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NPS announces next round of Groundwork Pilot Funding and Technical Assistance

We are pleased to announce that the next round of Groundwork USA Pilot Funding and Technical Assistance has just been posted by the National Park Service on the federal grants website. You can find the full announcement and how to apply by using the announcement number NPS-10WASO-00001 in box labeled ‘Search by Funding Opportunity Number.’

If a community is interested in pursuing this opportunity, they should access the announcement on www.grants.gov to become familiar with the website and sign-up for email notifications of any supplemental information being posted, if any. Attached are instructions for accessing the announcement on grants.gov. The due date for the initial letters of interest is June 16, 2010.

About the program: NPS provides the technical assistance to the successful applicant(s) in partnership with Groundwork USA. NPS also awards the financial assistance to successful applicant(s) and administers the assistance agreements. The EPA provides NPS with the funds for this program under an Interagency Agreement. All projects and activities of Groundwork are carried out through a creative mix of staff and volunteers to leverage resources and engage businesses and residents in the transformation of their own communities. Please note that a community must have received or be receiving funding from the EPA Brownfields Program to be eligible for the Groundwork USA Initiative.

Congresswoman Tsongas introduces bipartisan legislation to help urban communities develop public parks and green space

Press Release From Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, Massachusetts Fifth Congressional District

Contact John Noble phone: 202.225.3411

WASHINGTON, DC – April 22, 2010 – On Earth Day, Fifth District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas introduced legislation which would help urban communities turn blighted environments and brownfields sites into public parks or other usable green spaces. Tsongas’ bipartisan bill, entitled the Groundwork USA Trust Act of 2010, would strengthen the existing Groundwork USA (GWUSA) program, which provides federal funding to local communities and nonprofit organizations for green-space projects. The idea for the legislation was developed with Groundwork Lawrence, a nonprofit organization in Lawrence which has had several projects funded through the program, including the construction of community gardens, riverfront trails, and playgrounds. Groundwork USA is also a proven job creation tool. In economically challenged cities, the 17 GWUSA Trusts have created 131 full - or part-time jobs.

“Creating green-space and public parks in urban communities is an excellent way to revitalize neighborhoods and further economic development in our cities,” said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. “Older cities, like those in the Merrimack Valley that I represent, are often forced to cope with blighted landscapes at former industrial sites. The City of Lawrence has worked extensively with Groundwork Lawrence to transform blighted areas of the city into usable community space. However, GWUSA has the potential to reach far more communities and have an even greater positive impact than its current structure allows and that is why I have introduced this legislation today.”

Currently, GWUSA receives funding for green-space projects, known as Trusts, through the EPA and National Park Service. However, funding for Groundwork projects can be sporadic and unreliable, leading to a long back-log of proposals from communities that meet the necessary requirements for support and will greatly benefit our communities but which ultimately go unfunded. Tsongas’ legislation would create a dedicated funding stream to ensure continued support of the Groundwork USA program and provide stability for the program, and the impressive organizations it supports, by centralizing its administration through the National Parks Service.

Under Tsongas’ bill, the Groundwork USA Trust Program would provide grants of up to $400,000 to local communities for development programs that address brownfields and blighted urban environments. The total authorization would be $15 million for each fiscal year through FY2015, which would allow Groundwork USA to produce 5-8 new Trusts each year. Last year alone, every dollar that the EPA invested in GWUSA projects was leveraged to $15 by local Trusts.

“This legislation is extremely valuable to Lawrence as it will support our efforts to leverage public, private, and foundation dollars to continue our urban revitalization efforts in Lawrence,” said Heather McMann, Executive Director of Groundwork Lawrence. “As Groundwork Lawrence prepares to celebrate its 10th year anniversary we are excited by the momentum to reclaim vacant lots for community and schoolyard gardens, design and build pedestrian and bike trails reclaiming the City’s alleyways and three rivers, and tackling climate change through tree plantings.”

Since 2001, Groundwork Lawrence has completed over $6 million in public open space improvement projects while receiving only $240,000 in seed funding: a $24 to $1 ratio. Most importantly, 100% of these projects have taken place in Lawrence’s lowest-income environmental neighborhoods.

Joining Congresswoman Tsongas in introducing the legislation today are Reps. Alberto Sires (D-NJ), Joseph Cao (R-LA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

Groundwork USA is a network of nearly twenty independent, non-profit community development organizations called Groundwork 'Trusts' that are linked together as the Groundwork USA national network. GWUSA Trusts encourage a sense of common purpose and engage residents in giving back to their community. In 2009, GWUSA Trusts engaged residents in over 57,000 hours of volunteer service in their neighborhoods, and involved nearly 400 businesses in their work to improve their communities.

Spring is here! Too busy to blog!

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We have been hustling and bustling here at GWL. Please keep voting for our orchard every day through May! We don't think we'll make the April cut-off of the top 5, but May is in our sights, so please keep voting here every day!

Last weekend was theLCW Convention. A great event that they put on-part party and get-to-know-you and also a lot of skill building and learning about community resources. The Green Team, Rose and Janel presented a healthy living workshop focusing on toxic chemicals in cleaning supplies and personal care products then the Green Team did a great food demo and shared their activities around healthy eating and what they are working on in the community.

