Tradepoint Atlantic, a global multi-modal logistics hub and industrial center located in Sparrows Point, Eastern Baltimore County, and Chesapeake Bay Trust, a nonprofit grant-making organization dedicated to engaging and empowering communities in the restoration of natural resources of the Chesapeake region, announced that $82,382 has been awarded to two community-based organizations leading critical environmental stewardship and outreach initiatives.
In this first year of the funding partnership between TPA and the Trust, two grants were awarded to:
- The North Point Peninsula Community and North Point State Park, Maryland Park Service, Department of Natural Resources, for their North Point Litter Reduction Campaign.
- The Turner Station Community and The Nature Conservancy for Phase 3 of their Witness Trees Project: Stewardship & Storytelling at Turner Station.
“The Nature Conservancy’s Witness Trees Project to benefit the neighboring Turner Station community and North Point State Park’s litter reduction program with a focus on reaching the Spanish speaking population both represent hyper-local initiatives rooted in community-based stewardship that will continue to help revitalize Sparrows Point,” says Aaron Tomarchio, Tradepoint Atlantic executive vice president, corporate affairs.
North Point State Park was awarded $25,000 from TPA and another $15,000 from the Trust to reduce litter that can stream from the park into Chesapeake Bay during its busy summer months. A majority of the park’s summer visitors are Hispanic; their outreach campaign prioritizes language access and inclusion with the addition of a bilingual park ranger, signage and materials, as well as accessible trash bags for visitors. The group will schedule several community clean-up days to remove litter from the park and shoreline while engaging visitors and neighbors alike about protecting their local resources.
Shannon Davis is the lead ranger for North Point State Park. She said, “North Point State Park is an invaluable resource for Eastern Baltimore County, and it sees summer visitors from all over the region. We look forward to empowering all park-goers to help keep clean and protect the Bay.”
The Nature Conservancy received $25,000 from TPA and $17,382 from the Trust to fund Phase 3 of its Witness Trees Project in Turner Station, a low-lying, historically African American community in Baltimore. The Witness Trees Project combines public art and native plantings as a springboard for inclusive outreach with the goal of directly benefiting the residents and natural resources of Turner Station. The grant enriches the work and builds the capacity of the Turner Station Conservation Teams, whose all-volunteer board and community elders are aging in a crucial environmental and social era. The funding from the grant will contribute to the Witness Trees Project work by supporting phase 3 of its multi-stage project, focusing on community stewardship and storytelling.
“For the Nature Conservancy, the Witness Trees Project reflects our commitment to fostering and enabling equitable access to nature and its benefits,” said Isaac Hametz, Baltimore program director for TNC in Maryland and DC. “Our continued commitment to Turner Station is intended to address systemic injustice locally and make positive and real changes within the community. This funding provides expanded access and helps us to continue to advocate for their interests with their voice.”
Additionally, Tradepoint Atlantic and the Chesapeake Bay Trust announced today their continued partnership and official launch of this year’s grant application process. Together, they will make new resources available for eastern Baltimore County and surrounding communities to fund and lead their own community-driven projects.
“As we continue our efforts to ensure a clean and green Sparrows Point, we take our role in protecting the environment very seriously,” continued TPA’s Aaron Tomarchio. “We were thrilled to renew our commitment to improving the health of our local waters and communities. As Tradepoint Atlantic works to do our part to clean up the environment around Sparrows Point, we recognize that there are opportunities for community-based organizations to do the same, and we want to support locally driven initiatives and organizations in and around the Point that share these same values.”
Since 2014, Tradepoint Atlantic has been transforming the 3,300-acre former home of Bethlehem Steel on Sparrows Point from the contaminated site of a blighted abandoned steel mill to a modern logistics campus with worldwide reach within the Port of Baltimore region, including distribution warehouses for FedEx, Amazon and Under Armour, to name a few. They recognize the past environmental practices that affect local waters and surrounding communities. This continued partnership supports outreach and restoration projects in areas neighboring the Sparrows Point Peninsula and waterways such as Back River, Bear Creek, and Jones Creek.
Community groups, civic associations, faith-based organizations, schools, and other not-for-profit entities in Baltimore County neighborhoods such as Curtis Bay, Dundalk, Turner’s Station, and Watersedge, as well as surrounding areas, are encouraged to apply for grants for various community environmental engagement efforts.
“We are thrilled to continue this partnership with Tradepoint Atlantic. It is exciting to see the ambitious projects that this year’s grant awardees have planned,” said Jana Davis, president of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “Working together, we are able to empower local groups to take real, tangible actions that lead to measurable results creating greener, healthier communities for everyone to enjoy.”
The Outreach and Restoration Program is now open. For more information, to view the Request for Proposal, and to start an application please visit http://www.cbtrust.org/grants/outreach-and-restoration/.
Outreach and Restoration Grant Program Awardees:
About North Point State Park
North Point State Park is located in Baltimore County on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and is rich in natural beauty. This 1,310-acre park in Edgemere was once the site of the Bay Shore Amusement Park, a popular destination for summer visitors from 1906 to 1947. Visitors can see the original trolley station, which is now used as a covered picnicking area, and fountain that has been restored and is still in operation today. The Defenders Trail, which was used by soldiers during the War of 1812, passes through the park. Today, North Point has scenic views overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, a water accessible area, two fishing piers, picnicking and hiking trails that lead you around the park and through protected wildlands.
About the Nature Conservatory
The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Their mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and over 400 scientists, they impact conservation in 76 countries and territories: 37 by direct conservation impact and 39 through partners.
About Turner Station
Turner Station is a low-lying, historically African American community in Baltimore, MD. The community was founded in the late 1880’s by working class Blacks who migrated from the South for industrial employment in Northern cities. In 2006, to preserve and restore the community’s health and heritage, long-time community members founded the Turner Station Conservation Teams (TSCT), a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to strengthening the historic African American community by connecting people, resources, and ideas.
About Tradepoint Atlantic
The 3,300-acre multimodal logistic and industrial center in Baltimore, MD offers a gateway to U.S. domestic and global markets, featuring an unmatched combination of access to deep water berths, rails, and highways. At Tradepoint Atlantic, the industry is set in motion. At full buildout, Tradepoint will be one of North America’s most strategic commercial gateways, generating over 15,000 jobs with $2.9 billion in economic impact. From here, world-class companies unleash their potential, jobs are created, communities prosper, and industry is set in motion. For more information, visit https://www.tradepointatlantic.com/
About the Chesapeake Bay Trust
The Chesapeake Bay Trust (cbtrust.org) is a nonprofit grant-making organization established by the Maryland General Assembly dedicated to improving the natural resources of Maryland and the Chesapeake region through environmental education, community engagement, and local watershed restoration. The Trust’s grantees engage hundreds of thousands of individuals annually in projects that have a measurable impact on the waterways and other natural resources of the region. The Trust’s grantmaking is supported by the sale of the Chesapeake Bay license plate; donations to the Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund on the Maryland State income tax form; donations made by hunters, fishers, and boaters in the Maryland online natural resource licensing system; donations from individuals and corporations; and partnerships with private foundations, commercial entities like Tradepoint Atlantic, and federal, state, and local governments. The Trust has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator for over two decades. On average, 90% of the Trust’s expenditures are directed to its restoration and education programs.
