rdbuol @cityofdubuque.org
Telephone
563 -589 -4110
3. Organizations Name (if applicable):
City of Dubuque
Project Contact's Name:
Cori Burbach
Address 1:
50 W 13th St
City:
Dubuque
State:
IA
ZIP Code:
52001
Phone Number:
563 -589 -4110
E -Mail Address:
cburbach@cityofdubuque.org
Web Site:
www.cityofdubuque.org
PAGE 3 QUESTIONS:
4. Project Description
The current green space, located at a prominent south entrance of the city, is owned by the City of
Dubuque (known as the former United Rental location) and is currently being used by the Dubuque
Rescue Mission as garden plots through a unique partnership. The Mission has two large (18 feet by 116
feet) raised gardens. There they grow a variety of produce to offset some of the food cost for their free
meal ministry.
In addition to providing housing, job and life skills training and counseling to its homeless residents, the
Rescue Mission serves three meals a day to homeless men, women and children. Upwards of 260
individuals attend these free meals each day. The garden project has created a considerable food cost
savings to the Mission during the growing months. It provides residents with access to healthy, local,
home -grown meals on a regular basis. In addition, the gardens provide a place for participants of the
Rescue Mission to learn the skill of gardening, to enjoy the healing art of gardening and the serene
beauty of this green space. It is truly helping to transform participants' lives.
Mayor Roy D. Buol, the Dubuque City Council Members and the Dubuque City Manager approved this
unique garden space and the special project the Dubuque Rescue Mission offers there, on April 16, 2008.
The garden was one of the first community gardens in Dubuque and has served as a model for other
gardens that serve at -risk populations. Community gardens have been one of the most engaging ways
for residents to participate in achieving the Sustainable Dubuque vision, which was defined a by a 40-
member community task force in 2008. The vision is that "Dubuque is a viable, livable and equitable
community. We embrace Economic Prosperity, Environmental Integrity, and Social /Cultural Vibrancy to
create a sustainable legacy for generations to come."
Currently, the Mission incorporates many of their residents, community service participants and
volunteers each day in their gardens — planting, weeding and harvesting fresh produce. The produce is
then either used immediately to provide meals or preserved so that healthy meals are available year -
round at the facility.
This grant will allow them to purchase and construct a green house on -site to significantly extend their
growing season on the front and end and to begin their own seed starts for transplanting.
5. Proposed timeline for project:
If granted, we would hope to begin construction of the green house in May of 2012. The project would
be complete by June of 2012.
6. Please indicate opportunities for ScottsMiracle -Gro associates to assist with the project.
Both Labor /Volunteers and Counsel /Expertise
7. Identify other current "Community Gardening or Green Space" initiatives in place and how this grant
will work with them:
The Dubuque Rescue Mission Community Garden is one of seven gardens in a community of
approximately 60,000 residents. Many gardens, such as the Rescue Mission Garden, serve a specific
population, while other contain plots available to the general public free of charge or for a small fee. The
managers of Dubuque's community gardens coordinate to ensure that all residents, regardless of ability
to pay, may participate in the gardening programs, and collaborate to find opportunities to use the
gardens as teaching spaces. The garden managers also partner with local farmers markets, the Crescent
Community Health Center, and other organizations to develop learning opportunities around healthy local
foods. See www. cityofdubuque .org /communitygardens for more information.
8. Identify the square footage of the space and geographic boundaries:
The green house would be 20 feet by 48 feet long (960 sq. ft.). It would set over half of the south raised
garden plot of the former United Rental location.
9. A. Has the soil of the potential location been tested?
Yes
B. If so, when?
April 2008. New top -soil and ten tons of compost were brought in to create these plots. It was an
important request of the Dubuque Rescue Mission that the soil be organic and free of any chemicals or
heavy metals.
C. What were the results?
See 9B.
10.Describe the plans to sustain the project.
If the grant was awarded, the City of Dubuque in partnership with the Dubuque Rescue Mission and the
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque would solicit some funding and in -kind matches for the
project from local businesses who have provided volunteers, plants, and supplies in the past and are
committed to garden's future.
The Rescue Mission Garden helps to achieve the Sustainable Dubuque principles of Healthy Local Foods,
Community Knowledge, and Native Plants & Animals. Performance metrics for the City's sustainability
plan will include, among other indicators, square feet of community garden space and number of
volunteer hours performed, both of which will increase through this project.
11.List other funding sources for the project.
If the grant was awarded, the City of Dubuque in partnership with the Dubuque Rescue Mission and the
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque would solicit some funding and in -kind matches for the
project from local businesses who have provided volunteers, plants, and supplies in the past and are
committed to garden's future.
12. Please upload your Mayoral Letter of Support. (Required for submission)
DRM Greenhouse Garden Grant US Conf of Mayors.pdf (attached)
Office of the Mayor & City Council
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001 -4864
www.cityofdubuque org
December 5, 2011
To Whom It May Concern:
THE CITY OF
DUB E
On behalf of the City Council and residents of Dubuque, it is my pleasure to support the City of Dubuque and
Dubuque Rescue Mission's application to install a greenhouse at the Dubuque Rescue Mission Garden.
The Dubuque community has made sustainability a priority since 2006. It was then that I, along with my City
Council colleagues, first identified becoming a more sustainable city as a priority during our annual goal- setting
process. The Sustainable Dubuque vision, as defined by a community -led task force, states that "Dubuque is
viable, livable and equitable community. We embrace Economic Prosperity, Environmental Integrity, and
Social /Cultural Vibrancy to create a sustainable legacy for generations to come." That vision is further defined
through eleven sustainability principles, three of which are healthy local foods, native plants and animals, and
community knowledge.
The garden, which was first planted on City of Dubuque property through a unique partnership in 2008, is
indeed a model of sustainability for Dubuque residents. The Dubuque Rescue Mission serves an important
role in the Social /Cultural Vibrancy and Economic Prosperity goals of our vision, providing a place to live, job
and life skills training, and counseling for homeless men in our community and others in need. The garden was
planted as a way to provide the residents and others who attend the free meals access to healthy, home -
cooked meals. The men who live at the Mission develop life skills as they learn to tend to the garden while also
finding therapy in this connection to the land. They are truly learning to be self- sufficient as well as providing
food for those in need through their gardening.
In addition to the men who live at the Mission, the garden has been created and managed through the donation
of hundreds of volunteer hours and supplies from local businesses. The City has enthusiastically supported
this community garden as a key component of its vision for a sustainable future.
In awarding this grant to the City and Rescue Mission, you will be ensuring that the residents of the Mission
and other Dubuque residents have access to fresh healthy foods during a longer growing season, and year -
round through the preserving process the men have recently initiated. The garden is a focal point for the City
and a model for other organizations looking to serve the needs of the most at -risk citizens in Dubuque.
I enthusiastically encourage your consideration of the Dubuque Rescue Mission's "mission" by awarding the
US Conference of Mayors grant to establish a greenhouse and significantly expand the growing potential of this
community garden.
Respectfully,
7
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Roy D. Buol
Mayor