WCGF Projects Page

Information for Grant Seekers
Grant Application Process

Local Gardening Foundation Receives Grants
The Western Colorado Gardening Foundation (WCGF) received two grants on February 3rd, 2007 in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center from the Colorado Garden Show, Inc.

Dedication Ceremony for the new Amphitheater
The dedication ceremony for the new Amphitheater of The Mesa County Arboretum at The Gardens, took place at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 9, 2007.

WCGF granted $200 to Paonia Tree Board, Paonia, CO for planting new trees in the town of Paonia.

WCGF sponsored and received a grant for $1,750 for the landscape renovation project for two Tree House youth shelter locations. This grant was awarded by the CO Garden Show, Inc. under their Annual Grant Awards Program.

WCGF sponsored and received a grant for $20,802 to complete the Amphitheater at the Arboretum at Mesa County Fairgrounds. This grant was awarded by the CO Garden Show, Inc. under their Major Grant Awards Program.

WCGF Board members will attend the Colorado Garden & Home Show Award Ceremony on February 3, 2007 in Denver, CO to receive the two award checks.

WCGF granted $450 in the fall of 2005 to Girl Scouts of Chipeta Council, Grand Junction, CO to replace the pond pump in the Outdoor Activity Center at the facility. The Outdoor Activity Center is used in girl scouting bridging ceremonies.

WCGF granted the Colorado Desert Herb Society a $1,000 grant towards the cost of building a cottage type fence around the Herb Gardens adjacent to the Botanic Gardens at south Seventh Street. As described in Lana Fergeson's grant request, "The Colorado Desert Herb Society is dedicated to the building and maintaining of our 8 'themed' beds. The fence will protect the plants from deer and other animals. The herb gardens are enjoyed not only by visitors to the Botanical Gardens, but also by residents and visitors strolling down the river walk."

April 11, 2005
The Western Colorado Gardening Foundation received a request for a financial grant from the Colorado Desert Herb Society for $1,000 to build a cottage type fence around the herb gardens located adjacent to the Botanic Gardens at South Seventh Street.

The fence will enclose the 8 themed beds maintained by a small membership.

The board of directors approved this grant. Sylvia Sharp attended their monthly meeting to present the grant check. They were so very excited to receive the funds. Lana Fergeson, president, stated "It would take them at least 3 fund raisers to accrue that much money."

All the members expressed their thanks to WCGF for our involvement and continued community support.

$500 grant for Wingate Neighborhood Park Project.

"We are pleased to inform you that the Western Colorado Community Foundation Board of Trustees has recently approved a grant in the amount of $500 for the Wingate Neighborhood Park Project. On behalf of our board, congratulations and thank you for all the good work you are doing in our community."

WCGF was the sponsor organization. Wingate Elementary School is working in collaboration with the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department in the development of Wingate Neighborhood Park that adjoins school property located at 351 South Camp Road, Grand Junction, CO, Donna Dennison, Principal.

The City of Grand Junction has approved an interactive nature area with native plants for students and community use as part of this park. The City will pay for over $41,000 for plants, shrubs, and trees to be planted in the Spring of 2005.

The $500 grant received from the Western Colorado Community Foundation will be used toward the purchase of plant identification labels/markers for the interactive site, the purchase of materials for building a small storage facility for garden tools and for making the interactive brochures to be stored near the site.

$10,000 for CSU Shade Structure
Placed immediately next to the CSU Cooperative Extension office building in Mesa County from the Colorado Garden Show, Inc., Denver, CO.

WCGF was the sponsor organization.

"Congratulations!" The Western Colorado Gardening Foundation has been chosen to receive a grant from the Colorado Garden Show, Inc.! You have been awarded $10,000 towards the shade structure, to be used within one year. The grant will be presented to you at the awards ceremony at the Colorado Garden & Home Show on Saturday, January 22, 2005 at 11:00 a.m."

Project Title: Shade Structure for Educational Programs. An 1,100 square foot shade structure nestled among several existing gardens and immediately next to the CSU Cooperative Extension office building in Mesa County.

Construction of the Shade Structure will commence in the Spring of 2005. At the completion of the structure, a dedication ceremony will be held.

We received an additional $10,000 for the other half of the CSU Shade Structure from the Bacon Family Foundation. The letter follows:

"Dear Bacon Family Recipient:

The Board approved a grant in the amount of $10,000, and on behalf of the Board, I am pleased to enclose a check for that amount. These funds represent a grant as requested by your organization."

The Bacon Family Foundation awarded WCGF the second $10,000 towards the $20,000 total project cost of the North Shade Structure scheduled for completion during the spring/summer of 2005. For more information on this project, visit http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/demogardens/ShadeStructure.html

Town of Palisade
The Town of Palisade received a grant of $3000 for the Riverbend Park Landscaping Project from the Colorado Tree Coalition. WCGF was the sponsoring organization and provided volunteer help to secure this grant. Sylvia Sharpe worked closely with Shirley Skinner to draw up the grant application. Members will actively participate in the execution of the tree planting and will follow this project with interest. Matching funds of $3000 were provided by the Town of Palisade for the total $6000 cost of the project. Another $3000 of in-kind labor and services have been donated by volunteers.

The goals of the grant are to provide areas of shade, especially for the playground and for festival attendees; to provide designated areas of xeric and native trees for purpose of public education and identification; and to provide beautification and landscaped areas with specimen trees that will showcase the new festival grounds.

Western Colorado Botanical Society
WCGF granted $500 to the Western Colorado Botanical Society to purchase 250 plant identification signs for the gardens.

Phase II Trees for Orchard Mesa Middle School
WCGF granted $250 to Orchard Mesa Middle School for purchase of trees. OMMS also received an $800 grant award from the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association. WCGF was the sponsor organization. Phase II of a five-year community campus beautification project was recently completed on May 7, 2004.

Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial
WCGF donated $100 for the purchase of seven shrubs adding to the foundation plantings at the Western Slope Vietnam Memorial Gardens in Fruita. Western Colorado Gardening Foundation consulted and assisted with the landscaping of this project.

Delta County Memorial Hospital Respite Gardens
WCGF has awarded a $500 grant to the Delta County Memorial Hospital Foundation to partially fund the trees to be placed in the respite gardens of the new Delta County Memorial Hospital. The rooftop gardens provide a very unique and tranquil respite area for patients and visitors.

Trees for Orchard Mesa Middle School
Western Colorado Gardening Foundation granted $250 funds for purchasing trees to be planted at the school. The tree planting project was also partially funded by a $500 grant from the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association Foundation which is sponsored by Colorado Garden Show, Inc.