The application process is now open for Tennessee American Water’s 2017 Environmental Grant Program. The program supports innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds through partnerships. Diverse activities like watershed cleanups, water quality monitoring, and biodiversity projects, streamside buffer restoration projects, wellhead protection initiatives and hazardous waste collection efforts are supported through grants.
Grants funds available for community projects are being increased from $8,700 to $10,000.
Tennessee American Water’s Environmental Grant Program is aimed at supporting local organizations with environmentally focused initiatives. For the past few years, the grant program has offered funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies through partnerships with local organizations.
"Tennessee American Water is committed to ensuring water quality through testing and treatment, as well as through consumer education and community source protection programs. We believe everyone is an environmental steward in protecting the nation’s water supplies, and this program is a way to help communities play an active role in this important effort,” said Valoria Armstrong, Tennessee American Water president.
Requirements for proposed projects are:
· Address a source water or watershed protection need in the community
· Be completed between May 1, and Nov. 30
· Be a new or innovative program for the community, or serve as a significant expansion to an existing program
· Be carried out by a formal or informal partnership between two or more organizations
· Provide evidence of sustainability (continued existence after the Tennessee American Water grant monies are utilized)
· Be located within a Tennessee American Water service area
In 2016, Tennessee American Water awarded a total of three projects throughout its service area with grant money totaling more than $8,700. Organizations that received environmental grants in 2016 included
· Lookout Mountain Conservancy for its water quality program with The Howard School
· Hamilton County Coalition for their project with educating the community on proper medication disposal through Drug Take Back community events and youth involvement
· Tennessee River Gorge Trust to expand its water quality monitoring and offer community education
More information and the application can be obtained on the company website at www.tennesseeamwater.com under the tabs About Us-> Environmental Stewardship -> Environmental Grant Program or use the following URL https://amwater.com/tnaw/about-us/environmental-grant-program.
Applications must be postmarked by March 27, and recipients will be notified in April.