Two groups in Washington State receive Urban Waters grants

The Environmental Protection Agency recently selected two Washington organizations, the Lummi Indian Business Council in Bellingham and The Lands Council in Spokane, for grants to improve and protect local urban waters.

Through the agency’s Urban Waters Small Grants program, the Lummi Indian Business Council received $56,433 to educate students at the Lummi Nation School about the local watershed and to measure water quality and stormwater pollution.

“An abundant supply of clean water is critical to our Shelangen (way of life) and our identity as the Lhaq’temish, the salmon people,” Lummi Natural Resources Executive Director Merle Jefferson said. “This education program will help ensure that our children, who will be our next generation of leaders and decision makers, are equipped to protect, restore and promote into perpetuity the health of the water resources our community relies upon for survival.”

The Lands Council of Washington received a $45,250 grant for a jobs training program titled Green Sleeves, which equips incarcerated offenders at Spokane’s Geiger Correctional Center with the knowledge and training necessary for green jobs.

“We are pleased to be able to continue working with Geiger Correctional Center on this exceptional green jobs training program,” The Lands Council Watershed Program Director Amanda Parrish said. “This year, we are excited to be able to expand this program to help inmates complete their training after release and ensure they are well prepared to connect with local environmental employers.”