This fall, the Sustainable Finger Lakes Neighborhood Mini-Grant program expanded into Schuyler, Seneca, and Yates Counties for the first time, and separately awarded a 60th round of grants in Tompkins County. From forestry and first aid to food sharing, pollinator gardens, and region-wide sustainability education, these grants to simple projects by local residents will build community resilience and environmental stewardship in our home county and beyond.
Claire Mullen received a grant for first-aid supplies which will be on offer to guests at Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County in Ithaca, offering medically underserved individuals the means to treat minor injuries and prevent dangerous infections.
The Dryden Rail Trail Task Force, a community group, received a grant to create a “mini-forest” of native trees and shrubs alongside a section of the Dryden Rail Trail in Etna. Complete with plant ID labels and educational signage, the mini-forest will support wildlife and inspire hikers who may be interested in doing native plantings elsewhere.
The Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming received a grant for trees and signage to create an agroforestry demonstration site at their Incubator Farm, which will be designed and implemented through a collaborative workshop series teaching underserved farmers about regenerative farming for climate resilience.
Ithaca Community Gardens received a grant for materials to build four locust-wood raised beds (pictured above) at the garden in Ithaca’s Northside where subscribing households grow their own organic produce. The beds will make more of these plots accessible to gardeners with impaired abilities to bend or kneel.
Lansing Loves to Read received a grant in support of their new Bookshelves for a Brighter Future project, buying and refurbishing used bookshelves to stock with donated books and distribute to low-income households in Lansing.
WRFI Community Radio, an Ithaca-based nonprofit station broadcasting to Tompkins County and five other counties in the Southern Finger Lakes area, received a grant seeks to produce and air a series of radio announcements about regional sustainability organizations, initiatives, and resources.
Keuka and Seneca Watersheds Chapter
The Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library in Odessa received a grant to create an on-site pollinator garden with birdbaths and bee houses.
The Interlaken Community Action Group received a grant in support of their new Good Neighbors Interlaken initiative, a coordinated system of residents working as vetted volunteers to help their neighbors with repairs, yardwork, transportation, resource-finding, and other tasks that build community connections and equitable access to necessities.
The Lodi Food Pantry, a critical food source for many locals, is developing a grocery-store-style setup where patrons gather food items of choice. They received a grant to facilitate its use with rolling-crate grocery carts for patrons and a coat rack for their volunteer workers.
Montour Falls Memorial Library received a grant to revitalize their rain garden (watered with rainwater runoff) by replanting it with native plants for pollinator support and public educational programming, all in collaboration with the Village of Montour Falls and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County.
The Town of Hector Sustainability Committee, a volunteer group, received a grant to create a small pollinator garden in Mecklenberg Park, a public space managed by the Town of Hector.
Since 2008, the Neighborhood Mini-Grant program has awarded over $100,000 in over 250 grants to initiatives building local resilience, equity, and environmental stewardship. They aim to start a third chapter in 2026, covering Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga counties. The program is sponsored in 2025 by Craig Riecke, Applied Energy Services (AES), Visions Federal Credit Union, Wegmans, Park Foundation, and local donors.
Give the gift of a mini-grant. All donations made through December 2, 2025 will contribute directly to the Neighborhood Mini-Grant fund. To donate or learn more about how you can sponsor a project, please visit sustainablefingerlakes.org/support-us/
