Cool Green Action Plan

Cool Green Action Plan Community, Community Activism, Community Planning, Educational Opportunities, Greenway, Natural Resources, Projects, Water Quality Comments Off

Sep 292020

COOL GREEN ACTION PLAN

This project is a unique collaborative effort between Cawaco RC&D Council Environmental Programs, the City of Birmingham, a diverse, multidisciplinary team from University of Alabama at Birmingham, and numerous local non-profits in Jefferson County, Alabama.

Cool Green project Story Map, completed in March 2020, identified areas in Jefferson County with the following overlapping characteristics: urban heat islands, flooding, low tree canopy cover and low income. Census block level data was acquired from EPA EnviroAtlas and local data sources.

The next phase will bring local non-profits and prioritized areas together to address possible solutions to Urban Heat Islands, Air Quality and Flooding issues. Solutions are expected to include: Urban forest management plan to ground the action plan in policy, pilot urban tree canopy restoration and monitoring, take action to engage community, youth, workforce and educational resources, and ultimately establish enabling conditions for funding and government support for on-going greening for Cool Green Action.

Read more about this exciting initiative by accessing the interactive Story Map HERE.

See presentations from the international cool green webinar below.

Intro

Story Map by UAB

IUC Cool Green- Francesca Gross

Board Member Paul Kennedy receives Hall of Fame Award

Board Member Paul Kennedy receives Hall of Fame Award Project Updates Comments Off

Apr 132019

Cawaco Board Member, former Project Director of Cawaco RC&D and Current President of the Walker Area Community Foundation Paul Kennedy received the State Association of RC&D Councils Hall of Fame Award for 2019.

Board Member Spotlight

Board Member Spotlight Grant Success Comments Off

Apr 292014

Gerald Arrington

Gerald Arrington is one of Cawaco’s newest Board Members, and manager of Minooka Park, an off-highway vehicle park owned by Chilton County.

Gerald shows off some fish he caught at the park.

When I asked Gerald what his hobbies were, he replied, ” I am interested in boating, golf, fishing, hunting, and watching/attending Auburn football games!”

Gerald first became aware of Cawaco when he applied for- and received- a Cawaco grant for signage, fish feeders, and fishing gear to be used at the eight acre fishing lake at Minooka Park

Gerald tells me he feels strongly about the Cawaco projects that affect the largest number of people in the community, especially young people. He’s also interested in projects that preserve the environment and get individuals involved in outdoor activities.

Gerald is a native of Chilton County and graduated from Chilton County High School in 1981. He graduated from Auburn University in 1986 with a degree in Business Administration/Industrial management. He has a wife, Kim, and two sons Mitch age 24 and Will age 20.

Town Creek Update

Town Creek Update Community, Grant Success, Project Updates, Projects, Stream Restoration, Water Quality Comments Off

Apr 242014

We went to have a look at a stream we were instrumental in restoring in Jasper Alabama. Looking beautiful! What once was an eyesore and a flooding hazard has been turned into an asset for the town. Read more here.

Electrathon 2014

Electrathon 2014 Grant Projects, Grant Success, Project Updates, Projects Comments Off

Apr 082014

This is a good write up about the race; however, schools from all over the state competed, and all RC&D’s in the state participated by funding a car kit for a school in their area. Cawaco had 3 cars in the race beacuse Cawaco has supported this project since inception. Read more and see pictures and video here:

Electric Car Race at Barber Motorsports Park

Cawaco Provides Funding for Household Hazardous Waste Day

Cawaco Provides Funding for Household Hazardous Waste Day Grant Success Comments Off

Mar 312014

On April 26, beginning at 8AM, there will be a household Hazardous Waste Collection Day at McClendon Park at Legion Field. Address: 400 Graymont Ave. West, Birmingham AL

This collection day will assist the public in the responsible disposal of hazardous items such as:

Paint
Prescription Drugs
Electronics
Refrigerators
Batteries
Ammunition
Appliances
Motor Oil

More information can be found here

Grants for job and leadership skills

Grants for job and leadership skills Grant Success Comments Off

Feb 242014

Approximately $73M in YouthBuild grants to help disadvantaged youth
develop job and leadership skills made available by US Labor Department.

If you are a non-profit or municipality and lack staff or resources to apply for federal grants, call us! We can help to write and administer your grants for a small fee.

To find out more about this grant opportunity, click here

TREE GIVEAWAYS IN CENTRAL ALABAMA

TREE GIVEAWAYS IN CENTRAL ALABAMA Grant Success Comments Off

Feb 042014

The Forestry Commission and Arbor Day Foundation are hosting tree giveaways in an effort to heal the wounds of tornado-ravaged areas. 18 north Alabama communities will receive a total of 25,000 trees during February, in an effort to support recovery and help restore the tree-lined streets, shaded parks, and beautiful neighborhoods of the state that were damaged by the April 2011 tornados. This is in addition to the 60,000 trees the campaign has already delivered in the large-scale, multi-year initiative launched jointly in 2012 as a partnership between the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Arbor Day Foundation.

The specified locations for this year’s tree distributions include the following 18 communities: Argo, Birmingham, Blountsville, Clay, Fairfield, Forkland, Fultondale, Geiger, Henagar, Irondale, Midfield, Moody, Myrtlewood, Pinson, Rainsville, Sylvania, Vestavia Hills, and Woodstock.

While the cleanup and rebuilding will continue for years to come, all Americans still have the chance to support the Alabama Tree Recovery Campaign and help in the healing process by making an online donation at www.arborday.org/Alabama. For every dollar in donations, the Arbor Day Foundation, in coordination with the Alabama Forestry Commission, will deliver a tree for distribution to Alabamians affected by the devastating tornados.

More information on the sites of these giveaways and the types of trees available can be found HERE.