News Release
The Save Our Monarchs Foundation Receives Grant from Nebraska Environmental Trust
LINCOLN, NE – June 11, 2020 – The Save Our Monarchs Foundation announced today that it will receive $57,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for the “OPPD 'Prairies in Progress' Pollinator Habitat Restoration Project” . The Trust Board announced funding for the project at its meeting on June 11, 2020 in Lincoln. The project is one of the 118 projects receiving $20,000,000 in grant awards from the Nebraska Environmental Trust this year. Of these, 73 were new applications and 45 are carry-over projects.
The project sponsor, The Save Our Monarchs Foundation (SOM), and the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD or the District) have created a program to convert many of the District's property holdings to Monarch and pollinator habitat. Since the spring of 2018, SOM and OPPD have begun restoring several District properties in eastern Nebraska, from Washington to Otoe Counties, reducing mowing activities, removing undesired species, and seeding and planting prepared areas. With the Nebraska Environmental Trust's approval of this proposal, SOM and OPPD will restore 600 acres of District right-of-ways (ROWs) and properties to viable pollinator habitat in five counties. SOM, with Keep Omaha Beautiful, will also provide pollinator workshops at District-area schools. These workshops instruct students on Monarchs and their migration, pollination, ecosystem health and biodiversity. Workshops include a hands-on classroom activity and conclude with the creation and planting of pollinator gardens in schoolyards.
SOM is seeking funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to purchase seeds and plants and assistance with labor, supplies and travel costs associated with implementing this restoration and educational work. In-kind and cash assistance is provided by OPPD and SOM, Keep Omaha Beautiful, the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund, Conservation Blueprint, project consultants, and volunteer monitors.
The Nebraska Legislature created the Nebraska Environmental Trust in 1992. Using revenue from the Nebraska Lottery, the Trust has provided over $328 million in grants to over 2,300 projects across the state. Anyone – citizens, organizations, communities, farmers and businesses – can apply for funding to protect habitat, improve water quality and establish recycling programs in Nebraska. The Nebraska Environmental Trust works to preserve, protect and restore our natural resources for future generations.
LINCOLN, NE – June 11, 2020 – The Save Our Monarchs Foundation announced today that it will receive $57,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for the “OPPD 'Prairies in Progress' Pollinator Habitat Restoration Project” . The Trust Board announced funding for the project at its meeting on June 11, 2020 in Lincoln. The project is one of the 118 projects receiving $20,000,000 in grant awards from the Nebraska Environmental Trust this year. Of these, 73 were new applications and 45 are carry-over projects.
The project sponsor, The Save Our Monarchs Foundation (SOM), and the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD or the District) have created a program to convert many of the District's property holdings to Monarch and pollinator habitat. Since the spring of 2018, SOM and OPPD have begun restoring several District properties in eastern Nebraska, from Washington to Otoe Counties, reducing mowing activities, removing undesired species, and seeding and planting prepared areas. With the Nebraska Environmental Trust's approval of this proposal, SOM and OPPD will restore 600 acres of District right-of-ways (ROWs) and properties to viable pollinator habitat in five counties. SOM, with Keep Omaha Beautiful, will also provide pollinator workshops at District-area schools. These workshops instruct students on Monarchs and their migration, pollination, ecosystem health and biodiversity. Workshops include a hands-on classroom activity and conclude with the creation and planting of pollinator gardens in schoolyards.
SOM is seeking funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to purchase seeds and plants and assistance with labor, supplies and travel costs associated with implementing this restoration and educational work. In-kind and cash assistance is provided by OPPD and SOM, Keep Omaha Beautiful, the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund, Conservation Blueprint, project consultants, and volunteer monitors.
The Nebraska Legislature created the Nebraska Environmental Trust in 1992. Using revenue from the Nebraska Lottery, the Trust has provided over $328 million in grants to over 2,300 projects across the state. Anyone – citizens, organizations, communities, farmers and businesses – can apply for funding to protect habitat, improve water quality and establish recycling programs in Nebraska. The Nebraska Environmental Trust works to preserve, protect and restore our natural resources for future generations.