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City and Wells Fargo will present CommunityWINS check to Ecolibrium3

[Duluth, MN] The City of Duluth, and Wells Fargo will present a $50,000 check to Ecolibrium3 at 11:00a.m. on August 16 on the steps of City Hall. Mayor Emily Larson was recognized and honored in July with a 2019 CommunityWINS® Grant in the amount of $50,000 on behalf of the nonprofit Ecolibrium3.

The CommunityWINS Grant Program is funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and recognizes nonprofits and cities for leadership in driving neighborhood stabilization, economic development and job creation efforts. An independent panel of judges selected recipients of the Wells Fargo-funded grants from 188 applicants representing small, medium and large cities. Launched in 2015 with a three-year, $3 million commitment, the CommunityWINS grants program will extend into 2020 with an additional $3 million investment by the Wells Fargo Foundation, bringing the total to $6 million over six years.

“We are thrilled to receive this CommunityWINS grant. Ecolibrium3 does incredible work in the Duluth community, and we could not be more excited to have their Lincoln Park Community Solar project recognized,” said Mayor Larson.

“This project demonstrates how local solutions can address multiple community issues. The Lincoln Park Solar array will provide power to transitional housing for homeless vets and, over its 25+ year life, help approximately 500 families in crisis with emergency energy funds,” said Ecolibrium3 Founder and CEO, Jodi Slick. “Creative placemaking of the solar garden site will support a low-income neighborhood during 4-years of interstate reconstruction, expand social cohesion, honor the Anishinaabe people whose land our city was built upon, and declare our commitment to climate justice.”

Through this project, Ecolibrium3 will provide solar power to the Duluth families experiencing energy poverty and  offset electrical usage at the Duluth Veteran’s Place transitional housing project In addition, in collaboration with Duluth Public School, the initiative will pilot helping students learn from participating in community based improvement projects and support a volunteer-based energy efficiency and healthy housing program.

”Wells Fargo Bank is proud to partner with Ecolibrium3 and the City of Duluth. We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this great project in helping transform our Lincoln Park neighborhood,” said Sarah FitzGerald, Wells Fargo Bank Branch Manager. “Congratulations to Jodi and the Ecolibrium3 team on all of their success with this project. “

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