For immediate release September 16, 2008
AGENCIES PARTNER TO OFFER GREEN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
GRANT PROGRAM ENCOURAGES GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOW-IMPACT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Valley Authority and the Tennessee Stormwater Association to offer a grant program designed to help local governments fund green infrastructure and low-impact development projects.
“Local officials are interested in meeting their stormwater management goals through green development practices,” said Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan. “These grants will help provide resources to implement innovative ideas that enable Tennessee communities to achieve their stormwater goals and improve water quality for Tennessee citizens.”
The Tennessee Green Development Grants follow the February 2008 Green Development Conference, held in Nashville and hosted by the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection. The conference was funded through a grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and provided information about green development for stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.
EPA agreed to allow Environment and Conservation to use the $39,000 in proceeds from the conference to help fund the Green Development Grant program. TDOT will contribute $30,000 in Multiple Separate Storm Sewer System program funds, which helps to fulfill the agency’s MS4 permit requirement for stormwater education to help prevent pollution.
TVA will also contribute $30,000 for a total of nearly $100,000 in available funding for this project.
“The Tennessee Department of Transportation is committed to supporting innovative ways in which energy resources can be managed through creative design and investments,” said Ed Cole, TDOT’s Chief of Environment and Planning. “Energy is a core component of our transportation infrastructure and all efforts to conserve energy resources should be seriously explored.”
Grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 will be awarded to local governments through a competitive process for projects including rain gardens, green roofs, pervious concrete applications, trees and tree boxes, as well as outreach and education efforts designed to promote green development in Tennessee communities. The grants require a 20 percent local match.
“Water resource protection and improvement is an important objective of TVA’s Environmental Policy,” said Anda Ray, Senior Vice President of TVA’s Office of Environment and Research. “These grants will help communities demonstrate the efficient use of water resources and protection of water quality.”
Grant applications will be reviewed and ranked by a team comprised of representatives from each of the partner agencies. Applications are due by Oct. 31, and grant announcements are expected in December 2008.
Application materials and additional information about the Green Development Grants are available on the Web at tn.gov/environment/greendev. Interested communities seeking more information can contact Elaine Boyd at (615) 532-0288 or Elaine.Boyd@tn.gov.###
For more information contact: Tisha Calabrese-Benton |
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