Rep. Freeman announces $20K conservation grant for Nurture Nature Center Inc.
Rep. Robert L. Freeman June 26, 2020 | 2:07 PM
EASTON, June 26 – State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, is pleased to announce that Nurture Nature Center Inc. has been awarded a $20,000 conservation grant by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under the Environmental Education Grant Program.
The center will use the grant funding to develop a Watershed Friendly Properties Certificates Program throughout Pennsylvania. An October kick-off forum will engage local businesses, school and college leaders, community leaders, municipal leaders and residents.
“It’s really remarkable that a multifaceted environmental center based in Easton is environmentally influencing government policies, business strategies and providing critical information to the public across the state,” Freeman said. “The center is dedicated to engaging the public in learning about environmental risks ranging from development to flood education.”
Nurture Nature Center is a joint project of two nonprofits and is directly engaged in a wide array of environmental projects. Founded in 2007 in the wake of the repetitive flooding in the Delaware River Basin, it began as a center for flood education and outreach, achieving a national reputation for its work in the area. The center’s work in the area of flood risk communication and their methods of engaging the community about environmental issues have been cited as models, and many of the educational materials are now used by governmental agencies and other organizations across the country.
The Environmental Education Grant Program, administered by DEP, was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates that 5% of all pollution fines and penalties collected annually be set aside for environmental education.