GREENFIELD — The Friends of Greenfield Recreation is now the owner of a new Kubota RTV-X utility vehicle after being selected as one of 10 nonprofits nationwide to receive a 2026 Kubota Hometown Proud award.
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit was the only New England recipient of a $25,000 equipment voucher that allowed it used to buy the vehicle from MB Tractor & Equipment, a Kubota dealer with nine locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine. The two-part grant also comes with a $25,000 cash prize.
“It’s hard to put into words. It’s surreal that we got it,” said Christy Moore, the city’s recreation director. “I’m relieved. I’m super excited. I can’t wait to drive it around town and I just can’t stop smiling.”
She said the vehicle, which is owned and insured by the Friends, will be used to meet the department’s needs as they arise. One particular function will likely be the Greenfield Grow and Go Project, a Friends of Greenfield Recreation initiative focused on maintaining and improving local parks and public community spaces.
Mik Muller, president of the Friends of Greenfield Recreation, said the organization used the equipment voucher and about $7,000 from the cash prize to purchase the vehicle and add lights and other features to it.
The Friends and representatives from MB Tractor & Equipment were joined at Beacon Field by Greenfield Mayor Ginny Desorgher to celebrate the award on Friday, when the organization received the new equipment and an oversized check to represent the financial donation.
“It’s quite an honor, and the only one in New England — one out of 10 [nationwide]. We were so blessed,” Desorgher said at the gathering.
Zach Langlois, sales manager for MB Tractor & Equipment, said the company was excited to help a small New England city this year.
“This program from Kubota is available to everybody across the country. … Municipalities, communities, nonprofits are all able to submit an application for the grant, and then Kubota has a process they go through to select recipients,” he said. “It’s exciting for us to see somebody in New England win it and have this happen up here.”
Muller took an opportunity at Friday’s gathering to thank Kubota for the award and the Recreation Department staff members for their tireless efforts on behalf of Greenfield.
“We are very pleased to receive this Kubota RTV, which will be a great help to the department,” he read from a statement.
The 2026 Kubota Hometown Proud grant program received at least 1,100 applications from communities across the country. Now in its sixth year, it has distributed at least $2.9 million in funding and equipment to projects nationwide.
