From: | Tony Chenhansa <tonyc@cpeo.org> |
Date: | Mon, 15 Mar 1999 16:50:28 -0800 (PST) |
Reply: | cpeo-brownfields |
Subject: | Lottery $$ for Brownfields in the UK |
Lottery Cash for Playing fields BBC Online Friday, March 12, 1999 Published at 08:30 GMT http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_295000/295446.stm When I was doing a search for brownfields articles this morning, the word "Lotto" immediately caught my eye (cha ching!). I always hear about insurance, tax incremental financing, and revolving loan funds as sources of financing for brownfields projects. This is the first time I've heard a Lotto fund being set up for environmental projects. I've got some questions in at the end if you're interested in discussing this topic. The news story comes from the United Kingdom (UK). The government has set up a fund of £125m (I think about $200 million US dollars) from the National Lottery for the purpose of creating green space and "playing fields" for schools. In the past schools and local authorities have been allowed to sell their sports fields to keep their budgets balanced. This initiative hopes to reverse that trend by encouraging the re-use of brownfields property and preserving green space. The "green spaces initiative" will allow community groups, schools, and councils to apply for grants to improve their environment. The grants can be used for the following. Buying unused derelict land to create new parks and green areas Improving existing public spaces Encouraging access to the countryside Helping the environment through recycling schemes Creating community wildlife gardens Improving waste management Encouraging business to use green technologies Culture Secretary Chris Smith says "Developing brownfield sites can benefit a community, but losing green space is not a sensible thing to do," In California, the lottery is suppose to provide supplemental funding to California public education on all levels from kindergarten through higher education. The Lotto web site says $9.8 billion dollars has been contributed to education since 1985. Do you think citizens would support the creation of a brownfields lotto fund here in the US? What would be some of the barriers in trying to implement a lottery fund similar to the UK one? Do you know of any States that have a "successful" lottery? Do have any other creative financing ideas? Tony C. -- [EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: CPEO'S PHONE NUMBER HAS CHANGED TO 415-405-7751. OUR FAX NUMBER IS STILL THE SAME] Tony Chenhansa, Program Coordinator Center for Public Environmental Oversight (CPEO) 425 Market Street 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 ph: 415-405-7751 fx: 415-904-7765 e-mail: tonyc@cpeo.org http://www.cpeo.org A program of the San Francisco Urban Institute | |
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