Metro blooms, a 501C3 nonprofit organization, is subcontracting with the board of water and soil resources to administer the lawns to legumes individual support awards program through metro bloom s…

Metro blooms, a 501C3 nonprofit organization, is subcontracting with the board of water and soil resources to administer the lawns to legumes individual support awards program through metro bloom s blue thumb program the lawns to legumes program provides cost share assistance to minnesota to help them install pollinator projects in their yards the program is committed to an equitable distribution of funds to residents in the state based on socio economic, environmental justice and geographic distribution the cost reimbursement requirement of the state funding is a barrier for residents on the basis of socio economic status and is an environmental justice concern by eliminating the cost reimbursement component for residents and providing direct voucher assistance we hope to reduce a barrier and improve participation from all residents, with particular emphasis on residents of low socioeconomic status in environmental justice areas of concern blue thumb staff will administer the program, provide information about the vouchers on the website, at the state fair and in media and community outreach to all residences with a focus on residents in environmental justice areas of the state for the fall 2022 cohort of potential applicants and awardees provide 250 native plant vouchers for up to 30 35 participants who indicate a need for voucher assistance and collect and report outcomes of vouchers distributed and projects completed by june 30, 2023