News
May 14, 2019Capital Roots Awarded $20,000 Urban Forestry Grant
Capital Roots, local food access and urban greening nonprofit, announced that it received a $20,000 TD Green Space Grant from TD Bank Group (TD) and the Arbor Day Foundation to support innovative urban greening and tree planting projects in underserved areas of the community.
In partnership with the City of Watervliet, Capital Roots will use the grant to plant 50 trees along Watervliet’s parks and streets, adding to the city’s green space and to create “green corridors”, linking parks and other green spaces around the city. Capital Roots was one of 20 U.S. and Canadian entities selected for the grant.
“Green spaces play a critical role in creating more livable cities. Not only do they provide environmental benefits, but they also provide social services and economic benefits to cities and the people within them,” said Andrea Barrack, Global Head of Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD. “That’s why we are working with the Arbor Day Foundation to support innovative community programs in cities including Capital Roots that are striving to create a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.”
“Our goal with this grant program is to help communities not only enrich their green spaces but also enrich lives,” said Dan Lambe, President, Arbor Day Foundation. “We’re supporting Capital Roots in its effort to build awareness about the benefits of trees, educate residents on proper tree care, and lay the groundwork for a greener future.”
“The City of Watervliet is grateful to TD Bank, Arbor Day Foundation, and Capital Roots for continuing our efforts to provide further green infrastructure within our City,” said Jeremy Smith, City of Watervliet General Manager. “ The planting of 50 new trees will enhance our parks and streetscape while also reducing GHG’s and providing several walkable green corridors for our residents. The City’s partnership with Capital Roots continues to grow and provide the residents of the City of Watervliet with an enhanced quality of life.”
“Greening our cities has been at the heart of Capital Roots work since the early 80s,” said Amy Klein, Chief Executive Officer, Capital Roots. “We’ve worked with municipalities for nearly four decades to plant trees in the Capital Region’s urban environments and educate our neighbors on the importance of green space on the health and wellness of our region. We are proud to partner with the city for our first tree planting in the Arsenal City.”
