____________________________________________________________

1. Free Trees for the parkways
2. How to become a Master Gardener
3. Want to start a nonprofit or take your nonprofit to the next level?
4. Money from State Farm
5. Money for solutions to pollution
6. About the Community Beautification Grant

____________________________________________________________

1. Free Trees for the parkways

We found it! The Environmental Affairs Department in partnership with the Department of Water and Power has free trees for the parkways for areas within the City of Los Angeles. You can request to have them dropped off for a community planting or you can have the city plant the trees. If there is no tree well, well, at the moment you can apply for a CB Grant to pay for the cutting the sidewalk (about $150 a hole). However, the city is currently identifying funds to pay for cutting tree wells. The person to contact for street trees is Melinda Bartett of the Environmental Affairs Department. She can be reached at melinda.bartlett@lacity.org or (213) 978-0858.

What is the catch?
 
First of all, you cannot choose the tree to plant. The city will pick the tree to be planted based on existing trees in the area and has a history of being a good street tree. Secondly, someone must sign a form stating that they will care for and water the trees.
 
The free trees are courtesy of the Mayor’s Million Tree initiative. Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa has launched the Million Trees LA initiative, a plan to plant one million trees in an effort to make Los Angeles a greener, cleaner, and healthier place.

When you plant a tree, make sure it is counted as part of the million trees planted. Report your planted tree by calling 311 or online at www.milliontreesla.org.

If you are an applicant of the 2006 - 07 Community Beautification Grant and the project includes a tree planting element, your funding will remain intact.  If your project is funded, the CB Grant staff will work with your organization to modify the project so the funds remain in the community.

2. How to become a Master Gardener

The Master Gardeners Volunteer Training Program trains volunteers to help Los Angeles County plant vegetable gardens. The deadline to apply for this training program is January 31, 2007. If you are interested in receiving more information regarding training, please contact Gloria Mitchell at (323) 260-3348 or gjmitche@ucdavis.edu.

3. Want to start a non profit or take your nonprofit to the next level?

The Public Counsel, a pro bono law office in Los Angeles, offers various community development seminars. These seminars are geared to help community organizations understand many legal requirements involved in starting or maintaining a non profit organization or a small business. Many of these seminars are free. For more information on the seminars being offered, call the Public Counsel Seminar information line at (213) 385-2977 ext. 210 or visit their website at http://www.publiccounsel.org/overview/cdp.html.
 

4. Money from State Farm

State Farm has various programs that offer money, labor or resources for non-profits. These funds are for projects that focus on education, health and safety, and community enhancement. Many of the programs do not have a dead-line or a determined amount. As an example, the Good Neighbor Grant Program awards a $500 grant on behalf of each eligible State Farm associate, agent or retiree who volunteers at least 40 hours a year to an eligible nonprofit organization.
  
For more information and questions on the State Farm grant program, please visit statefarm.com at http://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/cogrants.asp. For a copy of the application or questions, please contact Samona Caldwell at samona.caldwell.gul4@statefarm.com.

5. Money for solutions to pollution from the City of Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department will award funding of between $15,000 - $24,000 for non-profits to raise awareness of pollution issues. The projects may include training workshops, roundtables, survey maps, pollutant profiles, videos, brochures, and collection programs. Funding priority will be given to collaborations that best address pollution prevention and reduction of hazardous and toxic materials at local businesses. The deadline to turn in a proposal is December 28, 2006. An informational meeting will be held in City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles 90012, conference room 1060 in the 10th floor on November 16th at 2:00 PM. For an application and more information, contact Karin Christine at (213) 978-0875 or George Payba at (213) 978-0884, or visit http://www.lacity.org/EAD/EADWeb-EBA/rfp.htm. Please see attached flyer for more details.
 
6. About the Community Beautification Grant
 
The Community Beautification Grant (CB Grant) is a competitive annual matching grant of up to $10,000 for community groups to fund a beautification project for their neighborhood. The CB Grant is administered by the City of Los Angeles, Board of Public Works, Office of Community Beautification. The applications for our next cycle of funding will be available July 2007. The applications are due October 17, 2007. For more information about the CB Grant, please visit our website at www.laocb.org.
 
You have received this email because you are part of the CB Grant email list. The Beautification Blast is a periodic newsletter that shares information of interest to individuals that want to beautify their communities. Please forward this email to anyone that might benefit from the information. If you wish to be removed from this list, please respond to this email with the word "remove" in the header.
 
If you have any questions about the Community Beautification Grant, please contact us at (213) 978-0226 or cbgrant@lacity.org.