Email: RARE@UWSWCD.Org
Title: Farm & Food Coordinator
Organization: Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District
Community: Lane County
Population: 382,218
County Served: Lane County

Meet Grant Simonton (he/him):

Grant was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, where he graduated from the University of Oregon in 2012, earning a B.A. in History and a minor in Political Science. He spent the ensuing years working in various industries including the service industry, financial services, health insurance, and e-commerce. Grant is passionate about community placemaking, human connection, and highlighting how individuals’ unique perspectives and identities strengthen communities and organizations. He loves hiking/backpacking in nature, meeting new people, cooking, spending time with his partner, playing soccer and ultimate frisbee and supporting the greatest soccer team in North London: Arsenal.

Community and Organization:

Grant is a 2nd year RARE member serving primarily with the Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District (UWSWCD), but also Food for Lane County (FFLC), both of which are based in Eugene and provide services and support to the entirety of Lane County. UWSWCD strives to assist the community in learning more about natural habitat conservation and protection, while providing technical assistance and financial support to property owners to help with restoration and conservation projects. FFLC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food bank dedicated to reducing hunger by engaging communities to create access to food by soliciting, collecting, rescuing, growing, preparing and packaging food for distribution through a network of social service agencies and programs.

Projects:

As a Farm & Food Coordinator, Grant is working to develop and implement a grantmaking program to support on-farm improvements and conservation practices while building a stronger network of local food resources to support Lane County residents experiencing food insecurity. This work will include drafting request-for-proposal materials, coordinating outreach efforts to farmers and ranchers, managing application and review processes, as well as supporting grant evaluation and funds disbursal. In addition, Grant is working with UWSWCD, FFLC and the Lane County Health Council to support the creation of a Lane Food Security Coalition (a national model that brings together stakeholders from multiple sectors to address food systems issues through collective action). His work includes conducting a county wide food needs and opportunities assessment, community outreach (interviews, focus groups, electronic surveys), cross sector collaboration, and long-term strategic planning.