The Refresh Fund
Applications for 2024 will considered between May 1st, and October 1st.
Throughout Allegheny County, there are hundreds of community-driven green space projects. Each of these projects requires annual investments in order to address maintenance concerns and achieve long-term sustainability. The most significant investment is that of labor and love from residents like you who receive little or no compensation for their efforts.
However the monetary costs for site upkeep often include: accessing the right tools for the job, technical support with project planning and policy navigation, and small costs for upkeep and materials. These material costs are represented by specific investments in things like a fresh coat of paint, pickets to fix a hole in a fence, or mulch to support healthy plants and suppress weeds. As time passes, these costs can add up, making it difficult to keep community spaces healthy, safe, and beautiful.
The goal of the Refresh fund is to support an environment for resident greenspace leaders and stewards to thrive year-after-year through the distribution of small in-kind grants for materials related specifically to site sustainment and slow-growth – and offer connections to other capacity-building resources that can ultimately lead to their self-sufficiency and long-term resilience.