Two Ned-area organizations were awarded a collective $93,113 from Boulder County in a recent round of grant funding meant to further climate action. 

The Nederland Food Pantry is set to receive $49,485 to create a “community-led garden” that will help “strengthen food access, environmental justice, and collective resilience in the face of climate change,” according to the meeting packet.

The garden will feature “water-efficient raised beds, cold frames and a potential greenhouse,” the memo stated.

Coal Creek’s Wondervu neighborhood will receive $43,628 to strengthen its wildfire mitigation. Wondervu has the highest wildfire risk in Coal Creek Canyon, according to a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

Dense vegetation, older homes, steep terrain, an abundance of overhead power lines and limited water access—including zero fire hydrants—make Wondervu vulnerable.

In addition, there are only two ways in and out of the community, which straddles Boulder and Gilpin Counties. Poorly maintained roads that cannot accommodate two-way traffic or turnarounds also complicate firefighting efforts. 27% of the roads in Wondervu are considered “non-survivable,” according to the CWPP.

Funds will be used for “strengthening local leadership, improving emergency communication,  building agency partnerships, and advancing evacuation and mitigation planning through community-led decision making,” the memo states.

Commissioners approved the funding at a November 13 meeting. Thirteen other grantees were also announced, totaling $2 million.

Learn more about the recent grants at bouldercounty.gov/news/fifteen-organizations-to-receive-2-million-for-climate-action-projects-throughout-boulder-county