Press Releases


SEEAL MAKES GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
SOLICITS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

For Immediate Release: April 1, 2009
Contact: Jennifer Marshall, SEEAL Coordinator, 508-493-4343, jmarshall@seeal.org

SEEAL (Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance), under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, has mini-grants of up to $5,000 available for environmental education, stewardship, and sustainability-related projects that benefit New Bedford.

The grants are made possible by the City of New Bedford and the Environmental Protection Agency. All projects must: 1) benefit the City of New Bedford, 2) include an educational component, and 3) address the reduction of toxic chemicals, pesticides, and harmful emissions into the environment.

Non-profits, schools, and/or community groups are eligible to receive the grants. Businesses are not eligible to receive funds directly, but only through a non-profit partner. Individuals may not apply.. Application materials can be found at www.seeal.org. The application deadline is April 30th, 2009, with grants to be awarded in May.

Preference will be given to projects that are: 1) collaborative, 2) recommended by the Mayor’s Sustainability Task Force Report in one of ten categories: jobs, transportation, waste, energy, health, food, education, community involvement, water, and/or environmental justice, and 3) led by Minority and/or Women Business Enterprises (MBE, WBE). The Mayor’s Sustainability Task Force Report can be found online at, www.ci.new-bedford.ma.us/Mayor/PressReleases2008/Sustaining_New_Bedford_09.02.08.pdf, or at the Mayor’s Office in City Hall.

Projects funded in the last round of mini-grants include 1) tidal energy education, 2) community gardens outreach and education, 3) weatherization training, 4) educating residents about their carbon footprint, 5) green youth careers program, 6) Earth Eve community art initiatives, and 7) support of local food awareness. Project grant awardees included 3rd EyE, Brick By Brick, Bristol Community College, Brix Bounty Farm, Lloyd Center for the Environment, UMass Dartmouth, Workforce Investment Board, and Working Waterfront Festival.

If your non-profit, school, organization, and/or community group would like more information, please refer to our website, www.seeal.org, or contact SEEAL Coordinator Jennifer Marshall, 508-493-4343, jmarshall@seeal.org.


About SEEAL
SEEAL is a network of non-profit and service organizations, public agencies, schools and universities, and others, who are committed to collaborative efforts for environmental education and stewardship in Southeastern Massachusetts. SEEAL’s mission is to support its partners’ capacity to provide quality environmental education and to promote stewardship in Southeastern Massachusetts. SEEAL, a program of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts (CFSEMA), was formed in 1997.


About the Community Foundation
Since 1995, area residents have been turning to the Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. CFSEMA is a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern – improving the quality of life in Southeastern Massachusetts.

While the Foundation’s primary grantmaking focus is on the SouthCoast communities of Greater New Bedford, Greater Fall River, and Southern Plymouth County, CFSEMA is a regional foundation serving 41 cities and towns. To date, the Community has distributed more than $7 million from 110 funds to humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in the region. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.cfsema.org.