2013 CLIMATE GRANT APPLICATION FORM
A. Applicant Information
Organization Name: Groundwork Milwaukee
Name of Project Coordinator: Mary Beth Driscoll
Street Address: 1845 N Farwell Suite 100
City, State/Province, Zip/Postal Code: Milwaukee, WI, 53202
Telephone No.: (414) 431-0929
Fax No.: (414) 273-7293
E-mail Address: groundworkmb@gmail.com
Website: http://www.groundworkmke.org/
B. Sponsor Information (If Applicable)
Groundwork Milwaukee is a 501(c)(3) organization
C. Project Title: Engaging Residents in Shaping their River, Neighborhood and Future
Please limit your Project Title to 12 or fewer words. The Project Title should be descriptive of the goal you are trying to accomplish with your project.
D. Total Amount of Request: Climate Grant: $5,000
E. Total Project Cost (USD
$10,000
F. Abstract: Provide a one-paragraph summary of the project, highlighting the portion of the project to which funds from Freshwater Future would be applied.
Make your summary easy for an outside reader to understand and please limit your summary to 200 words or less. 182 words so far
Groundwork Milwaukee (GWM) will engage residents living in neighborhoods immediately surrounding
the Kinnickinnic River (KK) on Milwaukee’s south side to advocate for their vision of an enhanced river
and neighborhood.
GWM will organize neighbors to provide their feedback to Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District as it
goes forward with a project to rehabilitate and naturalize the Kinnickinnic River through the removal of its
concrete lining. In addition, we will provide residents with valuable information about changes already
occurring along the river and teach residents steps they can take in their own lives to maintain and enhance
the health of the Kinnickinnic River, protect Lake Michigan and prepare for climate change.
Our location on the Great Lake has been the key to Milwaukee’s success and will continue to guide our
city’s growth and development. We will motivate Latino residents living in Milwaukee’s most densely
populated area, during meetings canvassing and community events to take actions that will help shape the
river and, as a result, their community.
This project will help residents adapt to climate change and expected more frequent and larger rainfall
events.
1
G. Organizational Information
Please answer the following questions about the applicant. This section is just a summary and should not exceed 500
words in total. 484 words so far
1. Briefly describe when your group was founded, your organizational mission, and highlights of current programs.
Founded in 2006, Groundwork Milwaukee works to bring about the sustained regeneration,
improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community-based
partnerships that empower people, organizations and businesses in projects that promote the
environment, economy and social well-being.
We are a community-based organization working to transform blight into community assets through
sustainable models of urban enterprise that address resident-identified needs and improve vacant lots
and abandoned places by teaching skills such as food production, job readiness, and climate change
adaptation measures including green infrastructure installation, planning for neighborhood-based storm
water management, and habitat and restoration.
Since its inception, Groundwork has focused on storm water quality and habitat improvement, and
partnered with local schools, community groups, residents and government agencies to implement
projects to capture polluted storm water run-off on their property, including removing impervious
surfaces, installing rain gardens (totaling over 11,000 sq ft) in partnership with schools and over 50
residents; installing a green roof, and planting over 10,000 saplings and trees to intercept rainwater.
A distinguishing factor in our projects is that we have chosen not to hire contractors to complete these
projects but instead complete projects through our Green Team youth engagement program or in
partnership with other job training programs, schools and neighborhood groups to teach others concepts
and skills and provide opportunities to directly engage in projects that improve the environment.
We engaged residents in developing the Kinnickinnic River Corridor Neighborhood Plan which lays out
recommendations for neighborhood development, transportation and circulation, parks and open spaces
and community involvement, education and stewardship in addition to recommendation for improving
the river, (including habitat, public access and safety and gateway amenities).
GWM is a founding member of the Kinnickinnic River Implementation Coalition (KRIC) formed
expressly to implement portions of the plan in advance of the District’s removal of the concrete lining.
2. Current annual budget and primary sources of income by percentage
a. 2013-14 annual budget is $249,000
b. 53% foundation, 23% government, 20% individuals, in-kind 3%, corporate 1%
3. We are a grassroots group:
In all cases we work to support the vision of community residents. We encourage residents to lead and
support them in realizing their vision for their neighborhood.
In the KK River neighborhood, we organize meetings to encourage resident interaction with public
institutions so residents may directly voice their hopes and concerns to governmental agencies as they
move forward on this historic effort. Homeowners living where we installed rain gardens have emerged
as some of the strongest leaders in their community.
4. If we receive funding for this project, it will NOT impact our status as a 501(c)(3) organization.
2
5. Organization’s board make-up membership, and the communities you serve:
Our board make-up is very diverse. It is made up of eight females and three males and 25% of the board
members are people of color.
We serve urban communities with a focus on neighborhoods-of-need.
H. Capacity Needs (not related to grant selection, but available to member organizations)
Freshwater Future is not only capable of helping your organization through funding, but we also offer Insight
Services. Freshwater Future Insight Services provide coaching and training assistance to address your organizational
needs. Please check the areas in which you would like assistance or to learn more. A Freshwater Future staff member
will contact you with further information.

