Utah Conservation Corps Secures Utah Pollinator Habitat Program Grant

LOGAN, Utah — The Utah Conservation Corps has been awarded support from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s Utah Pollinator Habitat Program.

The grant includes approximately 300 upland plants that will be used in the Utah Conservation Corps’ Urban Community Farm, a food security project producing and donating locally grown crops to the community.

Erica Saunders, Utah Conservation Corps individual placement coordinator, said she’s grateful for the Utah Pollinator Habitat Program’s support as the corps improves the habitat quality and educational value of the property it manages.

“We hope that the addition of native pollinator plants at the Urban Community Farm will serve as an example of restoration in action for our volunteers and community members,” Saunders said. “Attracting more pollinators will also help our farm crops become more productive”

Project applicants were awarded plant kits based on a set of criteria that support Utah’s native pollinators. This program funding is possible thanks to HB 224 and HB 251 passed by the Utah State Legislature.

The Urban Community Farm grows seasonal produce and provides education and volunteer opportunities to schools and community members.

The Utah Conservation Corps is an AmeriCorps program within the Utah State University Center for Community Engagement. Since 2001, more than 3,000 Utah Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members have served 2.2 million hours creating or maintaining over 5,000 miles of trail and 500 miles of fence, restoring approximately 80,000 acres of public land and reaching nearly 550,000 students individuals with environmental education.

For more information about the Utah Conservation Corps, visit www.usu.edu/ucc.