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EPA grant supports environmental education projects in six Virginia communities

Release Date: 02/22/2013
Contact Information: Terri White (215) 814-5523

(PHILADELPHIA Feb. 22, 2013) The National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC) will provide an estimated $92,000 in funding to support community-based environmental education projects in 11 mid-Atlantic communities, including six Virginia communities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

Aimed at empowering people to take better care of their local environment, the projects are funded via a $150,000 EPA grant to NNCC to support environmental education efforts throughout the mid-Atlantic region. The sub-grants announced today are the first of two rounds to be awarded.

“NNCC’s environmental education programs have a proven track record of reducing environmental risks that threaten the health of children and underserved communities disproportionately,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “I congratulate all of the awardees as they take this important work to the next level.”

“As a leader in children’s environmental health, NNCC is very excited to work with EPA and to use our more than decade-long experience in helping grantees reach the program’s goals of increasing knowledge and awareness of environmental issues and increasing the number of students, teachers and community members taking responsible actions regarding the environment,” said Tine Hansen-Turton , NNCC’s executive director. “There is no doubt that these grants will have a tremendous impact in our region, reaching more than 2,000 people, many of whom are from disadvantaged communities, and will help both them and our environment for decades to come.”

There are 15 projects receiving EPA funding between $4,000-$5,000 for environmental learning and stewardship work in communities located in Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

In Virginia, the projects include:

- Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus will create a one-day watershed workshop and displays to increase environmental knowledge and awareness and foster discussion about environmental issues.

- Friends of the Rappahannock in Fredericksburg will educate students, teachers and the community at large about key local water quality issues and crab conservation.

- Hampton Clean City Commission in Hampton will create a training program and utilize 20 educators to demonstrate odorless composting that can transform 100 pounds of garbage into fertile soil.

- James River Association will engage 180 middle and high school students in Richmond in a service learning project related to native tree plantings.

- Meadowview Bio Research Station in Woodford will train two student restoration ecologist interns on Meadowview’s unique methods and share knowledge with school groups and public visitors about the value of endangered pitcher plant wetlands.

- Western Virginia Water Authority in Roanoke will engage students in hands-on activities focusing on the Roanoke River watershed, ecosystems and responsible management of natural resources.

More information on EPA Environmental Education program grants can be found at https://www.epa.gov/education/grants/index.html .