By Anna Wheatley Scarbriel | Vice President
While this work is not complete, we are transitioning to a new project page to reflect the progress made and continued goals!
To date, $500,000 has been distributed by CFVI across the Territory to a variety of organizations to support environmental/marine recovery (primarily focused on native tree restoration and debris management/recycling) and workforce development projects, funding by the Cruzan Rum's Island Spirit Fund, via GlobalGiving. Thank you for your support over the past 2 years!
PROJECTS SUPPORTED:
Coral Bay Community Council Environmental Recovery | Waste Reduction | St. John | $30,000
More than 260 cubic yards of hurricane debris were removed (combined total with DPNR efforts) from the shorelines and roadways of Coral Bay. Grant funds also supported the design and creation of a donkey- and chicken-proof litter receptacle, in cooperation with My Brother's Workshop, for future deployment around Coral Bay's restaurant areas.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park | Native Plant Restoration | St. John | $40,800
This project supported Virgin Islands National Park’s efforts to restore native plants and trees on St. John, while offering the local community seedlings and information on the value of planting native plants and trees.
SEED SPOT | St. Thomas | $34,500
SEED SPOT is providing training and resources to local entrepreneurs to build their capacity to innovate and lead change in the local community.
Island Green Living Association | Commercial Composting/Vegetation Chipping | St. John | $100,000 A large wood chipper is being used to break down vegetative debris for landscaping or composting.
Clean Sweep Frederiksted | Urban Garden | St. Croix | $40,000
Twenty participants in this program learned the fundamentals of urban farming/gardening, including farming as a business, garden design, composting and weed management, vertical gardening, and bug management. More broadly, this project aims to combat urban decay in Frederiksted by creating an opportunity to provide financial and food stability, social empowerment, and beautifying empty and abandoned lots within the town.
We Grow Food | Bordeaux Farmers Fruit Tree Restoration Project | St. Thomas | $25,000
This project resulted in more than 900 hours of volunteer labor serving 33 farmers and planting and distributing over 550 fruit trees on St. Thomas. A workshop on best practices for preparation of the fruit trees prior to hurricane season was held for local farmers, in partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands.
University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) | Campus Recycling Project | $50,000
The recycling pilot program launched at UVI has served roughly 2,000 beneficiaries to date by placing indoor and outdoor recycling bins around the UVI campus on St. Thomas. The recycling bins were also deployed at a community Agriculture Fair on St. Croix to spread awareness. Student ambassadors are engaged in educating fellow students managing quality control on items placed into the various bins.
St. George Village Botanical Garden | Trees for St. Croix | St. Croix | $77,124
The Trees for St. Croix project promoted tree planting on St. Croix through the development of a 1,500 sq. ft. nursery and seed bank, where 6,000 trees were planted, and the training of staff and volunteers to facilitate fruit collecting and seed processing. Trees were propagated, grown and distributed to more than 1,000 interested residents, primarily to replace trees lost during the 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) | SEAS Your Tomorrow Program | $33,333
The Supporting Emerging Aquatic Scientists (SEAS) Your Tomorrow Program creates a transferable model for broadening participation in STEM that uses innovative partnerships, support programming, and targeted interventions to build scientific identity and increase interest and engagement in STEM by U.S. Virgin Islanders in related undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs.
St. Croix Environmental Association | St. Croix | $15,000
Funds were used to increase the number of native trees on St. Croix through planting and community tree giveaways. The community received 170 trees that were given away and 140 trees were planted at the Southgate Coastal Reserve and Barren Spot Bat Tower. Funding also allowed for the purchase of equipment and supplies to aid in long-term upkeep and maintenance of the planted trees.
University of the Virgin Islands | Glass Recovery Project | $50,000
Grant activities included the purchase of glass crushing machines and supplies so that recycled crushed glass can be repurposed into sandbags, which will be sent to local government and nonprofit entities for distribution to residents and businesses. This project is ongoing.
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