The Community Foundation of Dunn County is passionate about supporting our local nonprofit organizations in their efforts to grow and progress as a community. That is why in August 2021, we awarded The Dunn County Historical Society a $5,000 competitive grant towards their Solar Victory Garden.
Just a mere three months into gathering funding for this project, the Historical Society had raised $35,000 out of a goal. Now, in January, the Society has raised $50,000! Not only that, they recently received a “Solar For Good” grant of $12,500 as well as a “Focus on Energy” rebate of $18,580 for a current total of $81,080 raised for the project.
“We have applied for other grants and are continuing our fundraising efforts,” Executive Director Melissa Kneeland said. “We have a lot of forward momentum and the goal is in sight!”
The solar panels and their installation costs $155,492. Melissa added that their “stretch goal” is $21,800 for further additions including fencing, security and additional labor/landscaping costs.
The Society is currently looking for businesses in Dunn County that are interested in supporting the project with matching donation challenges to help engage and inspire the community to help them reach the finish line.
About the Solar Victory Garden
The Dunn County Historical Society’s Solar Victory Garden (SVG) is a vibrant, forward thinking, exciting new initiative consisting of ground-mounted solar arrays to be installed at Rassbach Museum. These solar arrays will produce enough electricity through most of the year to power the museum facilities, ensuring substantial financial savings that will be invested in furthering the Society’s mission: “Formed in 1950, the Dunn County Historical Society discovers, preserves, interprets and shares knowledge about the history of Dunn County and its role in Wisconsin, and inspires interest in the past.”
The SVG project will meet The Society’s goals to create diverse income streams and reduce costs. Its theme of a WWII Victory Garden will utilize the innovations of the past to inspire the future. The SVG project will also respond to the Menomonie City Council’s resolution to join state, county and local agencies to ensure all electricity generated in the state is carbon-free by 2050. It will also inspire and demonstrate the utility, environmental, and financial benefits of solar panel power generation to the community as well as other non profit organizations.
The Society is working with Next Energy Solution, Inc. on this and the savings from this project are anticipated to be extremely significant, allowing the Society to continue in its goal to invest in its financial security, as well as create a sophisticated, forward thinking historical and educational center for Dunn County. This SVG is one of the pillars of the bridge to the Society’s future.