Logan city launches Project Inspire

The City of Logan is inviting students to turn creative ideas into community projects through a new grant program tied to the America250 celebration. 

Project Inspire will award nine $500 grants to students at Utah State University, Logan High School and Logan Middle School. Organizers hope the program will encourage young people to design projects that bring residents together and improve the community. 

 Suggested projects could range from public events to service initiatives. Logan Mayor Mark Anderson said proposals might include charity fundraisers, arts activities or educational gatherings that respond to local needs. 

 Anderson said the idea originated from his desire to highlight youth creativity as part of the city’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. 

 “One of our pillars of the celebration is inspiration,” Anderson said. “As I tried to figure out how to inspire our community, I thought about the people that inspire me, and it’s my kids.” 

 Anderson said watching his daughters pursue ambitious goals helped him recognize meaningful work does not always require large budgets. Instead, he wanted to provide small amounts of seed money that could help students bring thoughtful ideas to life. 

 “We don’t need a lot of money to be creative and to do something that really makes a difference,” he said. 

 Each institution will receive three grants worth $500 apiece. Students may apply individually or in groups by submitting written proposals, videos or both. Applications are evaluated based on creativity, potential community impact and how clearly students explain their ideas and plans for using the funds. 

 Anderson said he is looking for projects that immediately stand out. 

 “I want to look at it and go, ‘That’s awesome,’” he said. “How many people is it going to affect? How many people can participate?” 

 Funding for the program is shared equally among the city, the Logan City School District and Utah State, each contributing $1,500. 

 If strong applications exceed available funding, Anderson said he plans to seek additional sponsors from local businesses to expand the number of awards. 

 The application deadline is currently March 20, though Anderson said it may be extended to accommodate student schedules. 

 Utah State University leaders say the program strengthens ties between campus and community. 

 Devin Wiser, vice president for government and external affairs at Utah State, said the initiative allows students to see themselves as active members of the community, even during their time at the university. 

 “Students may only be here for a few years, but they’re still Logan residents and still members of the Cache Valley community,” Wiser said. “We want them to feel engaged and feel like they can give back.” 

 Wiser said the collaboration also allows community members to see students contributing in visible ways, strengthening connections between residents and the university. 

 “It helps bridge that gap that sometimes occurs between the university and the city,” Wiser said. 

 Although the program is tied to the America250 celebration, both Anderson and Wiser said they hope it continues beyond this year. 

 “I would love to see it continue,” Anderson said. “It’s not a lot of money, but to someone who wants to make a difference, you can do a lot with $500.” 

 Wiser agreed making the program recurring could create a lasting impact. 

 “If this could be an annual thing and get students involved year after year, I think that would be a real legacy,” he said. 

 Organizers hope the program will spark projects across the city throughout the spring, summer and possibly into the fall, depending on student timelines. 

 For Anderson, the goal is simple. 

 “Inspire me,” he said. “Make me say, ‘This is awesome.’”