Application

Columbia, SC--Faculty and staff members of public, private, and alternative schools in Richland County are eligible to apply for Conservation Education and Clean Stream Columbia Mini-Grants (up to $250 each) for campus conservation projects and youth environmental education initiatives.  Two award cycles are available: applications received by October 15, 2015 October 30, 2015 (deadline extended due to flooding) will be considered for fall 2015 funding; applications received by February 16, 2016 will be considered for spring 2016 funding.  Project work and the expenditure of funds must be completed by June 15, 2016. 

Mini-Grants may be used to support conservation-related student projects including, but not limited to, outdoor classrooms, school gardens, nature trails, wildlife habitats, rain barrels, composting initiatives, air quality campaigns, litter clean-ups, rain gardens, erosion control, and stream bank restoration.  Awards are competitive and proposals will be evaluated on the project’s conservation impact, feasibility, student and community involvement, and educational outcomes. 

All schools located in Richland County (including the City of Columbia) are eligible to compete for Conservation Education Mini-Grants; schools located in the City of Columbia are also eligible to compete for Clean Stream Columbia Awards for certain projects that promote, protect or improve water quality.  Funding for these awards is provided by the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and the City of Columbia.  Download the application here.  For more information, contact Chanda Cooper at (803) 576-2084 or cooperc@rcgov.us. 

Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of state government under the local direction of five-member Boards of Commissioners. In South Carolina, Conservation District boundaries conform to County boundaries.  The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District promotes the wise use of natural resources for the benefit of the citizens of Richland County.

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