THRIVE Santa Ana

THRIVE acquired its first piece of land with a 99-year long-term lease back in March of 2020. This project, called the Walnut and Daisy Micro-farm is a key milestone for THRIVEs growth as a land steward. In December 2022, THRIVE finalized the 99-year long-term lease contract. Excitedly, THRIVE has begun the grading construction process for THRIVEs first resident-led development project, the Walnut and Daisy Micro Farm at 1901 W Walnut St. Santa Ana, CA 92703. THRIVE selected All American Construction Solutions and executed a contract for the construction of the micro-farm. Construction is set to be completed this December 2023. We envision this land to help us heal, organize, share stories and skills, incubate, and launch the urban food systems that our region needs. THRIVE Santa Ana has partnered with local cooperatives CRECE Urban Farms, La Milpa Caf, master artisan Gelacio Mendez, Cooperacin Santa Ana and nonprofit design company City Fabrick, to create a beautiful design for the Walnut and Daisy Micro-Farm. This is Santa Anas first community land project, with space for farming, sale of locally produced food and crafts, community space for events and gatherings, and farmers markets! In 2022, THRIVE advanced its Strategic and Business Planning, increased administrative and staff capacity, and strengthened local partnerships. THRIVE contracted The Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) to lead THRIVEs strategic planning process. Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) has agreed to provide Business Planning services for THRIVE. Preliminary meetings occurred from March through May 2023, with THRIVE providing extensive background and financial materials, in preparation for more in-depth financial planning. At the same time, THRIVE interviewed 5 Strategic Planning Consultants, and selected CNM to help THRIVE set organizational goals for the next 3 to 5 years. Towards the end of Strategic Planning, NFF will complete Business Planning around THRIVEs newly established goals.Collaborative grant writing has emerged as a powerful strategy among longtime community partners, supported by contracted grant writers. The local Economia Comunitaria Regenerativa: Santa Ana Shared Financing Collaborative, embodies this collective work to resource values-aligned work towards inclusive community ownership, and economic projects as vehicles for racial justice. Cooperacin Santa Ana and CRECE Urban Farms have partnered with THRIVE on various grant applications, with the support of local grant writers.THRIVE successfully obtained state wide and federal funding for the Walnut and Daisy Micro-Farm, in collaboration with local partners CRECE Urban Farms and Cooperacin Santa Ana. The States Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF), administered by the Workforce Development Agency and several economic development agencies under the Governors Office, selected the Micro-Farm as a pilot project. THRIVE and our project partners are excited to see over a decade of community work come to fruition, and we're motivated as ever to advance a community-driven model of economic development.As THRIVE prepares to launch a long term stewardship of the micro-farm, opportunities are emerging for additional Community Land Trust sites. In preliminary discussions with the City of Santa Ana, in light of new acquisition funds, THRIVE is identifying potential new sites. THRIVE is seeking new additional sites to achieve greater land access for low-income residents of color, who THRIVE feels most accountable to and hopes to connect residents to more open spaces, affordable housing, local jobs, and business opportunities.