Nonprofits – register by April 6 to participate in GiveBIG

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Nonprofits in the King County area — if you’d like to participate in the one-day online giving event called GiveBIG, please register with the Seattle Foundation by April 6. Many nonprofits in Pierce and Snohomish counties also participate.

In 2015, GiveBIG raised over $16 million in 24-hours to help local nonprofits in the areas of health, education, food, housing, environment and more. Social media helps encourage people to give generously on this one day. Many other organizations provide matches and additional funding.

Logo of GiveBIG

Custom logo that nonprofits can use to promote GiveBIG. Credit: Seattle Foundation.

The Seattle Foundation provides a toolkit of templates, logos and marketing materials to help nonprofits promote GiveBIG.

They also offer webinars to explain how to promote the event and make the most of “stretch funds.”

Here is a link to the online registration form due April 6. Best wishes!

 

Can’t attend SXSW? Follow on social

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If you can’t attend the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in person, catch some of the creative content on social media. SXSW will live stream over 60 events, including President Obama’s keynote conversation today. The President is expected to interact with the audience about using technology to increase participation in the political process. The festival’s live streams are available here.

**Updated with a post from President Obama’s talk today — how can we use technology and data so government can work better and increase civic engagement:

Local government will be engaged, as Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland discusses how data and evidence can improve lives on this panel.

**Updated with a post from the “What Works” data and evidence panel this morning:

 

SXSW showcases innovations in music, art and technology in fun, interactive ways. The event runs from March 11 – 20 in Austin, Texas.

For more information, follow along at #SXSW2016, catch the live streams and learn more about art, communications and technology! 

 

 

Improve Tacoma and Pierce County with a Spark Grant

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Neighborhood leaders and grassroots organizations can obtain up to $1500 to improve Tacoma and Pierce County with a Spark Grant. Grant applications are due by March 18.

The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation awards these grants to “support everyday people who want to spark positive change.” South Sound Together sponsors this round of grants. Here is a look at the nine current Spark Grant projects.

Pause to learn about methanol in Tacoma

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On February 19, Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW) asked the City of Tacoma to pause the environmental review for the proposed methanol plant on Port of Tacoma property. In its press release NWIW says “we have been surprised by the tone and substance of the vocal opposition that has emerged in Tacoma. To force a facility on a community that does not welcome it would not be consistent with our goals.” The City agreed to the pause and cancelled the February 24 public scoping meeting.

NWIW plans to engage the Tacoma community on this project over the next few months. At a February 18 Port of Tacoma Commission meeting, many people spoke against the project and several Port Commissioners also raised questions about it.

In May 2014 the Port and NWIW signed a 30-year lease. The lease’s feasibility period ends April 30, 2016. NWIW requested to extend the feasibility period, and the Port Commissioners will discuss it in a future meeting. The Port of Tacoma’s webpage provides more information, including links to the lease and the Feb. 18 commission meeting.

This pause is a great time to learn more about methanol. Several free events occur this week:

  • Health and environmental impacts of methanol refineries with Dr. Wilma Subra. Dr. Subra will give two free talks: Tues, Feb. 23 at 8 pm at St. Matthew Episcopal Church in NE Tacoma and Thurs, Feb. 25 at 6 pm at the University of Puget Sound. Please see this flyer for more information.
  • Science of methanol with the Center for Urban Waters. The Center for Urban Waters is holding a free discussion series on the science of the proposed methanol project. The next session — “potential impacts on regional water and power supplies” — takes place on Thurs, Feb. 25 at 6:00 pm. Speakers include Robert Mack, Tacoma Public Utilities; Eric de Place, Sightline Institute and Dan Kirchner, NW Gas Association. This session may be full but you can RSVP to get on a waiting list for this session or sign up for future sessions. Email questions in advance to Citizens for a Healthy Bay at rcruz@healthybay.org or post to their Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #253methanoltalk.

This information may be helpful when the environmental review resumes. In the meantime, the proposed methanol project is attracting media attention including:

Save Tacoma Water, a citizens initiative, will start collecting signatures for a ballot about water permits in early March. Initiative 4 would require organizations that apply for water permits to obtain voter approval if they plan to use one million gallons or more of water  per day. The proposed methanol plant in Tacoma would need approximately 10 million gallons of water per day.

** Engage Northwest does not work on this project and currently does not represent any of the parties listed in this blog.**

 

Participate in environmental review of proposed methanol plant

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Photo of Draft Scoping Report

The Draft Scoping Report identifies areas that the EIS will examine. It will be updated after the comment period closes.

Whether you are for, against or undecided on the proposed methanol plant for the Tacoma tideflats, please participate in the City of Tacoma’s environmental review process. The next public scoping meeting is Feb. 24, and comments are due by March 4.

Proposed by Northwest Innovation Works on property owned by the Port of Tacoma, the methanol facility would be the largest in the world. The City of Tacoma is conducting the environmental review. As a City planner said at the Feb. 10 public scoping meeting, more people are engaged in this project than almost any other Tacoma project in the last 20 years.

What would you like to know about it — jobs, climate change, water use or other topics? Now is the time to ask. You can speak or provide written comments at the public meetings, or email or mail written comments. Learn more about how to comment on the City’s webpage.

The Port of Tacoma, which signed a lease for this project with Northwest Innovation Works in 2014, will hold a study session on the project at its Feb. 18 meeting. Public comment is included on the meeting agenda.

Feb. 24 public scoping meeting

Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center ballroom

1500 Broadway

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. to sign up to speak. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

For more information

** Engage Northwest does not work on this project and currently does not represent any of the parties listed in this blog.**