The city's first intergenerational greenhouse initiative will pair Lighthouse after-school students with East Side Senior Center participants to grow food and build climate resilience.
Bridgeport Secures $75,000 for Intergenerational Greenhouse Program
Bridgeport has been awarded a $75,000 grant to launch the Greenhouse Impact Program, a new initiative that will pair fourth- and fifth-grade students with senior citizens to learn sustainable food growing in a year-round community greenhouse, Mayor Joe Ganim announced January 30, 2026.
The grant comes from the Healthy and Sustainable Communities Grant Program, a partnership between the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America. Bridgeport was named a second-place winner in the 2026 national competition, joining a small group of cities to receive the award.
How the Bridgeport Program Works
The Greenhouse Impact Program is described by the city as Bridgeport's first intergenerational learning experience of its kind. Fifteen students from the Lighthouse After School Program will be paired with 15 seniors from the East Side Senior Center to tend a community greenhouse together.
Participants will learn to grow fruits and vegetables, cultivate native plants, and connect their greenhouse work to nearby community gardens. Alongside agricultural training, the program offers students homework assistance and recreational activities as part of the Lighthouse after-school curriculum.
The initiative is designed to address several interconnected goals: improving food security in Bridgeport, expanding access to green spaces, building awareness of climate resilience, and fostering relationships across generations. Students and seniors will work side by side throughout the growing cycle, sharing skills and experience in a hands-on setting.
Food Security and Climate Goals
Bridgeport has made food security and sustainability priorities in recent years, and the Greenhouse Impact Program reflects that direction. City officials say the program will help teach sustainable growing practices that strengthen the local food system while encouraging healthy eating habits among younger participants.
Access to fresh, locally grown food remains a challenge in many Bridgeport neighborhoods. Urban greenhouse programs offer one pathway to supplement food access, particularly during months when outdoor growing is not possible. A year-round indoor facility allows the program to continue production through the winter, extending the growing season beyond what community gardens typically permit.
Climate education is also central to the program's design. Participants will learn about the role of green spaces in reducing urban heat, supporting biodiversity, and building community resilience to the effects of a changing climate — themes that align with Bridgeport's broader sustainability planning.
Intergenerational Component
The pairing of students and seniors is a deliberate feature of the program's structure. Intergenerational programming has gained attention in recent years as a way to reduce social isolation among older adults while giving younger participants access to mentorship and lived experience. In the Greenhouse Impact model, seniors bring knowledge and patience to the greenhouse environment, while students bring energy and engagement.
The East Side Senior Center, which serves as the senior partner organization in the program, has been a hub for community activity on Bridgeport's east side. Lighthouse, the after-school provider, runs supplemental academic and enrichment programming for elementary-age students across the city.
Grant Competition Background
The Healthy and Sustainable Communities Grant Program is an annual competition administered through the U.S. Conference of Mayors in partnership with the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America. Cities apply with proposals for community projects focused on health, sustainability, or food access. Bridgeport's second-place finish in 2026 comes with the full $75,000 award, which will be used to establish and operate the greenhouse program.
The grant underscores Bridgeport's ability to compete nationally for municipal funding tied to environmental and public health priorities. Mayor Ganim's administration has pursued several sustainability-focused initiatives in recent years, including efforts around greenhouse gas reduction, climate planning, and urban resilience.
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