S.C.I.G. Awarded $93K Grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Press Conference:

Thursday, November 18, 2010 – 1:00pm

Sidney Center Fire Hall

County Highway 23, Sidney Center, NY 13839

Sidney Center, NY – The Sidney Center Improvement Group, Inc. (S.C.I.G.) - a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization - will be announcing it’s first substantial grant award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The $92,996 award will fund water quality monitoring and flood risk mitigation initiatives.

Sidney Center experienced devastating flooding in 2006 – which evoked serious questions and concerns: what caused the flooding, can it happen again, and what were/are the long-term affects of the flooding. As a result of these unanswered questions and the host of existing issues Sidney Center was already experiencing prior to the floods – a group of concerned citizens gathered to assess these issues and how to tackle them. Thus, the Sidney Center Improvement Group was born.

Five years later S.C.I.G. is a flourishing grass roots organization, which has worked to beautify the Hamlet of Sidney Center and improve the overall quality of life. Two major issues, which have been the focus of S.C.I.G., are water quality and flood mitigation. With the announcement of this grant award – these issues are one step closer to being resolved and positively impacting the area in and around Sidney Center in a significant way.

There are a some important facts to note regarding the award granted to S.C.I.G. by NFWF and the initiatives that S.C.I.G. has already been involved with:

•S.C.I.G. was one of only two organizations in NY state to receive funding –and the only organization that is not a governmental entity.

•S.C.I.G. is being provided with an unprecedented 3^rd year of direct assistanc from the National Parks Service – Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program.

•S.C.I.G. has partnered with the Sidney High School Flood Monitoring Program,which is funded by a service-learning grant from State Farm Insurance and includes the assistance of faculty and students involved in the Program.

S.C.I.G. has requested the presence of the following to share in the announcement of this award to the community: Assemblyman Pete Lopez (confirmed), Senator Bonacic, Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Wink Hastings – National Parks Service, Mat Webber – Izaak Walton League, Rich Townsend – Sidney High School, Town Board of Sidney, Town of Sidney Planning Board, Sidney School Board, Delaware County Planning, Peter Freehafer – DEC, Delaware County Soil & Water District, Environmental Facilities Corporation, Amy Guise – Army Corp. of Engineers, Upper Susquehanna Coalition, Butternut Valley Alliance, and more.