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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Dev Grant Request - Weed PullEconomic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program Organization: Deschutes County Weed Board/Bend Orchard Neighborhood Association Organization Description: The Deschutes County Weed Board advises the BOCC on matters relating to noxious weeds and provides oversight of the county's vegetation management program. The Orchard Neighborhood Association works with the Weed Board to collect private donations and sponsorship for Let's Pull Together. Project Name: Let's Pull Together Project Description: Let's Pull Together is a countywide effort to raise awareness about noxious weeds and invasive species. Over the past six years, it has grown from an Orchard Neighborhood Association's weed pull to what is now a statewide campaign. There are 17 weed pull sites identified countywide in Bend, Redmond, Sisters and La Pine. Last year, more than 891 volunteers participated in Deschutes County. In the past, a stipend for the event organizer has come from State and Provate Forest Health Act grant funding. This program has been cut substantially and its future is in serious doubt. Project Period: June 14, 2008 Amount of Request: $7,000 Previous Grants: May 2007 - $1,500 Let's Pull Together (Baney $1,000; Luke $500) coo02 C G Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Direct Application to: Commissioner Tammy Baney Commissioner Dennis R. Luke Date: 4-29-08 Project Name: Project Beginning Date: Amount of Request: Commissioner Michael M. Daly All Three Commissioners x Let's Pull Together, County -wide weed pull March 1, 2008 $7,000 Applicant/Organization: Address: Project End Date: Date Funds Needed: Tax ID #: City & Zip: Telephone: Email: Deschutes County Weed Board for the Orchard Neighborhood Assoc. 1300 NW Wall Street Contact Name(s): Fax: Paul Stell, Bend Metro Park & Recreation District and Dan Sherwin, Deschutes Co. 388 3613 Alternate Phone: 948 4088 June 14. 2008 May 15, 2008 11 - 3687192 Bend 97701 388 5435 or 3227135 naul(a�bendnarksandrece. ore On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. Amount Approved: Declined: By: Date: By: Date: On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. The Deschutes County Weed Board advises the BOCC on matters relating to noxious weeds and provides oversight of the County's vegetation management program. The non-profit Bend Orchard Neighborhood Association works with the Weed Board as a mechanism through which private donations and sponsorships are channeled for Let's Pull together. The Weed Board Chair is Paul Stell, Natural Resource Manager for Bend Metro Park & Recreation District. Cheryl Howard is a founding member of the Orchard Neighborhood Association, a Weed Board member and weed pull event organizer. Dan Sherwin is the Deschutes County Vegetation Manger. Along with other members of the Weed Board and many volunteers these are the lead people regarding the Let's Pull Together weed pull event and those requesting funds from the Deschutes County Economic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program. The Weed Board supports the Vegetation Manager with several out reach efforts throughout the year, including the County Fair, Home and Garden Show, Sportsman Show, Riverfest, Neighborhood and Homeowner Association meetings, Farm Bureau, Cattlemen's Association, Soil and Water Conservation District and many other points of contact with the public. Let's Pull Together is the biggest outreach effort for the Weed Board and has been a tremendous success and a model for the state as featured on Oregon Public Broadcasting's Oregon Field Guide. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. Let's Pull Together is a county -wide effort to raise awareness about noxious weeds and invasive species. Over the last six years it has grown from the Orchard Neighborhood Association's first weed pull to what is now a statewide campaign. Other counties have started their own weed pulls following Deschutes County's example. There are so far 17 weed pull sites identified countywide in Bend, Redmond, Sisters and La Pine. Last year over 891 volunteers participated in Let's Pull Together in Deschutes County. The event also continues to receive support from Central Oregon's legislators, city councils and mayors. Funding for Let's Pull Together in the past has come from sponsors and donors (see #6) as well as grants. A stipend for the event organizer has come from State and Private Forest Health Act grant funding. This program has been cut substantially and its future, like the Timber Receipt Replacement funding, is in serious doubt. