How $75K in Delmarva Power environmental funds were distributed

Eight local municipalities, recreational authorities and nonprofits have been selected to receive a portion on almost $75,000 in funds from Delmarva Power and its program administrator Delaware Nature Society, as part of its Sustainable Communities Grant program.

The program launched in November 2019 to support open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, environmental conservation and innovative community resiliency projects.

“Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental issues we face today,” said Joanne McGeoch, deputy director and chief development officer for Delaware Nature Society — a state affiliate for the National Wildlife Federation — in a statement. “The projects send an important message that there are small steps everyone can take to help improve and protect the environment.”

The funding includes $50,000 in grants of up to $10,000 each and one $25,000 grant. Of the eight recipients, three are in Sussex County, three are in New Castle County and one is in Kent County, while one is in Worcester County, Maryland. The $25,000 grant went to Children’s Beach House in Lewes, a nonprofit dedicated to early childhood special education and a youth development program for ages 7 to 18.

Here are the recipients, with provided descriptions:

• Children’s Beach House ($25,000) — Funds the installation of a Photovoltaic Solar Array at Children’s Beach House, providing sustainable energy alternatives, as well as a safe and reliable community resource during times of emergency
• Center for Inland Bays ($10,000) — Funds necessary improvements to the James Farm Ecological Preserve, a conservation property, education site and recreation resource in Sussex County
• Delaware Wildlands ($10,000) — Funds reforestation at the Armstrong Property to enhance carbon sequestration, water quality, wildlife habitat community engagement and education in Middletown
• Lower Shore Land Trust ($8,700) — Funds a pollinator habitat and restoration project in public spaces on the Lower Eastern Shore, while supporting educational programming on the importance of pollinators and their role in the food and agricultural system
• City of Rehoboth ($7,500) — Funds a boardwalk recycling program in the City of Rehoboth
• New Castle County — GreeNCC ($7,500) — Funds a full roof rain garden on the park pavilion at Paper Mill Park as part of the GreeNCC program
• Friends of White Clay Creek ($5,000) — Funds a reforestation project at the Judge Morris Estate in White Clay Creek State Park in Newark
• Delaware Native Plant Society ($1,000) — Funds the reforestation of a 1.3-acre portion of a fallow field in the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area of Kent County

Delmarva Power’s Sustainable Communities Grant Program is funded annually. Municipalities, recreational authorities and nonprofits can apply for a grant each year.