United Water project manager Tim Blagsvedt and the City of Indianapolis’ SustainIndy has presented the 2011 Green Infrastructure Grant Awards to six recipients.
There was $101,000 in funding granted to organizations that utilize green infrastructure projects designed to improve water quality and reduce stormwater runoff. United Water and the city welcomed previous Green Infrastructure awardees and guests attending the presentation.
“Green infrastructure and healthy water quality are important aspects of creating a sustainable city,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “I commend United Water for their valuable partnership with the city and their support of a more sustainable Indianapolis by providing funding for the Green Infrastructure Grant Program.”
United Water has committed $400,000 to the program over a four-year period beginning in 2008. The primary goals of green infrastructure are to capture and store stormwater as close to where it falls so that it can be cleaned, infiltrated into the soil, and slowly released into rivers and streams. There are many types of green infrastructure; some popular examples include green roofs, porous pavement, and rain gardens.
The 2011 Green Infrastructure Grant recipients are:
• Earth House: $20,000 for their porous parking lot and rain garden project.
• Fall Creek Gardens: $15,250 for their urban garden growers project.
• Front Page Sports Grill: $14,000 for their porous pavers project.
• Health and Hospital Corp./Wishard: $14,000 for their West 38th Street Center and rain gardens project.
• KI Aquaponics: $17,725 for their rainwater harvesting system and farm project.
• Indianapolis Public Library Foundation: $20,000 for their Shelby branch rain garden and porous pavement.
