June 14, 2021 — The Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions (AVCC) is pleased to award 2021 Tiny Grants to conservation commissions in the following towns: Bradford, Dummerston, Hartford, Hinesburg, Huntington, Johnson, and Shrewsbury. 

Tiny Grants is an AVCC initiative that provides seed money or matching funds to conservation commissions for land conservation, education and outreach, stewardship and management, and planning activities. Conservation commissions are non-regulatory bodies designed to advise planning commissions and select boards on natural resources issues.

Grantees will receive between $300 and $600 to improve trails on conserved lands, document wildlife activity with trail cameras, eradicate invasive plants, encourage plant and wildlife biodiversity, and educate communities.

“Our grants may be ‘tiny’, but their impact is not,” said Mark Nelson, AVCC Board Chair. “These funds help conservation commissions accomplish on-the-ground projects to protect natural resources, while engaging their communities in this vital work.”

2021 Tiny Grants details:

Bradford – The Bradford Conservation Commission will use its Tiny Grant to purchase materials for trailside benches in the Bradford Town Forest.

Dummerston – The Dummerston Conservation Commission will use its Tiny Grant to attract Monarch Butterflies by planting swamp milkweed & educating the public about how to care for this species.

Hartford – The Hartford Conservation Commission will use its Tiny Grant on training and data analysis around an amphibian road crossing project.

Hinesburg – The Hinesburg Conservation Commission will use its Tiny Grant to purchase seeds and plants, and rent equipment, to create a pollinator garden.

Huntington – The Huntington Conservation Commission will use its Tiny Grant to mitigate Japanese knotweed at strategic sites.

Johnson – The Johnson Conservation Commission will use its Tiny Grant to update educational videos about the Emerald Ash Borer.

Shrewsbury – The Shrewsbury Conservation Commission will use its Tiny Grant to purchase game cameras to survey roadside wildlife crossings.

AVCC also proudly supports the work of conservation commissions by hosting an annual summit for community volunteers engaged in planning and caring for Vermont’s natural resources. AVCC will be offering its 2021 summit online. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.

To stay in the loop about conservation initiatives happening near you, or to share your events with other conservation commissions, subscribe to our listserv by emailing vtconservation+subscribe@googlegroups.com.

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