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Million Mile Greenway Announces Recipients of First Grant Offering
Organization Dedicated to Conserving and Connecting Greenspaces Funds Three Greenway Initiatives
ATLANTA (September 24, 2008) – The MillionMile Greenway today announced the first-ever recipients of the organization’s grant program. Through grants and volunteers, the organization will fund and mentor community-based organizations dedicated to preserving and connecting green space across the southeast. The first grant recipients are The Yahoola Creek Trails Conservancy, Coastal Georgia Greenway and Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center.
The Yahoola Creek Trails Conservancy and Coastal Georgia Greenway are both recipients of The MillionMile Greenway Community Starter Grant, which provides $1,500 in funding along with up to $10,000 in pro bono marketing and technology consulting services. The Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center will receive The MillionMile Greenway Community Technology Grant, which provides up to $5,000 in pro bono technology consulting services, including the use of The MillionMile Greenway’s proprietary Greenway Analyst software.
The organizations were selected for the grant based on several criteria, including filling a need for conservation activity in their respective locations, connections or proximity to other green spaces and greenways, and opportunities for public recreation.
The MillionMile Greenway Founder Jim Langford, who oversaw the selection process with the organization's board of directors said, "These first three recipients of our grant program epitomize ideal greenway projects – they fill a need in their communities, they are well supported by their communities, and they are well on their way to providing solutions to greenway challenges. We hope that through the support of The MillionMile Greenway, these organizations can see their efforts come to fruition faster and more effectively."
About the Recipients
The Yahoola Creek Trails Conservancy (YCTC) uses advocacy, education, research, communication, cooperation and monitoring to protect and preserve the Yahoola Creek Trail System and its watershed, ultimately creating greenspace corridors within Lumpkin County. Lumpkin County and the City of Dahlonega jointly own a drinking water reservoir and the surrounding 240 acres. This land is undeveloped, scenic, and within one-half mile of the city center of Dahlonega. YCTC is working closely with city and county officials in the planning, design and construction of a new 3.3 mile trail system that encircles the reservoir and provides controlled, passive access to this public greenspace.
The Coastal Georgia Greenway, Inc. will work with Georgia’s six coastal counties and numerous cities to construct a 155-mile trail that will link South Carolina to Florida. This trail will be a significant component of the national East Coast Greenway that will connect from Calais, Maine to Key West, Fla. Highlights of the Coastal Georgia /East Coast Greenway Trail include its incredible linkage of existing wildlife preserves; natural areas; parks and historic districts -- over 115,800 acres in total. The trail, lying within the Gullah-Geechee National Heritage Corridor and the Altamaha Scenic-Historic Byway, will provide non-motorized access to these sites and will thereby increase visitation and awareness of coastal Georgia’s significant sites.
The Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center (RDC) was contracted by the Georgia DOT to perform bicycle and pedestrian planning services for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. The Regional Greenways Study is a component of this contract, which also includes funding for rails-to-trails, safe routes to school, and a localized greenway plan for Athens-Clarke County. The study will provide a broad framework under which the RDC’s 12 counties and 54 municipalities can begin greenway planning.
In addition to funding these important initiatives, The MillionMile Greenway (MMG) will continue to offer grants on a quarterly basis to organizations meeting the MMG mission and grant criteria. More information on the grant program and The MillionMile Greenway is available at www.millionmilegreenway.org.
ABOUT MILLIONMILE GREENWAY
The MillionMile Greenway is an organization and a system of connected greenways across metro Atlanta, the state of Georgia, the southeastern United States and beyond. MMG is intended to be an empowering organization that helps local individuals and communities begin or expand their efforts at conservation and recreation. MMG anticipates building local constituencies, programs and agendas that will benefit all conservation and recreation organizations in Georgia and beyond. For more information, visit www.millionmilegreenway.org.
