Bank of America Awards $25,000 to Sustainable Long Island

Sustainable Long Island has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Bank of America Foundation in support of the organization’s youth-staffed farmers’ markets projects and community gardens initiatives.

“Three years ago, Sustainable Long Island partnered with the Long Island Farm Bureau and various community partners to establish youth-staffed, community-based farmers’ markets in low-to-moderate income communities, said Executive Director at Sustainable Long Island. "This funding from Bank of America Foundation will help expand that project into two additional communities and will enable Sustainable Long Island to continue providing technical assistance to the six existing markets.”

According to Engel:

For new communities opening farmers' markets, Sustainable Long Island will provide guidance to project partners, including helping to identify possible funding sources and sharing lessons learned through three years of operations, such as guiding them through application processes for subsidy programs, developing rules and regulations, working with farmers, and coordinating training opportunities.

For communities running existing farmers’ markets, Sustainable Long Island will provide technical assistance, including identifying appropriate location and days/hours of operation; developing project budget; identifying manager and youth staff and other key missions.

Engel said community gardens on Long Island exist in 10 locations, all located in low-to-moderate income communities as determined by U.S. Census data. The 10 collectively feed more than 1,500 people and creating a model for their economic sustainability is critical. Sustainable Long Island will work on a model for financial sustainability for community gardens, which in turn will encourage additional communities across the region to develop a program of this kind and follow this model to achieve success.

The creation of two new community gardens in Nassau County will help create a sense of place; promote healthy eating habits; and provide access to healthy and nutritious food for the families living in these communities.

Sustainable Long Island serves as a catalyst for creating a better quality of life for all Long Islanders, now and for future generations through economic development, environmental health and social equity. Sustainable Long Island connects public and private resources and expertise with communities that need them.

Sustainable Long Island is located at 399 Conklin Street, Suite 202, Farmingdale, NY 11735. For further information, call (516)-873-0230, visit www.sustainableli.org., or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.