Wells Fargo awards UGA with a $50,000 grant to enhance communities

As part of their long-standing partnership with the University of Georgia (UGA), Wells Fargo recently awarded UGA with a $50,000 grant as part of their Environmental Solutions for Communities program.

In July 2016, Wells Fargo and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) awarded a $50,000 grant to UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) and the City of Gainesville (Ga.) for a project that will work to increase visitors, expand downtown green space and calm motor traffic in the city. The NFWF approved project funding through its Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program, and the grant will aim to sustain and enhance this downtown development economic project.

Through the NFWF grant and local support, CVIOG will collaborate with Gainesville’s Community Development Department on this $130,000 pedestrian connectivity program in the central business district, and the efforts will be known as “Creating Connectivity in Gainesville.” The project is expected to span approximately 18 months, and the City of Gainesville is contributing nearly $75,000 in matching funds and in-kind aid. A private donor has also pledged $5,000 for trees and landscape plants. The CVIOG community revitalization partnerships are a critical component of UGA’s mission to foster growth throughout Georgia.

The Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a unit within UGA Public Service and Outreach, will create green crosswalk improvements that replace paved areas with planted medians and corner islands that provide green space in high-visibility areas, serve as traffic calming devices, reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians, serve as bioswales to collect stormwater runoff and beautify downtown. The project will build upon existing citizen engagement to use the designs implemented as part of an educational program about how green infrastructure is a cost-effective approach to improving water quality with co-benefits for economic development, public health and community revitalization.

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