To transform vacant, city-owned lots into thriving centers of urban agriculture and pilot small-scale composting in Providence neighborhoods.

Lessons learned about tools and tactics through the project that other sustainability directors could use to advance their work.

The grant team worked with a well-established and highly-regarded middle party with technical expertise to prioritize buy-in from local elected officials and the neighborhood.  The project also established clear expectations with all constituencies about cost and time, and designed the program for low resource growers to minimize pushback for use of city property for-profit. Other city departments were engaged in the development and implementation of the proposal to solidify the program in the city, and to build the relationship with the foundation beyond just the Sustainability Director.

Lessons for developing a collaborative process between a local government sustainability director and local place-based foundation(s).

Communication was key. In-person meetings were most effective for getting to know each other’s priorities and interests and developing projects that were mutually beneficial. It was also important to recruit practical partners.  While the Sustainability Office was secure with a federal grant at the time, the Foundation was reluctant to make a grant directly to the new office. Having this grant directed to SCLT both addressed the concern of the Grants Program Director and substantially improved the reach of the program.

Make time for collaboration. Working together to develop the proposal took a bit longer than just doing it alone, but it ended up making the plan stronger.