San Francisco is considered by many as one of America’s greatest cities. With our iconic landmarks, world-class shopping and dining and renowned diverse neighborhoods and communities, our city continues to be a top travel designation for millions of visitors each year. San Francisco also takes great pride in being one of America’s Greenest Cities as recently named by Popular Science Magazine.

As Mayor I am dedicated to working with businesses and communities to continue San Francisco’s leadership in advancing innovative projects that help protect our environment and reduce global warming. I am proud of the eco-measures that we already have in place such as our strict green building standards, low-emission goals for the city’s vehicle fleet, carbon tax proposal, tidal energy project, prohibition against plastic water bottles and plastic bags and my executive order for all city departments to purchase 100 percent recycle paper and reduce overall paper use by 20 percent by 2010.

But we all must do our part in keeping San Francisco both a great city and a green city with clean streets and healthy and vibrant public spaces. I believe clean and green neighborhoods are essential to the quality of life, economic development, social fabric, and environmental health of San Francisco. I am pleased to recognize those residents and businesses in the city who have taken on the cause of promoting and supporting a healthier environment through their participation in our Community Challenge Grant Program (CCGP).

The goals of the Program are to promote greening of public spaces, such as medians, sidewalks, and community gardens; engage residents and businesses directly in this work; and use greening projects as a catalyst to get neighborhoods working together to address local environmental issues and concerns.

The CCG focuses on projects that directly engage residents and businesses in creating green spaces, community gathering places, public art, and other neighborhood amenities that foster a clean and green city and advancing a healthy environment.

I am pleased to congratulate the following organizations that received grants from the CCGP Advisory Committee for the 2007-2008 cycle.

Small Category (Awarded $16,950.00)

Mission Miracle Mile, Inc.
Awarded: $7,450
Project: Install 20 hanging flower baskets on Mission Street.

Friends of Boeddeker Park, sponsored by SF Parks Trust
Awarded: $5,000
Project: Install a community bulletin board at the entrance to the park.

Twin Peaks Improvement Association
Awarded: $4,500
Project: Update an existing irrigation system and make landscape improvements at Edith’s Garden.

Medium Category (Awarded $114,036.00)

Larkin St. Youth Services
Awarded: $19,226
Project: Youth Day Labor Crews will provide graffiti/litter abatement in an eight-block area
between Fell St., Fulton St., Lyon St., and Central Avenue.

Fisherman’s Wharf CBD
Awarded: $13,050
Project: Install thirty hanging flower baskets on South Jefferson Street.

Randall Museum Friends
Awarded: $25,000
Project: Install seating and a picnic area on the grounds of the Randall Museum.

North Beach Partnership/SF Clean City Coalition
Awarded: $22,000
Project: A homeless-staffed street maintenance program in the North Beach area.

Portola Neighborhood Committee/CIF of the SF Foundation
Awarded: $21,120
Project: Sidewalk and tree maintenance and graffiti/litter abatement program along San Bruno Avenue.

Ocean Ave. Revitalization Collaborative/OMI Neighbors In Action
Awarded: $13,640
Project: Sidewalk power washing services on Ocean Avenue

Large Category (Awarded $468,584.00)

Kid Serve Youth Murals
Awarded: $25,000
Project: Create a mosaic tile mural at Grattan Elementary School located in Cole Valley.

North of Market/Tenderloin CBD
Awarded: $53,750
Project: Create a mural in the Tenderloin area, located at 86-98 Golden Gate Avenue and Jones Street.

North West Bernal Alliance
Awarded: $48,421
Project: Continued graffiti abatement and neighborhood beautification on Mission Street.

Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group/TIDES Center
Awarded: $50,000
Project: Structural improvements at Koshland Park, located in the Western Addition.

Architecture for Humanity
Awarded: $71,500
Project: Continued support of the Newcomb Avenue Model Block Program

Excelsior Action Group/CIF of the SF Foundation
Awarded: $8,492
Project: Installation of community banners along Mission Street

Fillmore Jazz CBD
Awarded: $27,281
Project: Install planter boxes, benches and community banners along Fillmore Street.

Lower 24th St. Merchants & Neighborhood Assn/SF Clean City Coalition
Awarded: $30,140
Project: Create a “Night Gallery” mural-walk on Mission Street.

Friends of Balboa Park/Neighborhood Parks Council
Awarded: $75,000
Project: Construct a sidewalk to provide safe pedestrian access to the park and landscaping.

Mariposa-Utah –18th –San Bruno Neighborhood Assn/ Neighborhood Parks Council
Awarded: $40,000
Project: Beautification and landscaping at the Utah and 18th Street Mini-Park

Alemany Resident Management Corp/Renaissance Parents of Success
Awarded: $39,000
Project: Rebuild an existing greenhouse, restore and repaint the Farm signage and plant new gardens.

CCG funds project from $10,000 to $100,000 twice a year, the opening date and timeline for its next grant cycle will be announced mid-April 2008. If you would like additional information about CCG and the funding process please call 554-4830 or log on to the website: www.sfccgp.org.


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