Civic

Below are recent grants made to Civic organizations through the Foundation's competitive grantmaking program. To view current trends and projects as reported by Civic organizations, visit the Civic Field Notes page.

American Legion, Jackson Hole Post #43            

Basement Entryway

$5,000

 The American Legion Post 43 is working hard to protect and maintain the historic American Legion building in downtown Jackson.  The entryway to this building is in disrepair and requires improvements.   The American Legion group finds that this work is important for the safety of all those using this entrance, as well as the security and well being of the building.  This building is made available to local groups and has a long history of housing community meetings.  (2007)

Friends of Pathways

Teton Pass Winter Trail Ambassador

$6,720                                     

Advances in skiing/snowboarding technology, convenient roadside access and expensive ski-area lift tickets have caused explosive growth in the recreational use of Teton Pass during the past decade. Its popularity, particularly with inexperienced backcountry travelers, has created user conflicts and serious safety issues that are threatening both the natural environment and skiers/snowboarders.  To mitigate conflict and safety concerns, a Winter Trail Ambassador was employed to provide recreationalists with the information needed to be respectful to other users and to this world-class backcountry destination.  A grant from the Community Foundation will underwrite the expansion of the Ambassador program,  allowing the Trail Ambassador to reach 1,600 area users. (2008)

Jackson Hole Community Radio

Start Up Equipment for Community Radio Programming

$10,000                                   

While Jackson's service and artistic communities have matured, their access to public media has diminished.  Several years ago Jackson lost its only locally produced television programming and our two papers merged.  The local newspaper's efforts to cover our community, while significant, are inherently editorialized and untimely due to its once a week publication schedule.   Lack of voice leads to exclusion.  Jackson Hole Radio's programming will facilitate inclusion and cultural diversity and encourage discussion, debate, interaction and a voice for the voiceless.  Community Radio's open-access programming will also allow local non-profit organizations and members of our community reach 19,000 resident listeners with information about activities and services.  A grant from the Community Foundation will partially fund the equipment required to bring a new non-profit, community-based public radio station to serve the Jackson Hole region.  This grant will also support the grantee's effort to complete a federal matching grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce for  $273,000 for this project. (2008)

Old Wilson School Community Center

Programming Start-up

$15,000                                          

The Old Wilson School Community Center provides a much-needed gathering space to regular tenants and occasional users.  The community need is clear: in its last full year of operation (2005), the Old Wilson School hosted 11,800 visits.  The value of the physical space can only be realized through proper management.  A grant from the Community Foundation will allow the Wilson School to welcome regular tenants and occasional users back into the community space while providing quality programs that reflect community interest and help engender a sense of community.  New programming will be developed in response to a community-wide survey, to be conducted in early 2008.  With the a grant from the Community Foundation, the Old Wilson School will be hosting more than 13,000 visits a year by 2009. (2008)