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 The program supports innovative, community-based environmental
projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds through
partnerships.
The company will award grants of up to $10,000. The program is
designed to support diverse types of activities, such as watershed
cleanups, reforestation efforts, biodiversity projects, streamside
buffer restoration projects, wellhead protection initiatives and
hazardous waste collection efforts.
"Illinois American Water is committed to protecting water supplies
through outreach and education. This program is another way to help
communities in this effort,” said Bruce Hauk, Illinois American
Water President.
To qualify, proposed projects must be located in an Illinois
American Water service area and:
- address a source water or watershed protection need in
the community
- be completed between May 1, 2015 and November 29, 2015.
- 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
In 2014, Illinois American Water issued grants totaling
$15,825 to the following organizations:
National Great Rivers Research and Education Center
received a $5,000 grant for the Expanding Stream Discovery:
New Watersheds and Increased Stewardship Project. The
environmental education project provided students a hands-on
opportunity to learn about water quality in their community
by monitoring a local stream
Lewis and Clark Community College received a
$2,300 grant for the Stormwater Runoff Management Bioswale
Project. Through this project, faculty from Lewis and Clark
Community College engaged Alton Middle School students to
install two native planted bioswales at the college. The
bioswales are expected to improve water quality by providing
filtering runoff and reducing velocity.
Stratton Elementary School in Champaign received a
$4,000 grant for a rain garden project. Stratton Elementary
students, faculty and parents helped construct a rain garden
which will be used as an outdoor learning center to
strengthen learning about and connection to the environment.
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Southern Illinois Groundwater Protection Committee received a
$1,625 grant for Mississippi River Clean-Ups. Approximately 100
environmentalists cleared trash for disposal or recycling along the
shore of the Mississippi River.
The City of South Beloit received a $2,300 grant for the Meet
Me at the Confluence Invasive Species Removal Project. This project
helped to remove and control an invasive species and weedy native
species along a newly established preliminary public access route at
the confluence of the Rock River and Turtle Creek.
Bluestem Communication in partnership with Mississippi River
Network and Piasa Palisades Sierra Club received a $600 grant to
clean 16 miles of the Illinois Great River Road.
Grant information and application forms can be found online at
www.illinoisamwater.com. Applications must be postmarked by March
13, 2015, and mailed to Karen Cotton at Illinois American Water,
7500 North Harker Drive, Peoria, Illinois 61615 or emailed to
karen.cotton@amwater.com. E-mail is preferred.
About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water
(NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the
state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater
services to approximately 1.2 million people. American Water also
operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control
and research laboratory in Belleville.
Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S.
water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees,
N.J., the company employs more than 6,600 dedicated professionals
who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to
approximately 14 million people in more than 40 states, as well as
parts of Canada.
More information can be found by visiting
www.amwater.com.
[Karen Cotton, Illinois American
Water]
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