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or questions to:
Tom Pittman
Foundation President
at tompittman@cfnm.org

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                                                CONTACTS:             Bob Barber – 662.429.9092

                                                                                    Peggy Linton – 449.5002

                                                                                    George Byrd, MS Forestry                                                                                              Commission  662.417.7492

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ASSIST A.W. BOUCHILLON INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING

Tree preservation in community planning will get a boost through a grant from the Mississippi Forestry Commission. It will enable the newly established  A. W. Bouchillon Institute for Community Planning to provide training in how urban forestry can impact areas as varied as water run-off and greenways for hiking and biking. “Our mission (A. W. Bouchillon Institute)is to foster the best in community planning, and we are excited to be able to do that by partnering with the Mississippi Forestry Commission and the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi” (Bob Barber, Chairman of the Board for the Institute).  “Our communities will become better places through these educational efforts and we look forward to providing the best in planning education”.

 “The 2007 Urban & Community Forestry Assistance Challenge Grant in the amount of $4,198 to the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi allows the Institute to purchase necessary equipment for presentations as well as assist with the Sustainability Conference to be held in January”.  (Peggy Linton, Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi).  “Environment is one of our Fields of Interest at the Community Foundation, and we are pleased to partner with the Mississippi Forestry Commission in assisting the A.W. Bouchillon Institute”.  Training funds from the grant, will impact professional planners, engineers, land developers, real estate professionals, homebuilders, planning commission members, elected officials, historic preservation commission members, design commission members and representatives of environmental groups, just to name a few.

  Part of that training will consist of ideas and proven methods of urban forestry in the areas of storm water techniques, natural infrastructure solutions, green parking, conservation easements and field trips that highlight these efforts.  "A successful preservation tree program requires careful planning, supervision, and community leadership support."  "DeSoto County Board of Supervisors are known state-wide as leaders in 'Urban Forestry Conservation' and this tree preservation project will be another jewel in the crown of Smart Growth", states George Byrd, Northwest District Urban Forest Coordinator.  "The 'Quality of Place' for the citizens of DeSoto County will be  greatly enhanced by the continued education of urban forestry resources in one of the fastest growing populated areas of the nation; where people and trees live together."

 “Few issues are more important than intelligent and informed planning for our remaining trees and green space in DeSoto County,” Community Foundation president Tom Pittman said. “We are pleased to make this grant available to the Bouchillon Institute for its work in educating those who will plan our county’s future land use.”