TheFriends of the Dunnellon Public Library will receive a $4,550 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for a Florida-friendly demonstration garden.
This demonstration garden and signage at the new public library will be designed by the Marion County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) coordinator and maintained by the Friends of the Library organization. The library will offer four FYN workshops to residents and at least two children’s programs in connection with the new garden. Workshop participants will learn about the general principles of water conservation in gardening. The project’s success will be measured by the number of gardening library materials checked out and the number of people who attend the workshops. This project is expected to reach approximately 3,300 people.
The overall goal of the Community Education Grant program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation, protection and preservation. Funded by the District’s Basin Boards, the program is intended to motivate communities to get involved in watershed protection through various activities and educational formats.
The Marion County project is funded by the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board, which includes portions of Citrus, Hernando, Marion, Levy, Pasco and Sumter counties.
These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.
This year the District awarded 32 grants Districtwide. This is the 12th year Community Education Grants have been available.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2010 Community Education Grant program will begin its application process in June 2009. For more information, please call the District’s Communications Department at 800-423-1476 or 352-796-7211, ext. 4757.