GROW Merger Plans
GROW Plans Merger with Hillview Urban Agriculture Center
Hillview Urban Agriculture Center (Hillview) and GROW La Crosse (GROW) plan a merger that will take place in early 2020.
The GROW and Hillview boards will be working together to define the merger agreement over the next two months. The missions of GROW and Hillview are well aligned and working as one in our community will have a greater impact.
GROW is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect children to healthy food and nature through school garden education and farm experiences. GROW started when a small group of dedicated parents began one school garden in 2011. Over the past eight years GROW has thrived by evolving to meet the needs of the community. Now the organization has eight school garden sites in Minnesota and Wisconsin and a local organic farm for farm experiences.
Hillview holds the mission of creating a healthy community through a local, sustainable, and accessible food system by:
- Building soil with food waste
- Educating and inspiring people of all ages and abilities to grow food
- Preparing and preserving healthy food together
- Supporting a food system that serves all our community needs
Hillview Urban Agriculture Center is a non-profit grassroots organization based in La Crosse. Hillview was formed in 2010 with the belief that everyone in our community should – and can – have access to healthy, local food. Hillview Urban Agriculture Center grew out of the Hillview Greenhouse Life Center that was established by in 1912.
“Hillview is thrilled to merge with GROW La Crosse to continue the work of creating a healthy local food system. GROW has been a valuable partner in this work and we feel that merging is the natural next step to ensuring the La Crosse community has access to nature and a thriving local food system for many years to come.” Mackenzie Mindel, Hillview Board President
“Hillview has been an important presence in our community and has gained much ground in making healthy and local food accessible. We are honored that they picked GROW to continue to carry on their work. GROW will be teaching composting and soil building to over 2000 students this spring to reflect Hillview’s mission,” stated Jamie O’Neill, GROW’s executive director.
There is tremendous enthusiasm and excitement on the boards as the merger moves forward.