SITKA – Transition Sitka announced today that it has been selected by Philanthropy Northwest to receive a $345,000 grant through the Thriving Communities Program, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award will support the development of the Jarvis Street Community Garden, a project aimed at enhancing local food security, sustainable community resilience and cooperative civic engagement.

Since its founding in late 2021, Transition Sitka has sought to advance strategies that will help pave the way toward a more self-reliant future for the community. The nonprofit has led or partnered on several local initiatives including hosting several electrification expositions, launching the 2024 Sitka Community Food Assessment Indicators report and obtaining — in partnership with the Sitka Local Foods Network — a long-term land lease from the City and Borough of Sitka for the Jarvis Street Community Garden.

The grant comes via the EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, administered regionally by Philanthropy Northwest. This program is part of the larger federal effort under the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure equitable access to environmental funding for under-resourced communities. Philanthropy Northwest is distributing more than $40 million across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and tribal nations, aiming to award subgrants for assessment, planning, and project development.

Over the next two years, Transition Sitka’s grant will enable major improvements to be made to the garden site, including the building of a modest multipurpose structure incorporating under a single roof an open-sided shelter, an enclosed storage room and a restroom. Once complete, the garden will offer:

• A locally cultivated source of healthy produce, reducing reliance on imported goods.

• Opportunities for residents to engage in and learn more about organic gardening.


• A hub for promoting community health, connection, and resilience.

“We are deeply honored to receive this grant from Philanthropy Northwest,” said Barbara Bingham, President of Transition Sitka. “This funding ensures that we’ll be able to provide community members with a substantial number of gardening spaces by spring of next year, and hopefully have all spaces at the Jarvis Street Garden growing healthy food by spring of 2027.”

For more information, contact Project Manager Joel Hanson at 907-747-9834, or submit email inquiries to transitionsitka@gmail.com.