One thing they are working on in the community is TRASH! The workshop I attended was about the North Common Neighborhood and focusing efforts to reach the new neighbors and to reengage others who used to be involved. Our conversation was maybe 70% on trash! When we meet new young people they tell us that the most important and pressing environmental issue they see in their community is the trash. Discussions were about the City's new system for trash and recycling, goals for increasing recycling and outreach and education about what trash does in a community and how to properly dispose of bulk items. On Saturday April 24, we have our Earth Day Cleanup in conjunction with Comcast Cares Day. Join us on the North Common at 8am to get dirty and get the City clean.

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So, lots going on- we've also been participating in the MIT@Lawrence practicum on the canals and alleyways, gearing up for community garden building this summer on vacant lots in the City, and registering folks for the CSA (we're up to 100 members!). Don't forget too that Cronin Park is under construction - check out pictures here and on our Flickr site-it looks amazing with the pears in bloom. On that note, get outside before the snow falls again because we know it will-I had a lovely quick trip to Manchester Street Park on Monday and found some grackles and red-winged blackbirds enjoying themselves-photos on Flickr !

Earth Day Waivers available

Fill out and print your waiver ahead of our Earth Day Clean-up April 24 from 8-1. The waivers are available on our Earth Day page.

Because we're partnering with Comcast as part of the National Comcast Cares Day, we'll need volunteers to fill out two waivers (one for us and one for them). You'll find them together in one file on our Earth Day page.

Join hundreds of volunteers in making a positive impact on our community by planting trees, transforming vacant blighted lots, building community gardens and general clean-up of our city!

Partner News: LCW Convention April 10 - South Lawrence East School

2010 Annual Lawrence CommunityWorks Convention

Register for the LCW Annual Convention Today!
¡ Inscríbete Para la convention anual de LCW Hoy!

Workshops/Talleres 9:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Celebration/Celebración 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

And new this year: The "Living Well in Lawrence: Financial Asset & Health EXPO" from 2pm - 4pm
Expo de salud y bienes financieros

REGISTER:
http:/www.lcworks.org/ac2010

Participation is Free! --- No le cuesta nada a participar en este evento!
For more information/para más información: 978.685.3115

Community Orchard Losing Ground-we need you to vote EVERY DAY

Keep voting for an Orchard in Lawrence!

vacant lotTurn this into an orchard

With your help, we've made it to the top 10 and now we need you (and your networks) to please keep voting every day to bring a fruit orchard to Lawrence!

Please vote daily to get us in the top five by May 1 and we will be selected to receive a fruit orchard!

Visit Communities Take Root today and vote (you'll have to use the map or index to find our entry-we're the only one in Massachusetts), and click it every day from now through April!

Communities Take Root is giving away 5 orchards each month from May 1 to September 1, but we want to win in the first round-so please help us with this big push for March and April!

Post to your Facebook and Twitter pages if you use them!

Spring time!

It is just about warm enough to start some planting! It is definitely warm enough to start seeds indoors to get them ready to put out in the garden. As you're thinking about the spring and upcoming summer-consider getting a soil test.

Soil tests can test for certain chemicals and nutrients in your soil to

  • give you a snapshot of soil health
  • help you decide what you might need to add to soil for certain crops
  • help you realize that your soil is super healthy and what NOT to add
  • and importantly-give you a heads up as to the level of lead or heavy metals your soil might have and affect safe gardening practices

Don't be afraid of getting a soil test-it is easy, inexpensive and (relatively) quick. From the UMASS Soil Testing Lab: The Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory is located on the campus of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Testing services are available to all. Our function is to provide test results and recommendations that lead to the wise and economical use of soils and soil amendments.

Visit the UMASS websiteto download a form and instructions.

Groudwork Lawrennce Green Team Earth Day Cleanup!

April 24- Earth Day Celebration

Groundwork staff and Green Team members kick off their year-round Green It Up! anti-litter campaign, and in partnership with Comcast Cares Day and Northern Essex Community College invite you to the city-wide clean-up event on Saturday, April 24th in honor of Earth Day.

  • Who : You!
  • What : Annual Earth Day Clean Up
  • Where : Meet at the North Common (across from City Hall at 200 Common Street)
  • When : Saturday, April 24,2010 8am-1pm
    8-9 registration and light breakfast
    9-12 clean-up
    12-1 free lunch for all volunteers
  • Why : Join hundreds of volunteers in making a positive impact on our community by
    planting trees, transforming vacant blighted lots, building community gardens and general clean-up of our city!
  • City Residents may pick up recycling bins at this event.*

Regional News: Methuen Spring Clean-Up!

Methuen Mayor William M. Manzi III announces the ANNUAL METHUEN NEIGHBORHOOD SPRING CLEAN UP

  • When: SATURDAY, May 8, 2010
    9:00 AM - NOON
  • Where: For nearest cleanup location contact JILL STACKELIN in Methuen City Hall at 978-983-8578
  • What to eat: VOLUNTEER COOKOUT 12:30-2 PM ~ Tenney School Playground

LEND A HAND….. GET A METHUEN T-SHIRT!

Trash Bags Provided