Applications are now being accepted for grants for schoolyard and community environmental projects.
The grants are offered by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and the Grand River Conservation Foundation.
Deadline for applications is Feb. 27. Grants will be distributed in the spring to schools and in the fall to community groups. There are two categories of grants:
– community groups can get up to $1,000 for conservation projects that are tangible and available for use or benefit of the entire community. For example, previous recipients have built a river access point, carried out habitat restoration and planted trees; and
– elementary schools in the Grand River watershed can get up to $750 to pay for natural elements (e.g. trees, shrubs, seeds, plants) of a schoolyard naturalization project.
Details and an application form are available on the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca. Look for “Community & School Grants” in the “Taking Action” section.
Money for the grants comes from two sources:
– the GRCA’s Thiess Riverprize Endowment Fund, which was established with the monetary portion of the GRCA’s 2000 Brisbane, AU award for excellence in watershed management; and
– the foundation’s Grand Champions Fund, established through private donations to support local environmental work.
