HAMPTON ROADS TEACHERS (K-12) AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE
The Hampton Roads Environmental Education Committees (Fat Free Drains, HR STORM, HR WET and HR CLEAN) offer environmental education mini-grants of up to $500. (Up to $250 for HR CLEAN). The mini-grants are intended to provide supplemental funding for environmentally related projects. The grants may fund the entire project, or be used to supplement a project that requires more funding than is available. (Funds may be available for the purchase of waste or recycling containers if a recycling contract or service is in place. Funds will not be available for monthly operational costs.)

All Hampton Roads school teachers (K-12) and youth leaders / organizations are eligible. All projects should be specifically tied to topics such as:

• Waste Reduction

• Water Conservation

• Recycling and the 3 R’s

• The Water Cycle

• Pollution Prevention

• Litter Prevention

• Watershed Education

• Soil Erosion

• Habitat Restoration/Creation/Beautification

• Waste or Water Audits

• Waterwise Landscaping

• Fats, oils, and grease disposal & recycling

• Properties of fats, oils, and grease (liquid, solid)

• Impacts of fats, oils, and grease on wastewater system

HOW TO APPLY
The complete application package and online forms can be found here: COMPLETE APPLICATION. If you complete and submit the form online, you will need to mail or fax a copy of the completed signature page before your application can be considered for approval. Fax or mail the complete application to the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, 723 Woodlake Drive Chesapeake, Virginia 23320, fax: (757) 523-4881, Attention: HR Green Mini-Grant.

WHAT TO DO
List the objectives and supporting activities to show how the mini-grant will help you accomplish your project’s goal. We encourage projects that are new to you and to your organization. Include a complete itemized budget for known and anticipated expenses. If the total project cost exceeds $250, consider supplementing the award money with donated materials or services, or using the award money in addition to your organization’s regular budget.

There is no deadline for applications. Applications are accepted year round as long as funding is available. Applications submitted by the 15th of each month will be responded to by the 15th of the following month.

Your principal or organization’s director must review and sign the application before it is submitted.
 

HOW TO APPLY (CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE.)

WHAT TO DO 

List the instructional objectives and supporting activities to show how the mini-grant will help you accomplish your project's goal. We encourage projects that are new to you and to your school. Include a complete itemized budget for known and anticipated expenses up to $500. If the total project cost exceeds $500, consider supplementing the award money with donated materials or services, or using the award money in addition to your group's regular budget. 

There is no deadline for applications. Applications are accepted year round as long as funding is available. Applications submitted by the 15th of each month will be responded to by the 15th of the following month. 

Your principal or organization's leader must review and sign the application before it is submitted.

BE CREATIVE
Some possible activities to consider:

• Create a school or neighborhood newspaper, website, or poster contest promoting waste reduction.

• Conduct a facility water conservation, recycling, stormwater, or grease disposal & recycling audit.

• Develop an outdoor nature trail, stormwater-wise or water-wise garden on your school grounds with signage detailing environmental efforts.

• Develop a recycling center or composting area on your school, church, or meeting facility grounds.

• Hold an awareness day or fair for a specific topic.

• Research the history of solid waste practices in Hampton Roads and develop awareness.

• Visit local Hampton Roads facilities: steam plants; refuse derived fuel plants, recycling facilities, etc. to learn and report on the trails of your trash and treasures.

• Visit a wastewater treatment plant to learn about the impacts of fats, oils, and grease on the wastewater system.

• Conduct a litter-free event.

• Study the habitat of stormwater ponds and the route water takes from your school grounds or neighborhood to the Chesapeake Bay or other body of water.

• Study marine life that exists in the nearest creek or body of water and compare it to the state wildlife list, or what affects litter and pollution can have, or the effects of algae booms.

• Photo journalism: a day in the life of a local watershed, the water cycle or local pollution cleanup.

• Purchase additional curriculum materials to support a project related to water conservation, waste minimization or litter prevention, and pollution or stormwater management.

• Beautify an entrance or front of a public building with a cleanup and water-wise landscape.

• Write or develop an educational play or other interactive theatrical production to teach water quality, water conservation, and waste reduction, litter or pollution prevention, or proper fats, oils, and grease disposal.

• Coastal habitat and watershed restoration research.
   

• Conduct a litter cleanup campaign on the campus.
   

• Map an area and study stormwater runoff effects (pollution) with and without retention ponds and other Best Management Practices (BMPs).
   

• Fulfill badge requirements.

AWARD PROCEDURE
Applications submitted by the 15th of each month will be reviewed and responded to by the 15th of the following month. You will receive notification via a letter. If your application is approved, you will receive your mini-grant along with your acceptance letter and summary form.

Important: Accepting a mini-grant award indicates your understanding that you will complete and submit the project summary form, including sending in copies of receipts, upon completion of your group’s project. Photos are also encouraged. Your group will be recognized on our web site. Please direct questions to: