Community Grants Program accepting applications

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Aiming to continue improving the health and environmental quality of New York state, the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute is now accepting applications for its 2014-2015 Community Grants Program.

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) provides nonprofit organizations and local governments both financial and technical assistance for projects that promote and implement pollution prevention practices at the community level.

“The Community Grants Program increases awareness of these efforts and is vital to our ongoing mission to provide a statewide, comprehensive program of sustainable solutions. This program also encourages community partnerships that provide education and outreach aimed at making New York state more sustainable,” said Anahita Williamson, director of NYSP2I. “The goal is to connect with communities across New York state by providing much needed financial and technical support for programs and initiatives at a grassroots level.”

To date, NYSP2I has supported 49 projects throughout New York state with grants totaling more than $650,000. Past projects include education programs on pollution prevention and conservation for middle and high school students, homeowner education encouraging environmentally conscious practices and rainwater harvesting and education regarding deconstruction and green building renovations.

The 2014-2015 Community Grants Program award winners will be announced in late November. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10.

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute is a partnership between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University at Buffalo and Clarkson University, with a statewide reach. NYSP2I’s goal is to make the state more sustainable for workers, the public, the environment and the economy through pollution prevention. Pollution prevention is reducing or eliminating waste at the source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and reusing materials rather than putting them into the waste stream.