August 5, 2020  -  View online

Sustainability Spotlight: 

2020 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit Kicks Off Tonight!

A Look at the Serious Growth in Our Local Food System

• A Look at the Serious Growth in Our Local Food System
• These Local Efforts Improve Accessibility to Good, Affordable Food for All
• A Brief History of Local Food
• The Expanding Local Food Map

Don't forget to support your local farmers this week for National Farmers Market Week! Farmers markets are essential businesses that were quick to adapt to COVID-19. They support healthy communities, fuel local and rural economies, enhance the resilience of our local food system, and support farmland preservation, conservation and education.

Celebrating the Great Outdoors

We hope you are spending time outdoors and getting the much needed respite that nature provides and invite you to mark your calendar for this year's Great Outdoor Weekend, Green Umbrella's annual outdoor events sampler. This year, we're expanding it to encompass a full week, September 19-27. Partner organizations are invited to complete this survey and will host in-person physically-distanced events or provide information and activities for guests to explore in a self-guided way!

Get a head start with these outdoor resources from Green Umbrella, Tri-State Trails and our regional partners:

• Visit our region's Greenspace Gems
• Explore our region's 570 miles of trails
• Paddle for a Purpose on our region's waterways
• Pick up a copy of the new Outdoors for All Guide
• Check out the Mill Creek Watershed Recreation Guide
• View the new Digital Guide to the Ohio River
• Take the Kenton County Parks Bingo Challenge

More reason to celebrate: The Great American Outdoors Act was passed by Congress last week with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by the President yesterday. This sweeping public lands bill will provide $3B per year for national park infrastructure, permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and is expected to generate 100,000 park-related jobs.

Greenspace Gem: Licking River Greenway

This narrow greenspace currently stretches for almost two miles along the west bank of the Licking River. A trail through riparian forest provides views of the Licking, a stream ecologists consider to provide a unique ecosystem in the region. Several relatively rare fish species are present as well as one of the world’s most diverse communities of freshwater mussels. Eleven of the river’s 50+ mussel species are globally endangered or threatened with extinction.

In 2010, Covington became the first city to begin implementing this urban greenspace project. The completed greenway will span 12-14 miles and include land in three additional cities: Newport, Taylor Mill, and Wilder. Learn more about the Licking River Greenway and our region's other Greenspace Gems!

Make an investment in the sustainability and resiliency of our region. 

Donate and become a Green Umbrella member today!

Sustainability in the Headlines

Air Quality Improved in Greater Cincinnati When Pandemic Started, WCPO

Cincinnati Parks Giving Away Free Trees for You to Plant in Your Yard This Fall, CityBeat

Cincinnati Plastic Bag Ban Proposal on Track for Mid-September Vote, Cincinnati Enquirer

Kroger Advances Zero-Waste Vision With New Simple Truth Recycling Program, News-Herald

Cincinnati/SORTA Trade Transit Assets for Bus Service in City, WVXU

HB6 Repeal Would Address Only Part of Actions to Slow Renewables, Energy News Network

Plan to ‘Reimagine Appalachia’ Touts Jobs, Justice and Sustainability for Ohio Valley, WV Public

Five Trends: U.S.Cities and Counties are Going Renewable, GreenBiz

COVID-19 Pushes Google Maps to Get More Bike-Friendly, Grist

How Racism Manifests in Clean Energy, GreenBiz

How to Create 25 Million Jobs by Decarbonizing the Economy, Fast Company

Congress Passes Great American Outdoors Act, ‘Once in a Generation’ Conservation Bill, Grist

Professional Opportunities  

Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is offering free virtual grant workshops: Introduction to Finding Grants (August 18), Grants Research Lab (August 20), and Introduction to Proposal Writing (August 25).   

Ohio Development Services Agency offers low interest loans of $250k to $2.5M to help small businesses, manufacturers, nonprofits and local governments implement energy efficiency improvements through the Energy Loan Fund.

Action Tank is offering a City Council School Program for engaged residents who want a deeper understanding of Cincinnati’s government systems and practices to successfully champion new policy or run for office. Info session August 13, applications due August 21.

Equasion is hosting the Cincinnati Festival of Faiths on August 23-30, with virtual activities for the entire family that promote interfaith understanding, unity and collaborative social action. This year's theme is “Compassion Through Action: 20/20 Vision for Hope, Healing and Justice.”

Campbell County Conservation District invites cities and non-profit community organizations in Campbell County to apply for the Campbell County Conservation Grant for Tree Planting and Urban Forestry Enhancement. Applications due August 28.

Nathan Cummings Foundation's Fellowship program will provide three individuals with up to $150,000 over 18 months to turn an inspired idea that advances social justice around climate change and inequality into a reality. Applications due September 1st.

Community Solutions is hosting Black Farming: Beyond 40 Acres and a Mule September 11-12, a free conference focused on the influence of Black farmers in Ohio, preparing the next generation of underrepresented farmers, and cultivating cooperative business models.

GreenBiz is offering Leading the Sustainability Transformation, a 10-week certificate program designed to drive innovation for truly sustainable - and profitable - business decisions. Course begins September 14; registration closes September 7.

Collective Impact Forum is hosting 2020 Champions for Change, a 3 day online workshop on September 15-17 focusing on the role of backbone organizations in leading collective impact initiatives. Early bird registration ends August 7th.

Gaia Education is offering a 10-month Design for Sustainability online course to support the redesign of the human presence on Earth, one local community and bioregion at a time. Courses begin October 12; early bird registration through August 31.

Like what you see in Green News You Can Use? Share it with friends or colleagues!

Act locally with Green Umbrella and make a difference.

Invest in our future. Become a member at greenumbrella.org.

Did you receive this email as a forward? Subscribe today to get Green News You Can Use delivered to your inbox every other Wednesday.