County Executive Falk Announces Graham-Martin Prairie Foundation Gift and Grant Program

May 19, 2005
Lesley Sillaman, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606

Madison – Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk today announced a Graham-Martin Prairie Foundation $200,000 gift to the County of native grasses and wildflowers, part of which the County is using to establish a grant program for homeowners, schools and nonprofit organizations to promote rain gardens and native landscapes. Rain Gardens help water soak into the ground and prevent pollutants from running off into lakes and streams. “Thanks to Bill Graham and the Graham-Martin Foundation for providing us with this terrific way to help protect our lakes and streams,” said Falk. “Rain gardens and native plants help keep pollutants from running into our water, giving us both beautiful yards and cleaner lakes.” A portion of the gift will be used for restoration projects including restoring 50 acres of prairie in Lake Farm Park (adjacent to the Capital Trails Bike Path and Centennial State Park) and a shoreland restoration project along Lake Wingra. The majority of the gift will initiate the Plant Dane! grant program, a new native plant and seed grant program coordinated by Dane County. The grants are available to municipalities, schools, nonprofit organizations and homeowners in Dane County to plant and maintain rain gardens and native seeds and plants. The grant program will provide up to $10,000 for municipalities, schools and nonprofit organizations and up to $200 per homeowner. Grant applications must be received by June 1 for the first round and July 15 for the second round and can be sent to the address below. In order to receive a grant, the recipient must attend a Dane County-sponsored educational workshop on establishing the gardens and plants. Graham-Martin Prairie Foundation Plant Dane! 2005 Native Plant and Seed Grant Program Attn: Marcia Hartwig C/o Dane County Land and Water Resources Department One Fen Oak Court Madison, WI 53718-8812 # # #