“La Colmena”
Walnut and Daisy Micro-Farm Update
THRIVE Santa Ana, Inc.
February 24, 2025
I. Highlights
II. Milestones
III. Operators
IV. Long-term goals
EXHIBIT 3
I. Highlights
• THRIVE is currently working with City of Santa Ana staff to schedule final inspections and to set a date for the Grand Opening — tentatively set for early April. All are welcome to attend. • As this project comes to a close, it has provided over 35 Prevailing W age construction jobs, 3 permanently affordable commercial spaces, and paid over $50,000.00 in permit fees to the City of Santa Ana.
• The State of California awarded La Colmena as a Pilot Project for the “Community Economic Resilience Fund,” now known as Jobs First Initiative.
• 70+ community members participated in creating three community murals on La Colmena’s new storage container units.
• V alley High School after-school A.C.E. program (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) site visit
• Marketing T eam launched lacolmenacoop.com
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II. Milestones
● F ebruary 2025 - La Colmena is powered up by Southern California Edison
● January 2025 - Offsite improvements completed
● January 2025 - W alk-in cooler installed
● December 2024 - Paved Parking lot and light posts, light bollards and micro-farm in full swing
● September 2024 - All container units installed
● July 2024 – The W alnut and Daisy Micro-
Farm gets renamed La Colmena, Spanish for
The Beehive
● April 2024 - First Container Unit Installed
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III. Operators
Santa Ana Locally Supported Agriculture (SALSA) is a worker-owned urban agriculture cooperative located within La Colmena, dedicated to building a local food system through democratic land stewardship and workspaces that nourish our bodies, minds, and spirits. Farm Stands every Saturday.
Anticipated operational date (COO): March 17, 2025
La Milpa Cafe is a cooperative and welcoming space for Santaneros to drink a cup of coffee, relax and gather as a community, as a family. Offering seasonal, artisanal ice creams, delicious desserts, and ethically sourced coffee from around the world, La Milpa Café brings people together while celebrating the rich flavors from our land and roots. Every meal supports the dream of building a fair economy where neighbors work together, share resources, and succeed together.
Anticipated operational date (COO and Health Department Approval): March 25, 2025 Duugich Art - Tradition meets community from Santa Ana del Valle, Oaxaca, learned the art of wool weaving as a child. Using his traditional loom and ancient techniques, Don Gelacio shares his work and knowledge with the community, offering unique rugs, bags, and other woolen art pieces. He’s sharing the Oaxacan heritage with Santa Ana.with Don Gelacio Mendez,For Duugich Art, La Colmena provides a platform for preserving Oaxacan heritage through art, empowering local artisans like Don Gelacio to share their ancestral weaving techniques with the community. This fosters cultural exchange and supports traditional craftsmanship.
Anticipated operational date (COO): March
17, 2025
Visit lacolmenacoop.com
F or more info about La
Colmena, Operators, and their
work!
EXHIBIT 3
IV. Long-Term Goals
● La Colmena seeks to be self-sufficient and free from grant subsidy and debt-free in 2-3 years so as to provide affordable rents to local worker- owned businesses.
● Surplus rent revenue will be reinvested into La Colmena’s operating costs.
● THRIVE will carry out program tracking, asset management, and property management, including rent collection, maintenance requests, security , and liaising with City officials.
● THRIVE has expressed interest to the City of Santa Ana to purchase the W alnut and Daisy site.
● La Colmena will serve as a model project for urban farms, affordable commercial spaces, and community-driven economic development EXHIBIT 3