Service Project

The VTC-EI has come out of the gate strong with great success in our first major initiatives. In previous issues of The Journal, you’ve seen great positive feedback regarding our Pollinator Seed Distribution project. We’ve been thrilled to see our efforts produce great returns in pollinator habitat creation.

Likewise our beachgrass planting service project during Come to the Bay has been a tremendous success!

LOOKING AHEAD

In July, our team had a site visit to plan for our even larger event for 2022. This visit was very productive and was attended by Michael Moore (City of Virginia Beach), Wes and Paula Bray (Lawns & Gardens Plus), and Kati McCarter (Chesapeake Bay Foundation). Andrea Tomlin of Tidewater Community College was unable to attend because she was teaching class.

OUR PRELIMINARY PLANS for the 2022 PROJECT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• LOCATION: Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and beneath the Lesner Bridge (Shore Drive in Virginia Beach)

• DATE: Monday, February 14, 2022 (we will NOT be doing an evening social because the selected date is Valentine’s Day). Alternate date is Thursday, Feb 16. The alt. date will only be used in case of very severe adverse weather

• SCHEDULE (DRAFT)8:30 – Gather at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp8:45 – 11:00 – Plant 15,000 American Beach Grass Plants

11:00 – 1:00 – Lunch and Program at Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Center

• ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTSTidewater Community College Students (8 – 10)

Chesapeake Bay Foundation volunteers, staff, and high school students (10 – 12)

Lawns & Gardens Plus (15)City of Virginia Beach staff and students (5 – 6)VTC (3 – 5)

Many, many thanks to Wes & Paula Bray and Michael Moore.

Their leadership is allowing us to expand our Come to the Bay service project.

Stay tuned for more information as we continue planning for this and other initiatives!

KEEP VIRGINIA BEAUTIFUL AWARDS $750 GRANT TO VTC ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE

11th Annual “Green Grants” Awarded in June

Richmond, Virginia (June 24, 2021) – Keep Virginia Beautiful awards its annual 30 in 30 Green Grants each day during June. VTC Environmental Institute, in Virginia Beach, will receive a grant award of $750 for its Community Beautification project.

VTC Environmental Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to working with lawn and landscape industries, cities, environmental groups, and others to preserve and restore the environment.

VTC Environmental Institute will partner with Virginia State University to establish erosion control projects in the City of Petersburg. Erosion control is important for maintaining soil quality, filtering pollutants that end up in our waterways, and providing natural habitats for wildlife and vegetation. VTC Environmental Institute will use their grant funds to purchase native grasses for this project and materials for amending the nutrient-drained soil.

Every year, government, non-profit, civic and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for 30 in 30 Green Grants. Grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 are awarded to organizations working to tackle an environmental concern in their community regarding Litter Prevention, Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification. Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different environmental programs and projects all across the Commonwealth. This is due to the generosity of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s partner Altria, as well as additional support from Coca-Cola, WestRock, and Keep America Beautiful.