GREENFIELD — Common Good Greenfield selected eight community projects to receive a total of $10,000.
The nonprofit organization is a payment system that generates funding for community projects while emphasizing economic democracy. It uses a credit system with traditional banking to help fund local groups, Common Good’s website says.
“We received top-notch proposals from so many worthwhile initiatives,” Community Organizer Emily Crehan said in a press release. “It’s an exciting time to see the level of care in our community. We look forward to offering more funding in the coming year.”
Six groups will receive $1,250 grants and two other projects will receive $1,250 as a zero-interest loan. The local projects awarded are: Co-op Power, Shea Theater, Compost Cooperative, Just Roots, Stone Soup Cafe, Art Garden, the town of Wendell and the Ashfield Lake House.
“This first-ever round of funding paves the way for communities everywhere to generate financial resources to meet their own economic and social priorities,” Ivan Ussach, director of operations for Common Good Greenfield, said in a press release.
Both Co-op Power and the Ashfield Lake House will use its $1,250 funding for solar projects. The co-op plans to install a solar panel system at the Franklin County Community Development Corp. The project hopes to be a pilot for non-profits wanting to install a solar panel system on their buildings. Meanwhile the Lake House expects its solar panels to provide a third of the power to its restaurant, offices and building.
Shea Theater plans to use the funding to support its art center revitalization, including to the lobby and concession areas.
The Compost Cooperative will launch a worker-owned business to help reduce waste and enrich soil in Greenfield. Some of the worker-owners will be former prison inmates.
Just Roots will fund five full farm shares to low-income families that are deemed eligible.
Art Garden will hold workshops and may create art for senior citizens.
Lastly, Wendell plans to create an edible forest garden, which will send excess food to its town’s food pantry and also provide educational opportunities.