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. Normally, preparations begin at the first of the year. Last fall Let's Pull Together organizer, Cheryl Howard was approached by SOLV (Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism) and it appeared they might assist with funding Let's Pull Together as one of their statewide programs. That did not come to pass and valuable time was lost that would have been used to do the necessary solicitations for sponsorship of the weed pull on June 14. Below is listed the sponsors and donors that have made the weed pull possible and are now being contacted again for this year's event. Ms. Howard has donated countless hours over the past 3 years to make the event happen. This year her personal situation has not allowed as much time for making all the contacts with the many businesses to enlist their support. However, the event is a very successful means for the Weed Board to get out a very positive message about invasive species and we wish it to continue. Following is an outline of Weed Pull Coordinator, Howard's scope of work for the 2008 Let's Pull Together. • Write press releases. • Coordinate media and advertising with city, county and all Deschutes County publishers and broadcasters. • Coordinate participating organizations, sponsors, in kind, support crews. • Coordinate diverse weed pull locations. • Provide direction and support for site coordinators and noxious weed experts, schools, park district, volunteer organizations. • Secure appropriate permits, waivers and insurance forms for each weed site, festivities from city/parks. • Coordinate all advertising, logo submission review with graphic design firm and tee- shirts from Specialty advertising. • Secure sponsorships and in-kind sponsorships. • Invitations to dignitaries (representatives, city council, chamber, etc.). • Coordinate weed pick up and disposal, all locations. • Secure BBQ's permits from the health department, • Rent or purchase tents, tables, hardware, food items, refreshments, disposal, entertainment, vendors, ADA accessibility plans, etc. • Secure prizes for festivities. • Coordinate and produce the program. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. Noxious weeds have a direct correlation with property values and environmental health. Agriculture and urban lands infested with weeds are not as productive or as appealing as a healthy landscape. Invasive species displace native plant communities and have a direct impact on wildlife. The primary engine in the Central Oregon economy is tourism. Weed infested landscapes detract from the natural beauty of Deschutes County. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. Raising awareness about noxious weeds will benefit everyone in Deschutes County, but specifically ranchers, farmers, real estate, COBA, tourism industry, fire fighters and wildlife. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Sponsors 2007 Bonneville Power LPT Costs 2006 2007 Print Ft Ads Pronto Print 1518 1633 The Nugget 684 0 The Source Weekly 1474 1772 The Bulletin 1132 1184 The Redmond Current 506 0 News Channel 21 5200 0 Printing Signs x20 100 0 The Frontier 315 0 10929 4589 1500 BBQ 2006 2007 Costco 1465 1500 Redmond Lockers donated 671 Greg Cross 200 200 Culinary 200 1334 Southwick T-shirts 3300 3100 500 May 01 08 06:57a Cheryl Howard :NTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE P. O. BOX 2508 CINCINNATI, OH 45201 r� 0V a 7 Zoos Date: CRCHARDS DISTRICT N=IGHBORROOD ASSOCIATION 1900 NE THIRD ST, SUITE 106 PIM 49 BEND, OR 97701-3854 Dear.Applicant: 541-385-7906 p.1 DEPARTVENT OF THE TREASURY Employer Identification number: 11-3687192 DLN: 170532 73813055 Contact Person: THOMAS C KOESTER Contact Telephone Number: (877) 829-5500 Public Charity Status: 170 (b) (1) (A) (vi) ID# 31116 Our letter dated October 2003, stated you would be exempt mor Federal income tax under section 501(c) (3) of the -ncernal Revenu,;( de, and you would be treated as a public charity, rather than as a private foundation, during an advance ruling period. Based on the information you submitted, you are classified as a public charity under the Code section listed in the heading of this letter. Since your exempt status was not under consideration, you continue to be classified as an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Code. Publication 557, Tax -Exempt Status for Your Organization, provides detailed information about your rights and responsibilities as an exempt organization. You may request a copy by calling the toll-free number for forms, (800) 829-3676. Information is also available on our Internet Web Site at www.irs.gov. If you have general questions about exempt organizations, please call cur toll-free number shown in the heading. Please keep this letter in your permanent records. Sincerely yours, 5/. Lois G. Lerner Director, Exempt Organizations Rulings and Agreements (3440010640%.....0 Letter 1050 (DO/CG) 11 SISTERS (June 21st) Location: Whychus Creek (Meet @ USFS Ranger District Office in Sisters) SISTERS, OREGON BEND, OREGON _AOIlumih,. NORTH LaPINE Location: LaPine High School (Meet @ LaPine High School) CROOK COUNTY (June 3rd) Location: TBD (Meet @ Crook County Extension Office on Lynn Blvd at 11:OOam) CROOK COUNTY Lune 7th) Location: TBD (Meet @ Crook County Extension Office next to the Fairgrounds at 8:30am) 10 12 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ORCHARD DISTRICT Neighborhood LARKSPUR Neighborhood MOUNTAIN VIEW Neighborhood OLD FARM DISTRICT Neighborhood SOUTHEAST Neighborhood BOYD ACRES Neighborhood Location: Pilot Butte State Park (Meet @ parking lot at the base of PBSP) RIVERWEST Neighborhood Location: 12th & Portland Ave CENTURY WEST Neighborhood Location: Cascade Middle School (Meet @ Skyline Sports Park Parking Lot) SOUTHERN CROSSING Neighborhood Location: Blakely Park OLD BEND Neighborhood Location: C.O. Environmental Center (Meet @ 16 NW Kansas) SUMMIT WEST Neighborhood NORTHWEST CROSSING Neighborhood Location: NorthWest Crossing (Meet @ 2762 NW Crossing Dr.) SOUTHWEST Neighborhood Location: River Rim REDMOND Location: Valley View Park (Meet @ 3660 SW Reservoir) REDMOND Location: Eagle Ridge Sports Center (Meet @ Eagle Crest Resort) REDMOND, OREGON 9