From Ithaca Journal, September 16, 2008 http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/NEWS01/809160307/1002
Sustainability group aids neighborhoods with mini-grant awards Neighborhood mini-grants totaling $2,500 have just been awarded to five projects in the Southside and Northside neighborhoods through a new program aimed at supporting small-scale efforts to improve equity and long-term community well-being. The Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program, organized by Sustainable Tompkins, benefits small projects that encourage sustainable community initiatives. The program was established with $5,500 in seed funding through a grant from a local foundation and will be awarding mini-grants quarterly. While Sustainable Tompkins is often associated with energy and environmental issues, community collaboration and increasing neighborhood-based economic opportunities are also part of creating sustainable communities, according to Elan Shapiro, a member of the council that reviewed grant applications. The council also comprised neighborhood residents and members of organizations that directly serve the Southside and Northside neighborhoods and included Neisha Butler, Phoebe Brown, Jodie Washington, Butch Westlake, Michael Bell, Anthony Gallucci and Elan Shapiro. The mini-grants were awarded to the following projects: * $850 to help found the South Side Neighborhood Association, which will link and coordinate neighbors, projects and events to improve the quality of life in its neighborhood. * $850 for the Mutual Housing Association, a cooperative housing development in the Northside neighborhood, that includes funds for a design project to improve its common spaces, seed money for a fundraising event to help finance the resulting landscape work, and partial funding of a neighborhood-wide energy audit. * $450 was awarded to the South Side Community Center Children's Garden project for structural materials and plants. The garden is already flourishing in its first season. * $250 was awarded to the Red Cross Friendship Center office for a lead and asbestos poisoning assessment in its downtown building * $100 was awarded to the West Hill Neighborhood Association to develop its Web site as a way to increase participation in neighborhood issues. The grants included mixed income housing projects adjacent to Northside & Southside that are served by the West Hill neighborhood Association. The mini-grant program is raising funds to match the $5,500 received for seed funding. The deadline for submitting applications for the next round of grants is Monday, Nov. 3. More information is available from Shapiro at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 275-0249. Donations can be sent to Sustainable Tompkins, PO Box 596, Ithaca, NY 14851. _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
