2015 Green Partnership Fund Awardees Announced
Pierce Conservation District sponsors 11-conservation projects throughout Pierce County
Puyallup, Wash. – Pierce Conservation District is proud to announce support for 11 conservation projects throughout Pierce County through their Green Partnership Fund, (GPF). The GPF provides up to $100,000 annually to support conservation projects that vary from environmental education initiatives to establishing an urban farm.
This year’s awardees will be working hard over the next year to improve Pierce County from the shores of Puget Sound to our forested hills, from our urban centers to our rural fish and wildlife habitat.
“These investments in local community organizations, neighborhood groups and partner cities allow our work to be expanded in extraordinary ways,” said Ryan Mello, Executive Director of Pierce Conservation District. “These are wise investments to achieve our goals of cleaning water, improving food access, creating functioning habitat, and supporting sustainable agriculture.”
A number of this year’s awardees are striving to create a more just and healthy food system, working closely with Pierce Conservation District’s Harvest Pierce County program.
“Working with youth is one of the most important things we can do to create a just and healthy food system,” said Monty Smith, Director Sustainable Roots at the Northwest Leadership Foundation, who will be leading an urban youth gardening initiative. “In our perspective, the Pierce Conservation District is the most important on-the-ground environmental institution in the county. Through their support and collaboration we learn more and do more than with anyone else.”
Another group working on a more just and healthy food system is the St. Leo Food Connection and their GPF funded Center for Food Preservation Arts.
“The Center for Food Preservation Arts will work to strengthen our community by creating opportunities for people of different abilities, socio-economic statuses, and cultural and racial backgrounds to come together around the shared experience of food preservation,” said Hal Meng. “As part of this effort, the CFPA will be located within the St. Leo Food Connection, one of the largest food banks in Pierce County.”
Other projects funded through this year’s GPF support will help restore the Buckley Forest, enhance the Nisqually Watershed, and increase environmental education and outreach throughout Pierce County.
The GPF is available to any community group with a high quality project that will enhance conservation in Pierce County. Businesses, neighborhood councils, community gardens and many more are welcome to apply. The projects that are ultimately funded are selected on a competitive basis by a selection committee made up of Pierce Conservation District staff, board members, and representatives from our diverse partners. More information about the GPF can be found at www.piercecd.org/gpf.