Grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring an environmental justice video contest that challenges professional or aspiring filmmakers to create videos that capture the faces of the environmental justice movement. The Faces of the Grassroots contest is an opportunity to publicly exhibit creativity with environmental justice stories, and connect with others working to raise awareness of the movement.

“Faces of the Grassroots will help EPA expand the conversation on environmentalism and work for environmental justice,” said Charles Lee, director of EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice. “Participants can make a difference for the historically underrepresented in their community by using motion pictures to show the struggles and triumphs they have endured to advance environmental justice.”

Videos can focus on any environmental justice activity, issue, or topic. Examples would be a music video about climate change, or a video recording a successful environmental justice project that has made a community a healthier and happier place to live.

Awards will be given to the winning submissions in each category. The videos will also be featured on EPA’s Web site and may be used as public service announcements. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 8, 2010. EPA will announce winners in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

Below are the categories and prize money:

Public Service Announcements (30 or 60 seconds)

• 1st Place - $2,500
• 2nd Place - $1,500
• 3rd Place - $1,000
• Student Winner – $500 (13-18 years old)

Informational Video (3-5 minutes)

• 1st Place - $2,500
• 2nd Place - $1,500
• 3rd Place - $1,000
• Student Winner – $500 (13-18 years old)

More information: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/events/video-contest.html

Informational video on the contest:

http://www.epa.gov/multimedia/playercontents/video/EJVideoContest/index.html

Clean air grants totaling $26 million are being made available to eligible individuals, businesses or local governments through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) program. The grants, aimed at reducing emissions from polluting vehicles and equipment, are available for projects in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Beaumont-Port Arthur area, the Tyler-Longview area, the Austin area and the San Antonio area.

TogetherGreen, an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota, is accepting applications for its Conservation Fellowships and Innovation Grants. Through TogetherGreen Conservation Fellowships, forty promising individuals (half from the Audubon network and half from external organizations) will be chosen for their leadership potential, skills, and commitment to engaging people of diverse backgrounds in conservation action. Fellows receive a $10,000 grant, assistance launching a conservation action project, and specialized training. They also become part of an alumni network of conservation professionals from across the country. Fellowship candidates must have at least six years’ experience in some aspect of the environment. Audubon will select a minimum of forty proposals and provide more than $1 million in total support. Grants will range from $5,000 to $80,000 each, with the majority averaging roughly $25,000.

Visit the TogetherGreen Web site for complete application information.

The Gardener’s Supply Company annual Garden Crusader Awards program was established to honor individuals who are improving the world through gardening. These enthusiastic men and women are gardening beyond their own backyards to grow food for the hungry, beautify their communities and help friends and neighbors discover the rewards of gardening.

Applications are now available and are due on June 1, 2010. The award honors individuals in the United States who are improving their communities through gardening. There is no age requirement. Award categories include Education, Feeding the Hungry, Urban Renewal, and Restoration. There are five winners for each category — first, second, third, plus two honorable mentions and one grand-prize winner, for a total of eighteen winners overall. The grand-prize winner will receive $2,500 in cash and a $2,500 gift certificate from Gardener’s Supply.

More at www.gardeners.com.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Keystone Initiatives Grants Program
The mission of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats. Through the Keystone Initiatives Grants Program, the Foundation awards matching grants in the categories of bird conservation, fish conservation, marine and coastal conservation, and wildlife and habitat conservation. Prospective applicants should contact the targeted category’s Keystone Director to discuss project ideas prior to submitting proposals in order to help ensure the relevance of funding requests. The upcoming preproposal deadline is April 1, 2010. Visit the Foundation’s website for detailed information about the Keystone Initiative objectives.

The Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) helps communities to protect special places for public enjoyment by assisting local partners working together in a process that encourages developing a common vision, creative planning, and collaborative action from all the participants. Updates have recently been posted on the RTCA website that provide information about two local projects: the Greens Bayou Corridor and the West Houston Energy Corridor Trail System.

H-GAC’s Community Trees and Downtown Public Spaces grant programs offer communities the chance to beautify their downtowns and gateways.

• The Community Trees Grant Program provides funding to purchase trees for community-based plantings in parks, public gathering places, and community gateways. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, and non-profit organizations.  All plantings must be located on public land and be accessible to the general public. H-GAC also provides technical assistance with regard to tree species and maintenance plans.  H-GAC has helped fund the planting of trees in 11 communities.

• H-GAC Downtown Public Spaces Grant has awarded grants for 33 projects totaling more than $500,000 since the program began in 2006.The goal of this grant program is not only to enhance public spaces, but also to spark public and private investment into projects that improve quality of life and revitalize our communities.

The matching grant program funds up to 50 percent of the estimated cost of the improvement project with a maximum award of $25,000 per project. Projects must be located on public land, associated with a community gateway, downtown, or business district. Grant funds must be used for capital expenditures, not planning or labor. The grant application period is open, with funds allocated each June and December. For more information please contact Darlene Brown at 713-499-6682 or e-mailDarlene.Brown@h-gac.com.

Texas Coastal Birding Classic grant opportunity. Deadline: February 1, 2010. Does your organization have a coastal habitat conservation, restoration or enhancement project in the 41-county area of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail that needs funding?  The Great Texas Birding Classic awards conservation grants in the amount of $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 or $3,000. Find out more by visiting http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/birding/gtbc/prizes/.

• 23 October

• 2010 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards Nominations Due (Date Extended)
  http://www.teea.org/ (more…)

(arranged by date due)

• 30 August

• Lifecycle Building Challenge
  http://www.lifecyclebuilding.org/entry-info.php (more…)

(arranged by date due)

• 30 August

• Lifecycle Building Challenge
  http://www.lifecyclebuilding.org/entry-info.php
• Tom’s Sponsorship Support for Community Projects
  http://www.tomsofmaine.com/community-involvement/project-sponsorships.aspx (more…)

• 20 August

• Apply for Target Field Trip Grants-through November 3
  http://www.calendarwiz.com/calendars/calendar.php?crd=hpardevents&&jsenabled=1&winH=583 (more…)

(arranged by date due)

• 11 August
• Deadline to submit public comment on conservation practice standards of Natural Resources Conservation Service
  http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/releases/2009/comment_period_practice_standards_07.22.2009.html (more…)

(arranged by date due)

• 1 August

• National Park Services NRCS applications for assistance
  http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/whatwedo/wwd_what_we_do.html

• 1 August

• National Park Services NRCS applications for assistance
  http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/whatwedo/wwd_what_we_do.html

• 1 August

• National Park Services NRCS applications for assistance
  http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/whatwedo/wwd_what_we_do.html

• 21 August
• Deadline to submit entries to 25th Mayor’s Proud Partners Awards
  http://www.houstonbeautiful.org/
• Deadline to register for Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives at Rice
  http://www.line.rice.edu
• 9 October
• High School Students Invited to Submit Entries for Green Your School Contest
  http://www.thesca.org/green-your-school
• 2 November
• Youth Garden Grants from National Gardening Association
  http://www.kidsgardening.com/YGG.asp
• No Date
• Wetlands Reserve Program for landowners
  http://www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/