Grants

American Farmland Trust

Toward support of Clean Water for the Chesapeake Bay, a project designed to reduce nutrient runoff into the Chesapeake Bay and to improve its water quality. The focus of the three-year campaign is to engage local farmers in adopting best practices, and developing and supporting policies to increase agricultural-inclusive actions. With participation of seven local farmers in Maryland, a demonstration project using Best Management Practices Challenge Tools, American Farmland Trust will introduce the computerized systems to determine how to calculate more exact amounts of fertilizer needed. This measured approach is expected to reduce the amount of nitrogen spread on the fields, thus lowering nutrient runoff.

Women’s Housing Coalition

For contractual services and related expenses to provide workforce development assistance to women in permanent supportive housing programs. The purpose of the initiative is to improve the employment outcomes of the residents by having a part-time job coach who identifies educational and training programs that best suit the residents’ employment and career goals. This will provide all residents the opportunity to participate in better-matched programs that meet their needs.

Vehicles for Change, Inc.

For continuation and expansion of an initiative to provide 35 donated, repaired, and state-inspected cars to low-income persons in Baltimore City. To be eligible to purchase a car, a potential owner must reside in Baltimore City, qualify as being low income, have a job or job offer, and need a car for employment purposes.

Seedco

For expansion and continued support of EarnBenefits Baltimore, a technical-assistance initiative to help more than 3,000 low-wage workers access benefits and income supports. The Web-based screening tool helps individuals and families apply for 22 different federal, state, and city benefits. An effort is being made to identify a Baltimore-based intermediary to take on the day-to-day operations, and to develop a fiscal and management infrastructure to support a network oversight.

Rose Street Community Center

For continued support of drug treatment and job-training programs. Rose Street serves more than 90 people a week, and provides transitional housing for an average of 45 to 50 men and women. The center offers mental health services, gang mediation, GED classes, tutoring, art classes, and shelter for homeless youth.