Franklin-based Nissan North America is putting its muscle behind a proposed community center focused on sustainability. Tuesday the automaker made an initial $100,000 gift, along with a matching grant.

Urban Green Lab would sit on a triangle of land in Inglewood.

The Urban Green Lab is still just a triangle of grass in the Inglewood neighborhood of East Nashville. Developer Dan Heller owns the property and plans to give it to the charity he created.

“Nissan’s involvement and their partnership puts us in the category that I think will attract other large businesses that see the value in getting behind a project like this.”

Urban Green Lab will continue its fundraising effort until it breaks ground, which is planned for early next year.

Heller describes the concept as a combination of an adventure museum for the environment and a neighborhood gathering place. He envisions bringing in school groups to learn about urban agriculture. Community members would buy memberships and attend classes on weatherization or composting.

Multiple Nissan executives, including the company’s top American official, attended the announcement. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean also spoke, saying Urban Green Lab would accomplish one of his goals for the city to have such a center. However, the project’s founders say they are not asking Metro for money.