This month we are excited to announce the recipients of the first-ever round of CAP Collaborative Fund grant awards. The fund, which is held at Yampa Valley Community Foundation (YVCF), was created to support local projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the implementation of the Routt County Climate Action Plan. $50,000 was dispersed across four local organizations and include BookTrails, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, Strings Music Festival and Routt County Riders.
The award for BookTrails will go toward the installation of a solar array at Reading Ranch, the campus of the outdoor education program that serves 250 children annually. The solar array will save 21.5 tons of carbon dioxide each year, the equivalent of over 30,000 miles being driven, and will serve as an educational tool to teach youth about renewable energy.
Northwest Colorado Council of Governments will use their award to jumpstart the ReEnergize Routt program, which will provide weatherization assistance to local homeowners, resulting in lower utility bills and increased energy efficiency in homes.
Funding awarded to Strings Music Festival will contribute to a project to transition the venue’s stage lights from incandescents to LEDs. Once the entire project is completed, the transition is expected to save 25% of the venue’s current lighting energy usage, cutting over 36 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Routt County Riders will put their award toward staffing, equipment and development of their Bike Match program, which connects community members in need of transportation options with bikes repaired using upcycled parts. The program is estimated to replace over 31,000 vehicle miles traveled with human powered transportation annually.
Learn more about how you can play a part in supporting future projects here.
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