Bobcat Co., National Recreation and Park Association Award Grants
Bobcat Co. and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) are celebrating the culmination of their 2023 partnership grant to create vibrant and sustainable community park and recreation areas. Through this partnership, Bobcat awarded five grants, each worth $50,000, to support five park improvement projects in communities throughout the country.
“Through our partnership with NRPA, we were able to invest time and resources for the betterment of communities nationwide,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “The five awarded grants created opportunities for communities to improve their recreation areas, focus on sustainability and encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors.”
The grant recipients and completed projects include:
- City of Stonecrest in Stonecrest, Ga.: The City of Stonecrest, located east of Atlanta, used the grant dollars to develop a walking trail at Everett Park. The new 1.5-mile trail meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and opens up the dense forest to allow park enthusiasts to access an overlook by the South River. Bobcat of Atlanta supported locally with in-kind use of Bobcat equipment and volunteer aid.
- Davidson County Parks and Recreation in Lexington, N.C.: Grant dollars supported a pollinator garden and bog garden at a newly created park called Yadkin River Park. The gardens are designed to protect the surrounding community from adverse effects like water pollution and flooding. Local Bobcat dealership R. S. Braswell Co. (which includes Bobcat of Charlotte, Bobcat of Monroe, Bobcat of Rock Hill, R.S. Braswell Co. in Kannapolis, N.C., and coming soon Bobcat of Lexington) supported the project through volunteer aid and Bobcat equipment to transfer material on the project site.
- City of Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y.: The City of Buffalo Parks and Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust partnered on a 22-acre conservation easement known as Houghton Park. The grant dollars helped transform what was once a dumping ground of large broken concrete slabs, bricks and stones, into an open nature conservation area in a dense urban neighborhood overlooking the Buffalo River. Bobcat of Buffalo helped support the teams locally by assisting with the removal of heavy debris on site.
- San Antonio River Authority in San Antonio, Texas: The San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) developed new trails, created two bioswales and planted more than 800 native plants and grasses at its 351-acre Trueheart Ranch Park which fronts the San Antonio River. According to the Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation for the River Authority, Kristen Hansen, the native species not only contribute to the beauty of the grounds but also positively contribute to the health of the park’s ecosystem. Bobcat of San Antonio partnered with the River Authority during its planting initiatives bringing loaders, excavators, and utility vehicles to help with site work.
- City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation in Auburn, Wash.: Located south of Seattle, the City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation created a more inclusive environment for the community by creating new ADA-compliant gravel pathways at Auburndale Park. The project reinvigorated two existing pathways to remove the outdated asphalt and replace it with crushed gravel. Bobcat of Seattle provided in-kind volunteer aid and Bobcat equipment to demo the asphalt and help install the paths to proper grade.
Jobber Opens Grant Program Applications
Jobber, a provider of operations management software for home service businesses, opened applications for Jobber Grants, its annual program that recognizes excellence in home service across the U.S. and Canada. Applications are open through June 12, 2024.
Fifteen businesses will be awarded the same grant amount of $10,000 USD totaling $150,000. Everyone from aspiring to experienced home service business owners are invited to apply at jobber.com/grants.
“Jobber is an entrepreneurship enablement company and Jobber Grants is one way we help hard-working service pros jump start or grow their existing businesses,” said Sam Pillar, CEO and co-founder of Jobber. “Entrepreneurship and small businesses are critical to maintaining healthy communities and strong economies. I’m so inspired by the stories of the 85 business owners who have received Jobber grants so far, and look forward to seeing how the next 15 make a difference in their communities and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.”
While grants in the previous four years ranged in size, this year’s amount will allow recipients to achieve bigger goals and make a more meaningful impact in their communities. The five-minute application is designed to be easily completed by busy entrepreneurs in any home service industry, including lawn care, plumbing, residential cleaning, car detailing and pressure washing.
Jobber Grants is organized into several categories that reflect the diverse representation of excellence across home service. The categories include:
- Home Service Heroes: Business owners who keep our homes and offices safe and running smoothly.
- Career Builders: Business owners who help hardworking people build meaningful careers.
- Smooth Operators: Business owners who prioritize technology and innovation to run a smooth business.
- Community Caretakers: Business owners who give back to the communities where they live and work.
Recipients can choose how to use the grant to support their ambitious business goals and innovative ideas. Whether a company is looking to purchase new equipment, launch a new service, train its teams or spend marketing dollars, funds from the Jobber Grants program are designed to help small business owners be more successful.
Finalists will be announced in August 2024. To learn more about Jobber Grants or to apply, visit jobber.com/grants.
Takeuchi Names New Attachment Specialist
Takeuchi-U.S. has added Scott Utzman as its new attachment specialist.
In this role, Utzman will be responsible for attachment sales and support for the company’s dealer and national rental accounts throughout North America. He will work with dealer management, sales personnel and their customers to demonstrate, promote and support the Takeuchi attachment product line. Utzman will also train dealer sales personnel on attachment features, benefits and applications.
“Attachments are an essential and growing part of the compact equipment industry,” said Henry Lawson, director of North American sales for Takeuchi. “Scott’s extensive experience in product and attachment development will be vital as we continue to expand this segment of our business. We look forward to Scott’s contribution to our overall attachment sales and support efforts.”
Utzman joined Takeuchi-U.S. in 2005 as the company’s regional parts manager, eventually promoting to assistant parts manager and national parts manager. From there, he applied his extensive parts experience to a new career path as a customer support manager, eventually managing Takeuchi’s Attachment Program when it launched in early 2021.