Financial management, such as trainings on developing budgets, state and federal
reporting, and accounting systems with proper checks and balances
 XX Board development
 XX Planning (Strategic, Transition, Succession)
 XX
Fundraising planning
 XX Membership program planning

Strategy assistance for your organization's key program issues
 XX Media and communications, including social media

Other (please describe) _______________________________________________________
I. Description of Project
1. Describe the purpose of your project and how it fits in Freshwater Future’s grants program in 300 words or less.
Our project engages resident participation in land use planning related to the Kinnickinnic River rehabilitation
project that includes strong climate related considerations. Included in our suite of activities to activate residents
are projects to directly involve them in low-impact solutions to community stormwater problems.
Resident input is critical to providing residents ownership of the project. By being involved with the decision
making process, neighborhood residents are more likely to care for the river, reducing non-point source pollution
such as oil, pet feces and litter. We will also continue to educate residents about low impact solutions such as rain
gardens and rain barrels that help to mitigate water run-off into the KK River through installation (followed by
community events to introduce the projects to neighbors). Our engagement with residents around the river will
help them recognize the connection between their health, the health of their community and the health of their
surrounding environment. Providing residents with information and access to decision makers relating to the
river empowers them to assist in their community’s adaptation to climate change.
2.
Is the project located in the watershed of the Great Lakes? If not, how will this project protect or restore aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes
Basin or build your capacity to do so?
Yes
3. In what Great Lakes basin(s) will the project be conducted?
Lake Michigan
1. What are the goals of your project?
 Engage residents in shaping the MMSD’s engineering plans for removing concrete lining of the KK to
ensure it goes beyond channel rehabilitation and flood management to incorporate critical issues
including water quality improvement, ecosystem restoration, infrastructure and effective public land use
 Continuing to educate residents about green infrastructure through partnerships in BMP installation
 Work with neighborhood leaders to ensure resident’s voice is heard in planning and implementation
 Encourage residents to use new biking/walking trails and other open space amenities such as the
community garden and art project
2.
How will you meet those goals (objectives and activities)?
As a founding member of KRIC, GWM participates in regular meetings with residents and leaders from the KK
River neighborhood. GWM meets regularly with leaders from the KK River neighborhood. We use these
3
meetings along with canvassing the neighborhood and one-on-one meetings to raise awareness about upcoming
events and initiatives and encourage active participation.
In addition, we will continue the types of project-based engagement programs that we implemented in the past.
GWM partnered with over 50 residents of the KK River Watershed to install green infrastructure in their yards to
capture rainwater on site, and we are actively recruiting residents for spring’s projects. We will also partner to
engage residents in semi-annual river and neighborhood cleanups. Through KRIC we encourage residents to take
the lead in organizing the event, so that they might be able to ensure the success of the event in years to come.
Through our Milwaukee Urban Gardens program, we hold the lease on two parcels along the river, one of which
is a community garden and the other is a public art project that engages residents.
Provide a brief timeline for the proposed project, including start dates, milestones, and expected completion date:
Pre-grant: November – December 2013 – Meeting with MMSD to ensure the RFP for the consulting firm
includes provisions for public meetings/ input.
January – March 2014 – Planning projects through KRIC, Recruit residents for green infrastructure projects..
MMSD issues its RFP, evaluates responses and selects consultant
April 2014 –
Hold spring neighborhood Cleanup, with associated door-to-door canvassing and neighborhood
education.
Begin planning with MMSD and its chosen consultant regarding public participation process.
May 2014 – Hold block parties with recipients of installed green infrastructure projects to educate additional
neighbors about their benefits.
Participate in Southside bicycle rally, encouraging residents to use new Kinnickinnic Bike Trail (which
travels near the only current naturalized section of the river and will be extended with the project).
Continue planning process with MMSD and its consultant
Inform participants of these events and other neighborhood residents of upcoming MMSD process,
advocating for their participation and input.
June 2014 - Begin installation of new green infrastructure projects. Educate Green Team members and Green
Team members mentor neighborhood children.
Continue planning process with MMSD and its consultant
Develop outreach flyers and newsletters. Canvas neighbors to ensure participation in public meetings.
