In celebration of its 50th anniversary in the U.S., Kubota grew its Kubota Hometown Proud community grant program sixfold in the program’s second year. This year’s recipient of the community choice grant — the 55-acre Homesteads for Hope — is being awarded an additional $100,000.
Kubota has already awarded $600,000 in grants to communities across the country. “Kubota Hometown Proud” — which encourages cities, towns, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations to partner with their local Kubota dealership and apply for consideration — launched a call-for-entries in April and Kubota selected its five regional grant winners in May.
Each regional winner was awarded $100,000 to support their community revitalization project. Back in July, all five community projects were put up for a public vote to determine one lucky community that would receive an additional $100,000 with the program’s “Community Choice Grant,” which ultimately went to Homesteads for Hope, a community garden for adults with disabilities located in Rochester, New York.
“For 50 years, our iconic orange equipment has been helping hard-working Americans maintain their communities and enhance their overall way of life, from projects in rural landscapes, to those in urban cityscapes,” said Todd Stucke, Kubota Senior Vice President, Marketing, Product Support & Strategic Projects.
“This year the Kubota Hometown Proud grant program saw almost 900 applicants, from nearly every state in the country. That’s why we are incredibly honored to increase our investment in the Kubota Hometown Proud grant program in honor of our anniversary and give back to more communities and dealers who helped shape who we are today. We hope our equipment will assist in bringing each winner’s vision to life and serve each hometown community for many years to come.”
Homesteads for Hope is a 55-acre community farm and intentional community that breaks down barriers with programs that use “nature’s classroom” to teach adults with disabilities important life skills and how to work real jobs. The grant will be used to expand Homesteads for Hope’s Social Garden Program for those with more challenging needs and mobility-based disabilities.
Using awarded funds, the program will double their 80-plot community garden and the program’s impact and renovate the estate home with new doors and windows to weatherproof the main program spaces for year-round use.
