Chesapeake Bay Green Street-Green Jobs-Green Towns initiative

Posted by Chesapeake Bay Trust on January 19, 2015

Chesapeake Bay Trust Accepting Applications for Green Streets Initiative

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is accepting applications for the Chesapeake Bay Green Street-Green Jobs-Green Towns initiative, which works to support local, grassroots-level greening efforts by towns and communities in urbanized watersheds aimed at reducing stormwater runoff.

The initiative provides design and implementation funds for projects meant to enhance green spaces in communities, including implementing urban green stormwater practices, increasing urban tree canopy, and replacing impervious surfaces with more permeable materials.

One type of project that can include all three of these practices and increase a community’s sustainability is the “green street.” A green street minimizes impacts on its surroundings through a natural-systems approach incorporating a variety of water quality, energy-efficiency, and other environmental best practices; integrates a system of stormwater management features to increase infiltration and/or filtration of runoff, reduce flows, and enhance watershed health; reduces the amount of water that is piped directly to streams and rivers; makes the best use of the street tree canopy for stormwater interception as well as temperature mitigation and air quality improvement; encourages pedestrian and/or bicycle access; and provides an aesthetic advantage to a community. The program also supports white papers on innovative ideas for green infrastructure.

The initiative will award grants of up to $30,000 for design projects; up to $75,000 for implementation projects; and up to $20,000 for white papers.

Green Streets Funding can be applied anywhere in the Chesapeake Bay watershed portion of EPA Region 3 (excluding New York) and all of Maryland.

Nonprofit organizations, community associations, and faith-based organizations are eligible to apply.

DEADLINE: MARCH 13, 2015

http://www.cbtrust.org/site/c.miJPKXPCJnH/b.7735695/k.5E92/Green_Streets_Green_Jobs_Green_Towns.htm