Donors
Seattle is a key financial and business center of the Pacific
Northwest. Seattle’s spectacular natural setting and high quality of
life have always attracted skilled workers to our area. Seattle’s
economy is currently undergoing a shift from a manufacturing base to
service and knowledge-intensive software, telecommunications, and
biotechnology industries. Attracting the creative workforce needed by
these industries and ensuring the economic future of the region
increasingly depends on the region’s environmental and cultural
strengths.
An additional 250,000 people and 47,000 new
households are expected in Seattle over the next 20 years. One of the
great challenges facing our city is accommodating this growth while
maintaining a strong economy and livable communities. An important
element of livable communities is green space. The parks, trails, and
greenways that give city residents an opportunity for recreation and
connection to nature help sustain a vibrant urban life. The Cascade Land Conservancy
has recently launched the Cascade Agenda, a 100-year vision for
conservation and economic growth in the Pacific Northwest. At the heart
of the Agenda is building vibrant urban communities. With its focus on
forested parkland, the Green Seattle Partnership will play a key role
in meeting that goal.
Corporate sponsors, foundations and
private donors will be a critical component of the Green Seattle
Partnership. They will provide much of the gap funding needed in the
early years of the program. Employees of our corporate sponsors may
participate in large volunteer restoration events each year, providing
a substantial additional labor pool. Sponsors will also be called on to
make other contributions as appropriate. For example, they may be asked
to donate supplies or services that can be provided through their
company. In return, these corporations will have the opportunity to be
stewards of their community. Companies can offer their employees both
an outlet for community engagement and the chance to be associated with
the largest urban reforestation effort in the nation.
During the
first 5 years (2005-2009), in addition to staff support City of Seattle
agencies will continue to direct existing funding streams to the
Partnership. Near-term City funding will come from the following:
· SPU’s stormwater drainage capital improvement program (CIP) funds ($150,000/year from 2005 – 2010)
· Seattle Parks/Urban Forestry CIP funds ($150,000 in 2005)
· Office of Sustainability and Environment’s short-term contract to the Cascade Land Conservancy ($50,000 in 2004-2005).
During the first 5 years (2005-2009), Cascade Land Conservancy plans to raise $3 million from philanthropic support and community awareness through a widespread Green Seattle Partnership community campaign. That funding will greatly accelerate the amount of invasive removal, tree planting, and monitoring that can be done by 2009 in sensitive target areas.
The campaign is segmented into six
phases, with funding benchmarks and tasks identified for each year.
External fundraising counsel will guide campaign efforts and develop a
fundraising plan. Complete details will be available in the Fund
Development Plan, which is currently in draft.
By 2010 the
groundwork will be laid for establishing long-term public funding
source. That source or sources will provide the funding for
implementation of the second phase of the partnership. This funding
stream will need to provide a stable level of revenue at or above $2.5
million a year. Several possible mechanisms for generating this funding
could be tapped either separately or in combination to meet the stable
public funding goal:
1. Issuing a city levy (either as a part of the Pro-Parks levy or as a separate levy)
2. Increasing fees or rates for utility ratepayers for management of forested parklands as stormwater management (and other ecosystem services) infrastructure
3. Allocating a portion of the annual Conservation Futures Tax to supporting the maintenance of urban forests lands acquired with CRF funds
4. Increasing the City’s contribution of REET funds to its already funded urban forestry program
5. Including Green Seattle Partnership funding in a countywide levy
6. Seeking separate state funding for forest restoration for urban areas, or cities throughout Washington
7. Setting up an endowment that would generate enough annual interest to support the Partnership
We will also investigate the feasibility of market-based mechanisms, such as selling carbon credits, for reforestation generated through the partnership. Corporate philanthropy is currently thought to play a minor role in funding the second phase of the partnership.
