Grant from Gilead Foundation Advances Foster City’s Commitment to Sustainability
For immediate release: December 20, 2022
Contact: City Manager's Office, (650) 286-3220, manager@fostercity.org
The City of Foster City is excited to announce the acceptance of a $500,000 grant from the Gilead Foundation which will help finance green building measures in the Recreation Center Replacement Project. During a special meeting Monday, December 19, the City Council unanimously approved acceptance of the grant money intended for building the new center to achieve LEED certification, additional energy efficiency features, and more.
“We are deeply grateful for the continued generosity of the Gilead Foundation, which has been an enduring partner and committed collaborator with the City of Foster City on a variety of critical initiatives,” said Mayor Jon Froomin. “This $500,000 grant from the Gilead Foundation will advance the City’s commitment to sustainability and climate resiliency by helping introduce green building features to the new Recreation Center – a major infrastructure project that will improve quality of life in Foster City for generations to come.”
The grant comes in the wake of Foster City and Gilead earlier this year reconfirming their partnership intended to advance the organizations’ shared strategic goal of building a brighter future through a commitment to community, sustainability, and equity.
“The Gilead Foundation is proud to support Foster City’s efforts to rebuild a modern and more sustainable Recreation Center,” said Kate Wilson, Executive Director, Gilead Foundation. “Designing an environmentally-friendly facility will help contribute to the health and wellbeing of our local community in Foster City, where we’ve been committed to being a good neighbor for more than three decades.”
The City Council has advanced plans to rebuild the Recreation Center by deciding to move forward with a “build-to-budget” option with a not-to-exceed budget of $55 million. The existing Recreation Center, located in Leo J. Ryan Park, is nearly 50 years old and necessary investment in infrastructure improvements are required to meet current structural, seismic, and programmatic needs, as well as emergency shelter readiness. The design phase for the project is expected to begin January 2023, and construction is anticipated to take place in 2024.
###
