Cleanup Funds Program

Purpose:
Provide funds to support town-wide, park, or river cleanup events in The Last Green Valley region

Geographic Scope:

• The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor (35 towns)
• Funds available for land or river cleanups

Eligibility:

• Nonprofit organizations (must provide 501(c) designation letter)
• Municipal agencies
• Regional agencies
• State agencies
• Federal agencies

Award Details:

• Reimbursement up to $500 per cleanup event
• Eligible expenses:
  • Publicity materials
  • Cleanup supplies (trash bags, work gloves, etc.)
  • Food for volunteers
  • Note: TLGV does NOT cover trash pickup and disposal costs

Requirements:

• Submit letter at least 4 weeks before proposed event
• Youth involvement in cleanup required
• Plan for publicizing event and results required
• Organizations must sign agreement and acknowledge TLGV funding in publicity materials
• Complete "Trash Tracker" form to compile region-wide results

Contact Information:

• LyAnn Graff
• Phone: (860) 774-3300
• Email: lyann@tlgv.org

Background:
In 2016, 1,714 volunteers from 26 groups removed over 54,770 pounds of trash. In 2017, 1,559 volunteers from 35 groups removed over 66,101 pounds of trash.

Application Process

Submission Requirements:

Submit a letter on organization letterhead to:
TLGV
P.O. Box 29
Danielson, CT 06239-0029

Timing:

• Submit at least 4 weeks before proposed event
• Decision made within 2 weeks of project submission

Letter Must Include:

1. Basic details about cleanup:
   • What will be cleaned
   • When (date/time)
   • Where (location)
   • Who (organization leading)
   • Contact information including email address
2. Explanation of goals and what you hope to accomplish
3. Budget detailing:
   • How TLGV funds will be used
   • Breakdown of expenses (supplies, food, publicity, etc.)
4. Trash disposal plan:
   • Who will pick up and dispose of trash
   • (TLGV cannot cover disposal costs)
5. Youth involvement description:
   • How young people will participate
   • Role of youth as "future stewards of The Last Green Valley"
6. Publicity plan for both the event and results
7. For nonprofits: Copy of 501(c) designation letter from IRS

TLGV Approval Process:

• TLGV reserves right to approve or deny based on likelihood of success and fund availability
• Decisions made within 2 weeks
• Funded organizations must sign agreement
• Must acknowledge TLGV funding in all publicity materials
• Must complete and return "Trash Tracker" form