Sustainability Efforts Abound in Volusia County

Four projects that will restore, construct and improve popular facilities around the county earned $1.3 million in financial backing earlier this month from the Volusia County Council, according to a media release.

The council unanimously approved four grant awards through the Volusia County ECHO program, a voter-approved initiative that helps fund projects for environmental, cultural, historical, and outdoor recreational purposes. All four grant requests were reviewed and recommended for approval by the County Council’s ECHO Advisory Committee.

The grants included:

• Hub on Canal: $600,000 to construct a 3,100-square-foot educational building that will feature two ceramics studios, two classrooms for art and cultural activities, storage space, restrooms, and a covered outdoor area for additional programming and activities.
• Conservation Florida: $600,000 to restore and convert a 5,000-square-foot existing building into a nature center on conservation land in the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
• City of DeBary: $110,000 to add a third pickleball court at Bill Keller Park, resurface the tennis and basketball courts, and add new fencing and LED lighting.
• Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach: $57,500 for an LED cyclorama that will serve as a versatile backdrop for events and transparent LED panels to improve visibility and provide real-time announcements.

To complete the projects, the grant funds will be leveraged with combined partner investments and match from the applicants totaling $3 million, the release states.

Local businesses can also get on the sustainability bandwagon at the Sustainability and Economic Growth Summit from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 4, at Stetson University’s Carlton Union Building, 131 E. Minnesota Ave. in DeLand.

This event is presented by Green Volusia in partnership with the DeLand and Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce.

Attendees will hear from industry professionals, local businesses, and subject matter experts on how to leverage sustainability insights for economic success, according to a media release. Highlights include a keynote address from Climate First Bank, a leader in sustainability investing; a Green Volusia session with sustainability trailblazer Northwest Square; and a native plant and landscaping walking tour. Attendees will also get a first glance at the Green Volusia Business Recognition Program, which honors local businesses that implement environmentally sustainable practices.

Green Volusia, a Volusia County initiative, provides information about environmentally responsible practices and encourages stewardship and conservation of natural resources the release states.