FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For further information contact Lynn Greer, 716-879-4260

Onondaga Lake Partnership announces 2010 mini-grants awards

Syracuse, N.Y. – The Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) awarded seven mini grants for the 2010 program totaling $23,765.67. Funding will support various green infrastructure, and lake and watershed education programs in the community including:
1. Baltimore Woods Nature Center ($4,994.35) for the 'Nature in the City 3rd Grade Stream Exploration at Elmwood Park'.
2. Nine Mile Creek Conservation Council ($881.32) for production of an updated water trail brochure to provide the public with current river and watershed portages, routes, access points, etc.
3. Northside Collaboratory ($4,400.00) for 'Green Infrastructure Education for Urban Communities'.
4. Friends of Rosamond Gifford Zoo ($5,000.00) 'Rosamond Gifford Zoo's Rain Garden and Cistern'.
5. Friends of the Town of Dewitt ($4,030.00) 'Town of Dewitt Franklin Park Project'.
6. Town of Dewitt-Parks and Recreation ($2,000.00) for 'Rain Garden Demonstration and Stewardship Project'.
7. SUNY ESF ($2,460) for 'Onondaga Lake Stewards' 2010 summer camp program.

The purpose of the mini-grants program is to fund multiple locally-based projects designed to increase the knowledge and involvement of the public in Onondaga Lake and its watershed and strengthen the link between communities and the Partnership.  For additional information about the mini grants program, or to read a summary of awarded projects, please visit the Onondaga Lake Partnership website at http://www.onlakepartners.org/public_projects_mini.htm.

Funding for the Mini-Grants Program is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), an OLP member organization, through a grant to Onondaga Environmental Institute.