TITLE
Title
BUDGET AMENDMENT: PARKS AND RECREATION NEW INITIATIVE GRANT 2026
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Dwight Godwin, Parks & Recreation Director
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BACKGROUND
Background
The 2026 New Initiative Grants were awarded by the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association (NCRPA) to the top ten new initiative submissions throughout the state. Guilford County Parks & Recreation was awarded the maximum $1,500.00 grant to be put toward the Public-Private Partnership developed to help address the Food Desert issues in the northeastern part of Guilford County. This project is in partnership with Parks, Cooperative Extension, and local farmers to establish a committee to help guide the PPP. The farmers will then operate a Guilford County Farm Greenhouse located on the border of Gibsonville and Elon, and in return, will support the local community with donations and sales of plants and produce. They will also provide free education classes to address the lack of fresh food, knowledge of how to grow, and assist with other helpful resources for the community. The grant funds will help support the project through the purchase of growing and gardening supplies, marketing materials, and distribution supplies.
There are more than 20 federally classified low-income, low-access food areas, called food deserts, in Guilford County alone. Our audience is focused on the areas in Gibsonville and its surrounding rural communities of Eastern McLeansville, Whitsett, and Osceola. With a total population of around 10,000 residents across 7 square miles, we feel this project will have a direct impact on its residents. Our goal is to reach 100 families within the first implementation of the project. We also intend for the project to help educate others more fortunate on the concept of food deserts, food insecurity within their communities, and how to support similar community initiatives.
This project stabilizes access to farm-fresh foods, bolsters the local economy for farmers, educates those on additional ways to help themselves, and opens a wider conversation on eliminating local food deserts.
We have the land, facility, and opportunity to make a difference in our community and this grant could be the catalyst to bring about great impact and change.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
General Fund
$1,500 increase in appropriation to Parks and Recreation
$1,500 increase in Other Revenue
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve receipt of the 2026 NCRPA grant in the amount of $1500 and amend the General Fund budget ordinance to increase the appropriation to Parks and Recreation by $1500 with $1500 in Other Revenue.
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