City of Burlington Awarded $20,000 TD Green Space Grant for Innovative Urban Forestry Initiative
Mayor Weinberger and partners plant trees in the Old North End
Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced that the City of Burlington received a $20,000 TD Green Space Grant from TD Bank Group (TD) and the Arbor Day Foundation to support innovative urban greening and tree planting projects in Burlington.
The City of Burlington plans to use the grant to plant 210 trees the Old North End. Burlington was one of 20 U.S. and Canadian cities selected to receive a grant.
Today, Mayor Weinberger joined City Arborist V.J. Comai, Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Director Cindi Wight, and members of Branch Out Burlington to plant trees at 711 Riverside Avenue.
“We’re grateful for this grant and to our partnership with Branch Out Burlington! This allowed our city tree team can plant more than 200 trees in our most densely populated and most diverse neighborhood in the City,” said Mayor Weinberger. “These trees will enable us to reach our overall tree canopy goals by increasing planting in areas of the City with lowest percentage of canopy coverage.”
“Additionally, in order to increase greenery in sections of the neighborhood that lack adequate greenbelts, we’re installing large planters that will hold young trees,” added Arborist Comai. “Those trees will later be planted in locations on our streets, and the planter will be replanted annually, keeping our neighborhood vibrant with fresh plantings.”
Comai noted that the Conservation division, along with many other local partners, are also planting more than 900 native tree species and shrubs, separate from this grant, this spring in nine re-wilding areas throughout the City. The combined plantings all support the health and wellbeing of our community and natural environment.
Background
TD provides funding for the grants, which are awarded annually for tree planting, maintenance costs and educational activities. The program is administered by the Arbor Day Foundation. TD Green Space Grants are made possible as part of the TD Ready Commitment, TD's global corporate citizenship platform, aimed at opening doors to a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.
To be eligible for a grant, qualified municipalities must be located within TD's operating footprint in the United States and Canada. Priority was given to projects occurring in underserved areas of local communities. For municipalities applying within the U.S., preference was given to currently recognized Tree City USA® communities or those interested in becoming a Tree City USA community over the next calendar year.
"Green spaces provide long-lasting environmental benefits, but they also play a vital role in creating more vibrant, livable cities by providing social, health and economic benefits for individuals and families," said Shelley Sylva Head of U.S Social Impact at TD Bank. "TD is proud to work with the Arbor Day Foundation to help create a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow by supporting critical green space programs in the Burlington community."
“Our goal with this grant program is to help communities not only enrich their green spaces but also enrich lives,” said Dan Lambe, President, Arbor Day Foundation. “We are supporting Burlington in its effort to build awareness about the benefits of trees, educate residents on proper tree care, and lay the groundwork for a greener future.”
In addition to Burlington, other grant recipients this year are:
United States
·East Providence, Rhode Island
·Greenville, South Carolina
·Hartford, Connecticut
·Jacksonville, Florida
·Newburgh, New York
·New Castle, Delaware
·Orlando, Florida
·Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
·Queens, New York
Canada
·Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador
·Milton, Ontario
·Mississauga, Ontario
·Montreal, Quebec
·Montreal, Quebec
·Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
·New Westminster, British Columbia
·Regina, Saskatchewan
·Surrey, British Columbia
·Toronto, Ontario
For more information, visit arborday.org/programs/
About the Arbor Day Foundation: Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. Their vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.
About TD Global Corporate Citizenship
TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (US $750 million*) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, the bank aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident - not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit www.td.com/tdreadycommitment.
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