Hold public meetings.
July 2014 – With Consultant & MMSD KRIC analyzes input from neighborhood, develop visual methods to
present results to the community
Continue to hold neighborhood events in community gardens.
Install rain barrels and other green infrastructure
August 2014 – Continue analysis and preparations for report back to community
September 2014 – Develop flyers and newsletters and canvas neighborhood in advance of river cleanup and
public meeting
October 2014 – Hold open house to present results of neighborhood input.
Hold KK River cleanup
November 2014
7. We are NOT requesting funding to hire a consultant.
4
8. Describe how this climate project relates to your group’s core work.
Groundwork Milwaukee’s core programs are focused on food, water and jobs. Our mission prioritizes engaging
communities to ensure that neighborhood residents have a stake in transforming blight into community assets. In
this case, the concrete channel is a source of blight for the community, and as a result residents have previously
thought that they lived near a drainage ditch instead of a river. American Rivers designated the Kinnickinnic as
one of the nation’s top ten endangered rivers in 2008. Much like our work transforming vacant lots into gardens,
we are working to ensure the naturalization of this public waterway involves public input. Our experience tells us
that community engagement is the key to long-term success.
The improvements promised by the plans to naturalize the KK will certainly transform this river into an asset for
the community. Not only will the river feature a new bike trail, additional space due to the expansion of the river
will offer opportunities for additional open space with the opportunity for green infrastructure or additional
community gardens. By allowing the public to voice interest in these and other improvements we can ensure that
the new river has features cared for by the community.
9. How does your project contribute to climate planning for rivers, lakes, or wetlands or help make your community
better prepared for the impacts of climate change?
Groundwork Milwaukee began partnering with MMSD’s KK River Channel Rehabilitation project in
2007, initially by forming and engaging a Technical Committee to react to preliminary engineering in the process
of determining the preferred alternatives to the concrete lined channel. On a separate but parallel course, the
Southeastern Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC) was updating flood plain mapping for the City of
Milwaukee as required by FEMA. During approximately 2009, SWRPC realized that due to the impact of climate
change, the flood plain was changing dramatically from prior maps. In analyzing their data they realized that the
large / extreme rainfall events that they had been excluding as outliers in their modeling had now become the
norm. This urbanized river is extremely flash flood prone, and under the new modeling, velocities are expected to
rise from 6 cubic feet per second (cfs) to over 7000 cfs in a 100-year storm event. As a result, hundreds of
additional homes would be located in the greatly enlarged flood plain and therefore subject to the required (and
expensive) flood insurance. With this realization, the viable alternatives for the rehabilitation of the river were
limited to those that could handle much higher volumes of water, and unfortunately resulted in the purchase and
demolition of 84 homes. The scale of the project is directly attributable to climate change adaptation measures.
Through the planning and implementation process, community residents will live in a community better adapted
to the threats of climate change. Their homes will be less exposed to the threat of water inundation.
10. What will define success for this project?
Neighbors engaging MMSD in planning and implementation of the KK river naturalization will determine the
success of this project. Additionally, success will be determined by the extent that residents take ownership of the
river and their willingness to take steps to improve the health of the river in their community.
We will determine the ultimate success of the project based on the final results of the Plan developed for the River
incorporating the visions of the community.
Outputs will include our number of interactions with residents, and the number of people who participate in
visioning workshops for the KK River
11. Do you plan to promote or disseminate the results of your project? If so, how?
We will promote / disseminate the results of our project through the Southeastern Wisconsin Watershed Trust
which provides a vehicle to contribute to widely distributed newsletters, display at their well attended conference
and share information through their Watershed Action Teams. We will also promote the KK river bike trail event
in the local media. With the media presence, Milwaukee residents will be able to see how the KK river
community is taking ownership in improving their neighborhood.
5
12. Have you sought other funds for this project? If so, describe sources and results. If not, do you intend to?
We are pursuing money from Southeast Wisconsin Community Watershed Trusts to install BMP’s on residential
properties. We also intend to pursue funding from Healing Our Waters.
J.
How did you hear about Freshwater Future Climate Grants?
 XX Online

