The success of an ongoing fundraising campaign by the
West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) is allowing the organization to hire new staff and significantly invest in new educational and advocacy programs designed to protect local freshwater resources.
To lead the expanded programs, WMEAC hired Elaine Sterrett Isely to serve as its Director of Water and LID (Low Impact Development) Programs.
An early focus for Isley and WMEAC will be adding technical expertise for two projects, including working with Grand Rapids Community Stormwater Management and a partnership with Trout Unlimited focused on the Rogue River Watershed in northern Kent County.
Longer term initiatives for Isley are focusing on water resource education. "We will be helping educate junior high and high school students," Isley says. "We will go into schools and do training and eventually work on programs like stream cleanup."
The fundraising for this new position came from the
You Are Here Advancement Campaign, which has raised two-thirds of its $866,000 goal, which also included a $50,000 grant from the Dyer-Ives Foundation.
Source: Elaine Sterrett Isely and Daniel Schoonmaker, WMEAC
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor
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