As we shared earlier, the WCC & Hunter Family co-sponsored an application in response to a request for proposals (RFP) for projects as part of a Gathering Places Grant that would bring gathering places to 3 communities throughout greater Seattle. The Gathering Places Grant is supported by a fantastic financial contribution by Tully’s Coffee and a services donation from the Pomegranate Center. Proposals were due April 15th and projects selected must be completed by the end of 2011.
The WCC & Hunter Family proposed a public/private partnership to improve the Hunter Tree Farm site along 35th Ave NE in the heart of Wedgwood to allow for greater and expanded public uses. The goal of this proposal would seemingly dovetail well with the community interests shared to the WCC through the Vision Plan process and at Wedgwood Park acquisition planning meetings. This proposal would be entirely separate from the park acquisition process which is still moving ahead. You can download the Hunter Farm Gathering Places application here.
The Pomegranate Center received 17 applications and selected 7 finalists. The WCC & Hunter Family’s application was chosen as one of the finalists!
Today, seven members of the leadership team identified in the grant application, including members of the Wedgwood Art Festival and Sustainable NE Seattle, met with 3 members of the Pomegranate Center’s selection committee for a site visit. The Pomegranate Center selection committee members were exceptionally gracious and had great questions about site design, site limitations, and logistics. Of course, we presented each of them with a Wedgwood t-shirt to thank them for considering our project. The selection committee should make a final decision by the end of the week or early part of next week at the latest.
Win or lose, we’ll keep you posted. Thank you again to all those that contributed to getting the application put together so quickly and for those from the leadership team that made it to the site visit today.
This is great news! I’m not surprised, though. This project has such great potential and seems to be an excellent fit for the intentions of the grantmakers. Thanks to all who hustled to get the application in!