Multiple members of the California ReLeaf Network were awarded more than $4.5 million in grant funding from the Strategic Growth Council last week to support urban greening projects and planning in the Central Valley and Southern California.
Numerous Network groups will be utilizing urban greening project funds to develop green space at several schools and schoolyards in California by replacing asphalt and concrete with permeable surfaces, bioswales, low mow/low maintenance grasses, gardens, native landscaping, understory and shade trees. Award recipients included the LA Conservation Corps, Hollywood Beautification Team and the Sacramento Tree Foundation.
In addition, TreePeople and North East Trees joined the LA Conservation Corps in securing planning grants that will support urban greening planning for Baldwin Hills, La Brea, Downtown San Pedro, Inglewood, and Lennox.
Finally, Urban Tree Foundation partnered with the City of Visalia and the City of Hanford to restore portions of Mill Creek, and plant street trees in downtown Hanford, respectively.
In total, six Network groups picked up 10 urban greening grants totaling almost $4.6 million, or more than 22%, of the entire pot for available in this grant cycle.
The final awards approved by SGC last week in the 2011-12 grant cycle for Network Groups are as follows:
[sws_green_box ] Urban Greening Projects
LA Conservation Corps $976,000
LA Conservation Corps $770,000
Hollywood Beautification Team $349,637
Hollywood Beautification Team $187,654
Sacramento Tree Foundation $990,000
City of Visalia (Urban Tree Foundation) $499,265 [/sws_green_box]
[sws_green_box ]Urban Greening Projects in Disadvantaged Communities
(Grants under $75,000)
City of Hanford (Urban Tree Foundation) $74,597
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[sws_green_box ]
Urban Greening Planning Grants
TreePeople $245,660
LA Conservation Corps $250,000
North East Trees $250,000 [/sws_green_box]