News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

For more information contact: Arturo Garcia-Costas, (718) 482-7287

DEC Announces Environmental Justice Grant Writing Workshops

Over $1.2 Million in Grant Funding Available For Grassroots Organizations

ALBANY, NY (02/28/2008; 1017)(readMedia)-- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will hold a series of grant writing workshops in New York City (NYC) on March 5 and 6 for the 2008 Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant Program. This year, more than $1.2 million in grants will be awarded.

The first NYC workshop will take place at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Wednesday, March 5 from 6 - 9 p.m. On March 6, a workshop will be held at Queens Borough Hall from 1 - 4 p.m., and another will take place at the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building in Harlem from 6 - 9 p.m.

Grassroots organizations can apply for $2,500 - $50,000 in funding for research and education projects that address multiple sources of environmental harm or risk to their communities. In 2006 and 2007, 13 organizations were awarded a total of nearly $300,000 throughout the state for projects such as green rooftops, contaminated site inventories, air monitoring programs, community gardens, and childhood lead poisoning education programs.

Grants are available to local community organizations in neighborhoods historically overburdened by a higher density of risks such as contaminated sites, air pollution, water pollution, and lack of green open space and waterfront access, as compared to other communities in New York State. Eligible grant projects must address environmental or related human health problems in the community and educate community residents.

Staff from the Office of Environmental Justice will provide detailed information about the grant application process with plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion. Representatives of organizations that have already received Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants will also be on hand to talk about their experiences with the grant program and answer questions. The grant application deadline is April 23, 2008. This workshop is free and open to the public. For more information or to register for one of these workshops, please contact Arturo Garcia-Costas at 718-482-7287 or via email at axgarcia@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Similar workshops will be held across the state in other communities.

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