Through another organization
 XX From a friend

Event (Symposium, Conference, Workshop)

Newsletter

Other ________________________
K. Proposed Budget
 Present the project budget using a table and descriptive summary categories, such as personnel,
consultants, materials, phone, printing, postage, training, workshops, travel, professional consultant fees,
legal fees, etc.
 Although match contributions are not required for funding, if there are matching funds for this project,
include the amounts in your budget and identify sources in the notes.
Below is a sample budget; using this example please fill in the blank table provided with your project budget information.
Budget Line-Item
Freshwater Future
Request
Amount of Match
Pending or Secured
Total
Executive Director
$1,630
Operations
Manager
$1,000
$2,500
Sourced
$3,500
Outreach
Coordinator
$2,000
$1,000
Sourced
$3,000
$1,500
Sourced
$1,500
$400
Sourced
$770
$800
Sourced
$800
$2,000
Pending
$2,000
$500
Sourced
$500
$1,355
Sourced
$1,355
Green Team
Benefits
$370
Postage
Materials:
Rain gardens
Materials:
Rain barrels
Overhead
Total
$5,000
$1,630
$10,035
$15,035
L. Supporting Materials
Submit the following supporting materials with your application:
6
1. 501(c)(3) confirmation letter from the IRS is attached
3. Addresses, phone numbers, and contact person for all organizations collaborating on this project.
Ben Gramling,
Director of Environmental Health
Sixteenth Street Community Health Center
1337 S. Cesar Chavez Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-385-3577
Steve Fendt,
Executive Director
Southside Organizing Committee
1300 S. Layton Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-672-89090
Patrick Elliott
Sr. Project Manager
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
W. Seeboth
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-255-2168
3. Limit other optional support materials (letters of support, newspaper articles, etc.) to two items that you feel are
essential to evaluate your proposal. These are not a requirement.
Note: Grant recipients may be required to provide Freshwater Future with additional information.
M. Sending Your Application
Proposals must be prepared based on the guidelines of the 2013 Grants Request for Proposals found at
www.freshwaterfuture.org Applications should be sent electronically by midnight by the deadlines listed above. Please
send your application and supporting materials via e-mail in a Word attachment to grants@freshwaterfuture.org. If you
are unable to send your application electronically or do not receive an electronic confirmation within 24 hours, please
contact us at (231) 348-8200 to make other arrangements. Supporting documents may be sent via first class mail to the
address below if unable to send electronically. Please do not fax materials.
Freshwater Future
P.O. Box 2479
Petoskey, MI 49770
PH (231) 348-8200
7